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A Grand-Slam Season for Catoctin Rec Softball

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Mike Randall, CRC Vice President

Like all youth sports organizations, Catoctin Rec Council (CRC) Softball had to navigate through the extremely murky waters of a pandemic. Balancing player safety with the desire to play is not an easy task for players and parents alike. But, the girls came out with renewed energy and vigor, beginning with cold and rainy practices in March and ending with championships in June.

This year, CRC fielded teams at all age groups: 8U, 10U, 12U, and 15U, with almost 70 girls from the area. Our teams played groups throughout the Frederick County Girls Softball League, including Middletown, Carrol Manor, Urbana, Libertytown, Frederick, Walkersville, Araby, and LUYAA.

“The great thing about our organization is that the players get to see good competition in Frederick County, and the parents don’t have to travel far to do so. Games are about two hours long, and we don’t play double headers like other organizations. It really is the best of all worlds for the girls,” said League President Melissa Thomas.

On May 21, CRC had its first annual Hit-a-Thon family picnic at the Thurmont Town Park. It was a fun day of face painting, cornhole, egg toss, obstacle courses, sack races, and of course, the Hit-a-Thon. All of the girls competed in fun events for various prizes, from a new iPhone 13 to Hoverboards or gift cards. “Bringing the Hit-a-Thon to Little League in 2013 was an exciting experience, so I thought I would try it again with CRC. We had a great day, and the girls will benefit from everyone’s willingness to pitch in,” explained CRC Vice President Mike Randall. Winners in each age group received Amazon gift cards of $50, $25, $10, and $5. The winners of the Hit-a-Thon were: 8U Distance Winners: 1st—Brantley Miesner, 2nd—Lillian Barnes, 3rd—Emma Hodnett, 4th—MiKayla Martinez; 10U Distance Winners: 1st—Addison Krietz, 2nd—Peyton Gallion, 3rd—Brylee Cameron, 4th—Alexis Roos; 12U Distance Winners: 1st—Raquel Owens, 2nd—Corine Jewell, 3rd—Delaney Warner, 4th—Jadyn Aubol; 15U Distance Winners: 1st—Tatiana Owens, 2nd—Haven Miesner, 3rd—Madeline Whetzel, 4th—Keelyn Swaney.

Overall Sponsor Winners were: 1st Place Overall Sponsors—Carli Savage  (selected a new pink iPhone 13); 2nd Place Overall Sponsors—Kaydense Cox (selected a $250 Amazon gift card); 3rd Place Overall Sponsors—Pressley Brantner (selected a $100 Amazon gift card).

The event raised over $11,000, which will be used to construct new batting cages and hitting stations for the girls at the town fields. CRC Secretary Dana Randall stated, “I’ve been involved with Frederick County softball for over 30 years, so it felt great to get back into an organization I love and raise funds for equipment just for the girls. My son and daughter both played ball here, and I felt it was time that the girls have just as good of facilities as the boys.” 

Every team played in the post-season championships, and each age group had its own County All-Star team. The Catoctin 12U White team won the Gold level Championship to cap off a stellar season, while both 12U Blue and 15U were runner-ups in their Championship series. 

Many thanks to the coaches, players, and parents for a great comeback season for CRC Softball. CRC would also like to thank the Town of Thurmont for the exceptional care and dedication they take in keeping the softball fields in great condition. The new lighted softball field will be a welcome addition to the community. If you are interested in helping the organization, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/catoctinrecsoftball.

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Catoctin Rec Council Softball teams 8U, 10U, 12U, and 15U.

Former County Resident Writes About 1960s Migrant Workers in Thurmont

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James Rada, Jr.

There was a time in Frederick County when workers needed to follow the work. Every year, a couple thousand workers would journey up the East Coast to work on farms and in factories in the county. They lived in migrant camps in Thurmont, Frederick, and Araby.

Galen Hahn was among them. He didn’t travel with them or work the jobs they did. He ministered to them in the 1960s.

Born and raised in Frederick County, Hahn is the son of John and Helen Hahn. He was confirmed and ordained into Christian ministry at Grace Reformed United Church of Christ in Frederick.

While in high school, Hahn spent a couple summers working with the pastors who served the migrant communities in the county. He initially served as a guide, getting a pastor who wasn’t local to the different places he needed to go, but he continued volunteering and serving the migrants. After he graduated college, Rev. Hahn returned to the county as the migrant pastor.

“It wasn’t just a meeting on Sunday,” Hahn said. “I had to go day to day, week to week. The bulk of the people I worked with were children and a few women.”

This is because the men, and most of the women, were in the county to work, and they worked seven days a week. In the Thurmont area, they worked in a canning factory owned by J. O’Neill Jenkins.

The migrant camp was a set of run-down barracks that were “falling apart,” according to Hahn. For these poor accommodations, the families paid $2.00 per person, per week. The camp, which was near the Weller Church cemetery, no longer exists.

Hahn has written a book about his time as a migrant pastor, called Finding My Field. It includes pictures, which he has since donated to the Maryland Room in the C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick.

The book is the story of the migrant ministry in Frederick County and the people who cared enough for the migrant farm workers to pursue justice for them.

“Toward the end of my life, I am enjoying the opportunity of revisiting some of my early days of involvement in ministry before ordained ministry became my life,” Hahn said. “I was early affected by race, poverty, justice, and ministry to children where these were issues. These issues stayed with me throughout my ordained ministry.”

Although he now is retired and living in North Carolina, Rev. Hahn previously served as pastor of the Mt. Pleasant Reformed United Church of Christ and the Sabillasville United Church of Christ. He has also served as a chaplain at Stauffer Funeral Home, Victor Cullen Center, and Victor Cullen Academy.

You can purchase his book online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Copies are also available to check out in county libraries.

Thurmont Migrant Camp

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Before Migrants Arrived in 1963

Connie  Stapleton at the Thurmont Camp Garