1980, Brunswick loses in District title game to Frederick National 

For the first time the Districts went to double elimination. Dale Hawes’ fourth inning home run in the District opener was the game’s lone run as Brunswick beat East Frederick 1-0. Righthander Curtis Moore hurled three hit baseball and struck out ten. Next the Railroaders knocked off Middletown 3-1. Brunswick’s Robby Daugherty supplied the game’s only homer. 

Frederick National gave the locals a loss, an 8-0 spanking hurled by the National’s Dougie Smallwood. Brunswick only managed two hits off the hard throwing Smallwood, who also hit a homer for the winners. 

Brunswick downed Westminster 10-6 as Curtis Moore blasted out a pair of home runs and collected six RBI’s. Billy Walden came on in relief to hurl two scoreless innings against the Carroll County nine. 

Derril Bowens’ three-run homer helped lift Frederick National to a 7-4 ousting of Brunswick in the championship game. Billy Walden delivered two homers for the local team. 

Ernie Bitler managed the ’80 All-Star team. Poppy Lewis was coach.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Havre de Grace (District 5)
At Stancill Field

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Calvert County American 5, Hagerstown West End 4
Lake Shore 8, Berlin 4
Frederick National 9, Perryville 1
Forest Park 15, Washington D.C. 5

Semifinal Round:
Forest Park 8, Frederick National 3
Calvert County American 13, Lake Shore 5

Championship Game:
Forest Park 5, Calvert County American 1 (TITLE)

1981 All-Star State Championship Team

Front row from left:  Randy Feaster, Mike Reynolds, Robby Daugherty, Mark Ebersole, Brian Green and Claude Kentner

Back row from left: Coach Kenneth "Poppy" Lewis, John Fowler, Kevin Myers, Jeff Walden, Kenny Banner, Randy Brown, Jason Cooper, Calvin Brewster, Manager Ernie Bitler,  and Todd Wenner

1981, Brunswick wins third State title

Brunswick had to rally from a 5-3 deficit in the sixth and final inning to edge Middletown 6-5 in the opening game of District play. John Fowler drove in the tying and winning runs in the sixth. Calvin Brewster homered earlier in the inning to make it a 5-4 game. Jeff Walden and Todd Wenner combined pitching efforts to hold Middletown to 4 hits. Brunswick committed five errors in the contest.

Brunswick then bombed Frederick American pitching for 5 home runs while routing the city league 12-1. Randy Brown, Todd Wenner, Robby Daugherty, Jeff Walden and Calvin Brewster deposited balls beyond the outfield barrier. Kenny Banner got the mound win with 4 2/3 innings of pitching. John Fowler hurled 1 2/3 innings of scoreless and hitless relief ball.

The locals scored 7 runs in the first two innings, most coming off Jeff Walden and Robby Daugherty homers, then coasted to an 8-2 victory over Frederick National. Brunswick’s defense turned two double plays in the game. Leftfielder Bryan Green made a super running grab of a line drive down the left field line, then turned and fired the ball to first base to double up a National base runner. And a third to second twin killing went from Calvin Brewster to Robby Daugherty, two outs - inning over. 

Brunswick won the District flag with a 7-4 win at Westminster. John Fowler’s 3 for 3 plate performance and four-hit relief pitching over the final 5 2/3 innings led the way for the local team. One of Fowler’s 3 hits was a two-run home run. Kevin Myers also homered. 

For the first time Little League baseball began Sectional play held between the Districts and State tournaments. Both tourneys were double elimination, and in ’81 both the Sectional and States were held at Salisbury over a two week time span. 

In the opening game of Sectional play, Brunswick stopped Rising Sun 8-2 behind the 3-hit, 10 strikeout pitching of lefthander Kenny Banner. Kevin Myers swatted a 3-run home run. 

Myers continued to hit the long ball, this time breaking a 6-6 tie by hitting a homer in the sixth and final inning to lift Brunswick to a 7-6 victory over Valley. Myers had 3 hits in the game and 3 homers in 3 consecutive games. John Fowler came on to pitch in relief of Calvin Brewster to pick up the mound win, fanning 13. 

Rising Sun, which Brunswick had beaten by six two games earlier, reversed the outcome the second time around, handing the Railroaders a 12-5 setback. Rising Sun jumped out to a 3-0 lead but Brunswick came back on the strength of a John Fowler homer to lead the game 4-3. However, Rising Sun went on to score in every inning but the third in giving the local league its only loss in the tournament. Kenny Banner, Todd Wenner and Randy Feaster were the Brunswick pitchers.  

Playing Rising Sun for the Sectional crown, Brunswick exploded for 4 runs in the first inning, grabbing a lead they would not relinquish. In a 6-3 win, Randy Brown went 3 for 4 and drove in two of Brunswick’s runs. John Fowler was the winning pitcher, receiving relief help ffom Jeff Walden in the fifth inning. 

Representing Section I of Maryland, Brunswick then played St. Mary’s, winners of the Section II Maryland tourney, for the State championship in a two out of three series. 

John Fowler pitched two-hit baseball for 4 2/3 innings, striking out 6 as the Railroaders won by a 5-2 score. A fourth inning two run double by Randy Feaster turned out to be the key hit for Brunswick. 

Brunswick then beat St. Mary’s 6-1 to win the 1981 State title. It was the third State flag for the Brunswick Little League. Jeff Walden drove in four runs with a single and 3-run homer. John Fowler had 2 doubles and scored twice. Randy Brown had a double and single. Todd Wenner, Randy Feaster, and Jeff Walden were the Brunswick pitchers. 

Playing in Newburg, New York, Brunswick was ousted in its opening game of the Regional playoffs by Seaford, Delaware, 5-2. Seaford pitcher Delino DeShields, who went on to have a 12 year career in the Majors form 1990 – 2002, limited the locals to just two base hits while fanning 12. Robby Daugherty’s line drive third inning homer and Randy Feaster’s run scoring single in the fifth were the only Brunswick hits. Daugherty scored both Brunswick runs. 

Ernie Bitler managed the State champ 1981 Brunswick team. Poppy Lewis was the coach.  

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Salisbury (District 6)
At Jaycee Park

Best 2-of-3 Series:

Brunswick Railroaders 5, St. Mary’s American 2
Brunswick Railroaders 6, St. Mary’s American 1 (TITLE)

1981 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

East Region Tournament
Host - Newburgh, New York
At Town of Newburgh LL Complex

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Swampscott (MA) 8, Beacon (NY) 7 (7 innings)
Nanticoke (DE) 5, Brunswick (MD) 2
North Burlington (VT) 2, Warwick American (RI) 1
Concord (NH) 7, Bernardsville-Basking Ridge (NJ) 3

Quarterfinals:
DuBois (PA) 14, South Portland National (ME) 3
Stamford Federal (CT) 5, Queens Ozone Park (NY Metro) 4
Nanticoke (DE) 7, Swampscott (MA) 0
North Burlington 7, Concord (NH) 3

Semifinals:
Stamford Federal (CT) 4, DuBois (PA) 0
North Burlington (VT) 4, Nanticoke (DE) 2

Championship Game:
Stamford Federal 8, North Burlington (VT) 1 (TITLE)

1982, Brunswick wins Districts, goes down in Sectional finals

Randy Brown tossed a two-hitter in pitching Brunswick to a 6-1 victory over Frederick American in the District opener. Jason Cooper smashed a third inning home run which cleared the trees beyond the centerfield fence in Brunswick.

3 1/3 innings of scoreless pitching by Randy Feaster helped the Railroaders knock off Frederick National 7-4. Randy Brown had 3 of Brunswick’s 11 hits in the game. Feaster fanned 6.

Westminster brought Brunswick down to earth despite a Randy Brown three-hitter and 12 strikeouts. Todd Sodowski limited Brunswick to 3 hits also. A Mark Walden single scored Scotty Sigafoose in the third with Brunswick’s only run.

The local league downed Frederick National for the again, this time by an 8-3 count. Besides being the winning pitcher Randy Feaster hit back to back home runs while Brent Beachley and Randy Brown also added round trippers. 

Playing unbeaten Westminster, Brunswick had to win twice while a Westminster win would have made the Carroll County team District champs. Jason Cooper hurled a 4-0 shutout despite walking the lead off batter in every inning. With Brunswick up 3-0 on Randy Brown and Cooper first inning homers, it appeared Westminster had scored twice in the bottom of the first, but the second runner missed third and was ruled out on appeal to the umpire. It being the third out of the inning the preceding run did not count either. Cooper fanned nine.

In the District title game the very next day in Brunswick, Randy Brown duplicated Cooper’s shutout and the 4-0 score of the previous day. The hard throwing right hander allowed only three hits and struck out 11. It was the second time Brown had three-hit Westminster, and in 12 innings of pitching he had struck out 23 batters. Randy Feaster and Jason Cooper played long ball with Feaster hitting a solo shot and Cooper clouting a 3-run blast.

The Sectionals were held in Brunswick and the local team was blanked 2-0 as Hagerstown National’s Terry Jordon limited Brunswick to 3 hits. Meanwhile the City team garnered only one hit off Brown, that a homer by Jason Nye in the fourth inning. The Washington County team had scored in the first on an infield error.

Matt Barger scattered 5 Forest Park hits in pitching Brunswick to an 8-3 win. Barger struck out 8. Randy Brown hit back-to-back homers and Jason Cooper hit one as the blond-topped lefty went 3 for 3.

In the Sectional championship game Brunswick got home runs from Mike Cooper and Randy Brown, Cooper’s a three-run shot, to lead Hagerstown 7-2 after 3 innings. But the Hub City club scored in the fifth and sixth to tie the game at 7-7 and send it to extra innings. After nine complete, the game was halted because of darkness and rescheduled the next day, a Saturday.

After one was out on Saturday, a walk and error put Hagerstown runners on first and second. Then Hagerstown’s only substitute in the 10-inning game. Dave Highbarger, sent the ball out of the park for a home run to give the Washington County nine the Sectional title.

Jason Cooper was Brunswick’s starting pitcher in the game. Randy Feaster relieved him in the 5th inning. Garel Hauver was the ’82 manager. Claire Ebersole was the coach.

  Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Southern Charles County (La Plata) (District 7)

Best 2-of-3 Series:

Easton 7, Hagerstown National 6
Easton 9, Hagerstown National 2 (TITLE)

1982 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

1983, Brunswick goes 2 and 2 in Districts

A seven-run third inning gave Brunswick a 10-1 lead and an eventual 11-2 victory as Mark Walden struck out 13. Frederick American committed 6 errors in the game.  

Brian Reaver tossed a 3-hitter as Emmitsburg beat Brunswick 8-2. Keith Potter, Ricky Dixon and Mark Walden had the Railroader hits.  

Brunswick routed East Frederick 17-7 as Mark Walden hit two homers and had 4 RBI’s. Dave Dinges had a homer and Rich Marceron slammed a pinch-hit round tripper. Dinges and Keith Potter each collected 3 hits in the game. 

Westminster shocked Brunswick by coming back from a 9-1 deficit to down the locals 12-10 and knock them out of District play. Jim Spangler hit two homers for Westminster and had 8 RBI’s. Dave Dinges hit a 3-run homer for Brunswick. 

The ’83 manager was Poppy Lewis and the coach was Dick Goodrich.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Halfway (District 1)

Best 2-of-3 Series:

Rising Sun 12, Riviera Beach 2
Rising Sun 5, Riviera Beach 3 (TITLE)

1983 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

1984 All-Star State Championship Team

Front row from left: Mike Tritapoe, Ricky Goodrich, Damon Albert, Chris Webber, Lance Strickland

Middle row from left: Manager Poppy Lewis, Tony Hines, Jason Kasch, Robby Donovan, J.R. Hanes, Jason Stroud, Coach Dick Goodrich

Back row from left: Donnie Lerch, Chad Coulter, Steve Dinges, Richie Maceron

1984, Brunswick wins 4th State title

DISTRICTS

Chad Coulter’s two run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning with Jason Kasch on base, gave the Railroaders a thrilling come from behind victory in the District opener. The local team edged a tough and determined Thurmont squad 4 to 3 at Brunswick’s Marvin E. Younkins Memorial Little League park. Donnie Lerch and Coulter combined for the victory on the mound.

In a second round victory over Frederick American 11 - 2, the pitching of Rich Marceron and Mike Tritapoe completely stymied the Frederick American team in a game played in Frederick. The pair combined on a two hitter, striking out 13 American hitters.

Brunswick thumped East Frederick 23-3 to win their third straight District game. The game played in Brunswick featured 2 home runs and six RBI’s by Chad Coulter and the 2 hit pitching of hard throwing left-hander Donnie Lerch.

In the District title game, Brunswick scored 4 runs in the sixth inning to tie the game and came back with four more in the seventh on their way to an 11-7 win. Mike Tritapoe went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and three RBI’s to lead the Railroaders. Ricky Goodrich and Steve Dinges had two hits each. Rich Marceron went the first 2 1/3 innings and was followed to the mound by Mike Tritapoe who went the final 4 2/3 innings.

SECTIONALS

In the opener of the Sectionals, Brunswick came from behind to beat West End Little League of Hagerstown 3-2. For the Railroaders, Rich Marceron had 2 RBI’s and Donnie Lerch had the other. Lerch started and went the first 1 2/3 innings and Chad Coulter went the last 4 1/3 for the win.

Turning the tables on a supposedly power-laden Hagerstown team from West End Little League, the Brunswick All-Stars used power of their, with three solo homers to eliminate West End 5-3 in two games to capture the Section 1 tournament crown. The three Brunswick players playing their versions of “Dr. Longball” were Jason Kasch who hit a tape measure shot high over the scoreboard in right field, Steve Dinges and Ricky Goodrich. Goodrich’s solo homer put Brunswick up 3-0 in the fifth, bur West End came back with 3 runs of their own to knot the score at 3-3 after five complete innings. After a scoreless sixth inning, Kasch and Dinges hit back to back homeruns in the top of the seventh inning, putting the local team ahead for good, 5-3.

The Railroaders advance to the four team, double elimination State tournament being held at Brunswick this week. The State champ will advance to Regional play at Newburg, New York.

STATES

Behind the three-hit shutout pitching of hard throwing Chad Coulter, the Brunswick Little League All-Stars knocked off Hughesville 3-0 in opening round State playoff action being held in Brunswick. Coulter and Hughesville hurler Shawn Shugars pitched the game as if they had a train to catch; both worked a fast paced game on the mound, allowing but three hits apiece in completing the game in a little over an hour. Coulter struck out 10 and walked only 2 while keeping the Hughesville batters behind his pitches throughout the game. Brunswick was the visiting team as the result of the coin flip, and wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. In the top of the first inning Coulter singled to drive in the only run he would need when he plated Mike Tritapoe, who had doubled. Brunswick scored two more runs in the third.inning to give the Railroaders the 3-0 lead they would make stand up.   

In the second round, the Brunswick Little League All-Stars used the outstanding pitching of Rich Marceron and Mike Tritapoe, and a thirteen hit batting attack, in knocking off West Salisbury 8-1. Marceron retired nine batters in a row at one point during his 4 2/3 inings of pitching no-hit baseball against West Salisbury. The hard throwing lefthander fanned 7 and walked 4 while completely baffling the southern Maryland team. After West Salisbury scored a run on a double steal, Tritapoe came in to get the Railroaders out of the inning with no more damage. In 1 1/3 innings of mound duty, Tritapoe allowed no runs on one base hit while striking out 3 and walking none. Brunswick broke on top with three runs in the first inning while garnering five base hits. Chad Coulter’s third inning solo homer put the Railroaders ahead 4-0, and the local nine added a single run in the fourth and three more runs in the sixth and final inning. Steve Dinges went 3 for 4 at the plate, scoring two runs with two RBI’s. Jason Kasch, Robbie Donovan and Ricky Goodrich all had 2 for 3 plate performances. Kasch reached base four times in the game. Coulter had two hits, one almost taking the West Salisbury pitcher’s head off his shoulders as the strong Coulter hit the ball hard up the middle of the diamond. Marceron and Tritapoe also had base hits for Brunswick. 

Paced by the two-hit pitching of Chad Coulter, the Brunswick All-Star team defeated West Salisbury 5-1 to capture the 1984 State Little League Championship. Brunswick scored single runs in every inning but the second against West Salisbury. Jason Kasch and Mike Tritapoe had solo homers in the third and fifth innings. Tritapoe also had a double in the third inning. Eleven year old Robbie Donovan went 2 for 3 at the plate. Rich Marceron, Donnie Lerch, and Damon Albert added other base hits for Brunswick. Donovan and Albert’s hits were doubles. Chad Coulter was nearly perfect on the mound, retiring fourteen batters in a row from the second batter he faced through the first hitter in the sixth inning. At one point the flame-throwing righthander struck out six in a row, eight out of nine, and nine out of a eleven West Salisbury batters. He allowed but two balls to be hit out of the infield, the first not until the fifth inning when there was a fly out to centerfield. Coulter allowed one run on two hits, striking out eleven and walking one. When West Salisbury scored in the sixth inning, it ended a string of 19 2/3 scoreless innings hurled by Coulter in All-Star competition.  

Through District, Sectional and State All-Star competition, Brunswick went 9-0 in capturing the 1984 State Little League championship. The Brunswick win gave the local Little League its fourth State Championship since beginning post season All-Star play in 1955. State crowns have been won in 1966, ’69, ’81 and now in 1984.

REGIONALS

Brunswick was eliminated in a loss to Manchester, New Hampshire 7-3 in the first round of the Eastern Regional Tournament in Newburgh, New York. The Regional tournament is a single elimination format.

Brunswick lost the consolation game to Rhode Island 4-3 in seven innings. The winning run scored on a Railroader error.

Over 150 Brunswick area Little League baseball fans traveled the 300 or so mile, six hour drive one way, to Newburg, New York, to cheer for the Railroader All-Star team.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Brunswick Railroaders (District 2)

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 3, Hughesville 0
West Salisbury 5, Elkton Community 3

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
Hughesville 7, Elkton Community 3 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Brunswick Railroaders 8, West Salisbury 1

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
West Salisbury 6, Hughesville 1 (elim.)

Championship Game:
Brunswick Railroaders 5, West Salisbury 1 (TITLE)

1984 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

East Region Tournament
Host - Newburgh, New York
At Town of Newburgh LL Complex

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Manchester (NH) 7, Brunswick (MD) 3
Palisades Park (NJ) 2, Bristol (RI) 1
Newark National (DE) 17, Waterloo (NY Upstate) 0
Leominster (MA) 9, Green Mountain (VT) 2

Quarterfinals:
Milton (PA) 2, Auburn Suburban (ME) 0
Bristol McCabe-Waters (CT) 4, Islip (NY Metro) 1
Palisades Park (NJ) 4, Manchester, (NH) 1
Newark National (DE) 9, Leominster (MA) 0

Semifinals:
Bristol McCabe-Waters (CT) 6, Milton (PA) 0
Palisades Park (NJ) 4, Newark National (DE) 3

Championship Game:
Bristol McCabe-Waters (CT) 1, Palisades Park (NJ) 0 (TITLE)

1985, BRLL knocked out in Districts

Brunswick, managed by Garel Hauver, was eliminated in District play by Frederick American 1-0 in eight innings. They lost despite the excellent pitching of 11 year old Joey Lucas.  Lucas went all eight innings allowing just the one run on six hits, striking out 15 and walking 3. "It was just an incredible gutsy effort by Joey," Brunswick All-Star coach Clair Ebersole said.

It was the second game in a row that the Railroaders had been shut out, losing out four days earlier to eventual first time District champion Emmitsburg, 3-0. The local club had defeated Frederick American 5-3, by coming from behind in the opening game of the district tournament, then cameback again to defeat Frederick National 5-4 before drawing nothing but blanks in the final two games.

Brunswick's strength during Little League All-Star play certainly was it's pitching. Three different pitchers saw action in the four District play-off games. They were Joey Lucas going 13 1/3 innings, Robby Donovan 8 2/3 innings and Bobby Dawson went 2 1/3 innings.

Hitting or lack of same, was the thing that kept the '85 Little League All-Stars from going further. The team had sixteen base hits in the four ballgames. Chad Riland led the team in hitting with a .455 batting average, going 5 for 11. The eleven year old Riland had one home run and three RBI's.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Maryland City (District 4)

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Elkton Community 7, West Salisbury 2
Frostburg 4, Waldorf American 2

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
West Salisbury 4, Waldorf American 3 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Frostburg 17, Elkton Community 2

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
Elkton Community 3, West Salisbury 2 (elim.)

Championship Series:
Elkton Community 3, Frostburg 1
Frostburg 6, Elkton Community 2 (TITLE)

1985 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

1986, Brunswick wins 5th State crown and first Regional, advances to World Series !!!

DISTRICTS 

Although no one had any indication going in, 1986 would turn out to be Brunswick Little League’s biggest year. The ’86 All-Stars from Brunswick would help put small town America on the map by going all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

Joey Lucas fired a one-hitter and Brunswick pounded out a 16-0 win over East Frederick in the opening game of District Play. Lucas had a no-hitter going beginning the sixth and final inning but a Texas league single by Frederick’s Curtis Cover spoiled the no-hit bid. Lucas fanned 14, including 7 straight at one point.  

Brunswick scored 5 runs in the first led by back-to-back home runs from Scotty Frye and Chad Riland. Frye tagged another round tripper in the fourth and Lucas hit one in the same inning. Frye and Troy Taylor each had 3 hits and each drove in 4 runs. 

Scotty Frye tossed a 4-hitter and Chad Riland hit 2 home runs as Brunswick knocked off Thurmont 8-2. Riland ended play with 3 hits in 3 trips to the plate with 4 RBI’s.  

Joey Lucas hit two home runs and struck out 12 in leading Brunswick over Frederick National 9-5. Both Lucas and Chad Riland were 3 for 3 out of the batter’s box and both had 4 RBI’s. For Riland it was six straight hits in six straight plate appearances over a two game span. 

Brunswick won the ’86 District flag by outscoring Frederick American 12-9. Matt Domer the only homer for Brunswick while the City club banged out 4 homers. Domer and Jeff Nuse came off the Brunswick bench to get a pair of base knocks. Scotty Frye and Chad Sowers were the Railroader pitchers. 

SECTIONALS 

Playing Oakland in the Sectionals, which were being held Thurmont, Brunswick won by 2-0 and 8-4 scores. The 2-0 victory was a no-hitter by Joey Lucas where the 12 year old struck out 17 of the possible 18 outs. An Oakland fan was overheard to have remarked of Lucas, “Nobody in our league flings bee-bee sized baseball like that Brunswick strongboy!” 

The two Brunswick came off a Milt Gue two-run home run in the second inning. Gue hit a one strike pitch over the centerfield barrier with Troy Taylor on base. Scotty Frye had two base hits and limited Oakland to 5 hits in leading Brunswick to its 8-4 victory, a victory which earned the league a trip to the State playoffs for the 12th time. 

STATES 

Joey Lucas pitched a 3-hit shutout as Brunswick roared past Arbutus 10-0 in the State opener in Elkton, Maryland. Lucas struck out ten, setting down 11 Arbutus batters in a row at one point. Lucas and Chad Riland both had 3 hits for Brunswick. Jeff Oden had 3 RBI’s. 

Jeff Oden scored the winning run in the 4th inning on a passed ball and Scotty Frye scattered 6 base hits as Brunswick defeated Forest Park 6-2. Brunswick second baseman Jeff Cox made a great diving stop of a hard-hit grounder and then tossed a runner out at second base in the fifth to help stop a Forest Park rally. Frye struck out 11 batters in the game.  

Brunswick captured its 5th State championship by blanking Arbutus 5-0 on a Joey Lucas one-hitter on August 8th. It was Lucas’ second shutout of Arbutus in as many games and increased his scoreless inning string to 21. The bullet-throwing righthander struck out 8. Chad Riland had a 3 for 4 game at the plate while Scotty Frye was going 2 for 4. It marked Brunswick’s fifth State championship. 

REGIONALS

At Newburgh, New York, Joey Lucas fired a no-hit perfect game as Brunswick routed Bennington, Vermont 17-0 in the opening game in Regional play. Lucas fanned 10 and allowed only one ball to be hit out of the Brunswick infield. Chad Riland hit back-to-back home runs and drove in 5 runs. Scotty Frye swatted a homer and had 4 RBI’s and scored 4 times. The Lucas shutout upped his scoreless inning string to 27. 

Scotty Frye’s dramatic final inning home run broke a 9-9 tie to give Brunswick a thrilling 11-9 victory over Seaford, Delaware. A Chad Riland grand slam homer had helped Brunswick to a 7-1 lead early, but Delaware battled back to tie it at 9 apiece in the fifth inning. Frye, who started on the mound for Brunswick, was replaced in the fifth by Chad Sowers. But Frye’s bat had the last say in the game, sending the ball on a 220 foot journey that ended the ball game. Jason Frushour was on base when Frye jumped on Frank Robert’s second pitch, a hanging curve ball. Other Brunswick home runs were hit by Troy Taylor and Joey Lucas. 

Joey Lucas hurled his second no-hit, no-run game in as many starts as he fired Brunswick past Warwick, Rhode Island 5-0 on August 14th. The win sending Brunswick to the Eastern Regional championship game,, and Lucas’s scoreless inning record to 33 innings. 

Brunswick scored all 5 of its runs in the first inning, then watched Lucas do his thing, pitching his second no-hitter of Regional week. The hard-throwing 12 year-old fanned 13. Chad Riland had a home run, his fourth in three games. After the game Brunswick manager, Robbie Dawson said, “I don’t believe we’ve realized yet what we’ve accomplished so far”. 

A tremendous performance by Scotty Frye lifted Brunswick over Metro, New York by a 9-3 score and sent the Railroaders to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

The win over Ozone Howard of Queens was a Frye showcase. Frye blasted 3 home runs, one a grand slam, while shutting out the Metro team from the mound over the first five innings, the boys from Queens rallying for 3 runs and 3 of their six hits in the final inning. Both Frye and Chad Riland, who also connected for a home run,, were the owners of 3 hits in the game while Mark Myers, Troy Taylor and Jeff Cox had 2 hits apiece. Brunswick was crowned Regional champs at 3:15pm, on August 16th as Joey Lucas fielded a grounder at shortstop and whipped a strike to first baseman Chad Sowers for the final out of the game. In the words of Red Hawes, Brunswick Little League’s 25 year manager and coach, “For years and years we had the “impossible dream”…now it’s not impossible anymore!”. 

WORLD SERIES

1986 World Series Team Photo

The 1986 All-Stars played Sarasota, Florida in the Little League World Series on Wednesday, August 20th, and despite playing well, were no-hit by Sarasota's Phil Olson. The final score was 5-0. Olson just missed a perfect game, walking Joey Lucas in the second inning. "His name should be awesome, not Olson" said Brunswick manager Robbie Dawson, giving Olson credit after the game.

Brunswick played two more games in the consolation bracket of the World Series. Beating Canaga 6-3 and Europe 8-0 as Joey Lucas pitched another no-hitter, getting 15 strikeouts. Thus ended Brunswicks'smost successful season in Little League baseball All-Star play. Robbie Dawson skippered Brunswick's 1986 World Series team, Kenny McClain was the coach.

The records which were establiished over the 16 game adventure of 1986 are mind-boggling. So here we are only listing one - Joey Lucas' pitching record.

Lucas' record of 3 no-hitters, including a perfect game in the Regionals may stand forever. The twelve year old pitched in 9 games, 49 innings, faced 201 batters, gave up but 10 runs, 21 hits. He struck out 102, and walked only 10. He hurled 7 scoreless games. The only teams to score runs off Lucas were Frederick National with 5 in the Districts and Sarasaota, Florida with 5  in the World Series.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Elkton Community (District 5)

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 10, Arbutus 0
Forest Park 9, West Salisbury 1

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
Arbutus 10, West Salisbury 7 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Brunswick Railroaders 6, Forest Park 2

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
Arbutus 1, Forest Park 0 (elim.)

Championship Game:
Brunswick Railroaders 5, Arbutus 0 (TITLE)

1986 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

East Region Tournament
Host - Newburgh, New York
At Town of Newburgh LL Complex

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Council Rock Newtown (PA) 4, Berlin (CT) 2
Brunswick (MD) 17, Bennington (VT) 0
Pittsfield North (MA) 4, Old Town (ME) 0
Queens Ozone Howard (NY Metro) 2, Kingston American (NY Upstate) 1

Quarterfinals:
Cherry Hill American (NJ) 1, Council Rock Newtown (PA) 0
Brunswick (MD) 11, Nanticoke (DE) 9
Warwick American (RI) 5, Pittsfield North (MA) 3
Queens Ozone Howard (NY Metro) 8, Manchester East (NH) 0

Semifinals:
Brunswick (MD) 5, Cherry Hill American (NJ) 0
Queens Ozone Howard (NY Metro) 4, Warwick American (RI) 3

Championship Game:
Brunswick (MD) 9, Queens Ozone Howard (NY Metro) 3 (TITLE)

1987, Railroaders lose State championship game in bid to repeat  

 DISTRICTS

Chad Sowers pitched a no-hitter and struck out all 18 outs in the District opener, as Brunswick won over error-plagued East Frederick by the most lopsided score to date in Brunswick Little League All-Star play, 33-0. The Railroaders had 17 hits while East Frederick committed 20 errors. Brian Rice had 5 of the locals' hits. Sowers, Jason Frushour, and Jeff Oden each had 4 hits. Home runs came off the bats of Frushour and Sowers.

Brunswick led 10-2 after 2 innings, then had to hold on for an 11-8 victory over Frederick National in second-round District play. Jason Frushour led off the game with a homer and Matt Domer smacked a two-run homer. Jeff Oden was the winning pitcher despite control problems, he struck out 8.

Frederick American stranded 13 runners as Brunswick knocked off the City team 8-4. Jason Frushour was the winning pitcher. Jeff Oden, Jeff Miller and David Jordan each scored twice for Brunswick.

Frederick American then defeated the local team by a 14-9 count despite two home runs, including a grand slam and 7 RBI's from a red hot Jeff Oden. Oden had a two-run homer in the fifth inning and a blasted a bases loaded four-bagger in the sixth.

Playing Frederick American for the third straight game, this time for the District title, Brunswick won 7-3 as Jeff Oden stayed hot by hitting a first inning solo home run. For Oden it was three straight home runs in three consecutive at bats over a two game span. In the third inning Jason Frushour doubled for Brunswick and Frederick then walked Oden, setting the stage for Matt Domer, who promttly deposited the ball beyond the outfield barrier for a three-run homer. Chad Sowers was the winning pitcher on a 3-hitter. Damion Fenzel made a spectacular catch in left field for the locals' to stop an American late-inning rally.  

SECTIONALS

Playing a two out of three series with West End of Hagerstown at Maugansville in the Sectionals, Jason Frushour broke a 1-1 tie in the opening game by driving a long home run over the centerfield fence leading off the fifth inning. Frushour had taken over mound duties from Chad Sowers in the second inning when Sowers devolped shoulder problems.

Coming to the mound with the bases loaded, Frushour proceded to strile out the next two hitters on 6 pitches. He ended play by pitching no-hit ball the rest of the way and striking out 9 as Brunswick won 3-1. Brunswick only had 4 hits off West Ends' Stoney Reason. Matt Harps provided Brunswick an insurance run in the sixth by hitting the ball out of the park in right field.

The Railroaders scored twice in the top of the 8th inning to brak a 5-5 tie and go on for a 7-5 win an the Sectional title. It was a game that had to be played on two differrent days to complete. Matt Domer delivered a two-run homer for Brunswick and picked up the mound win in relief of Matt Harps and Jeff Oden. Oden ended the game by pulling off an unassisted double play at his second base position. 

STATES

Playing in the State tournament in Cambridge, Brunswick downed Elkton 4-2 in the opening round. After Elkton opened a 1-0 lead Matt Harps tied it with a home run. Jason Frushour was the winning pitcher, allowing 4 base hits and striking out 7.

Calvert American had 14 hits, including a pair of homers, in knocking off Brunswick 7-4. A Matt Domer solo home run put the Railroaders ahead early but four Calvert runs in the fourth, three on a Christian Wargo homer, put the Calvert squad in front to stay. Matt Harps' three run sixth inning homer closed the final score to 7-4. Chad Sowers fanned 11 in a losing mound effort.

Brunswick then came back to oust Elkton from the State tournament by storming to a 9-5 triumph. A Matt Domer two-run homer in the third inning sparked the Railroaders to victory. Chad Sowers and Jason Frushour were the Brunswick pitchers.

In the championship game Calvert American put together a pair of back to back four run innings late in the game to oust Brunswick 8-6. Chad Sowers hammered a two-run homer in the sixth inning to bring the local team to within two, but it wasn't enough.

Sowers and Matt Domer were the Brunswick hurlers. Robby Dawson managed the '87 Brunswick All-Stars. Kenny McClain coached the team.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Choptank (Cambridge) (District 6)
At Choptank Park

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 4, Elkton Community 2
Calvert County American 9, Easton 3 (7 innings)

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
Elkton Community 6, Easton 4 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Calvert County American 7, Brunswick Railroaders 4

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
Brunswick Railroaders 9, Elkton Community 5 (elim.)

Championship Game:
Calvert County American 8, Brunswick Railroaders 6 (TITLE)

1987 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

1988, Railroaders go 0-2 in Districts

Despite leading 4-0 as late as the sixth inning, Brunswick saw victory yanked from their hands as Thurmont came back to take the opening District game 5-4 in 7 innings. Richie Wilson hurled 5-plus innings before running into trouble and being relieved by Ricky George. Wilson gave up just 2 runs and 2 hits but walked 7. Brunswick managed but 4 hits off Scott Dewess. Jason Ricketts, Greg Barnes, Dwain Stockman and George had Brunswick hits.

Brunswick was quickly eliminated from District play by suffering an 8-3 setback to Frederick American. Greg Barnes hit the game's second pitch out of the park, but things went quickly downhill from there, including making 6 errors in the contest. John George was the Brunswick manager, Johnny Axline the coach.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Lexington Park) (District 7)

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Westminster 15, Rising Sun 2
Choptank 7, Calvert County American 2

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
Calvert County American 7, Rising Sun 0 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Westminster 12, Choptank 8

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
Choptank 10, Calvert County American 3 (elim.)

Championship Game:
Westminster 5, Choptank 3 (7 innings; TITLE)

Follow Westminster at the Eastern Region Tournament -- Click here to view results.

1988 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results:

1989, After first round win, Railroaders eliminated in Districts

Robert Bell allowed only 4 base hits as Brunswick defeated Emmitsburg 8-4 in the District opening game. Eddie Hall relieved Bell in the sixth with the bases loaded, to hurl Brunswick out of the jam. Willie Sowers and Elmer Sewell each had 2 hits for the locals.

Taneytown then blanked Brunswick 4-0 as the Railroaders managed but one hit, that a Chuck Langley single. Charley McLane and Jeremy Lowery were the Brunswick pitchers.

Frederick National eliminated the Railroaders by a 7-3 score as Brunswick stranded 13 base runners in six innings, leaving the bases loaded in the second, third and sixth innings. An Elmer Sewell solo home run highlighted the Brunswick effort. Clair Ebersole was the '89 manager, Tommy Murray the coach. 

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Salisbury (District 8)
At Jaycee Park

Tournament Results:

Opening Round:
Westminster 4, Denton 0
Calvert County American 3, Elkton Community 2

Elimination Bracket Semifinal (four teams remain):
Elkton Community 4, Denton 1 (elim.)

Winner's Bracket Final:
Westminster 9, Calvert County American 1

Elimination Bracket Final (three teams remain):
Elkton Community 12, Calvert County American 6 (elim.)

Championship Game:
Westminster 4, Elkton Community 1 (TITLE)

Follow Westminster at the Eastern Region Tournament -- Click here to view results.

Linescores:

1989 Maryland District Champions and Sectional Tournament Results: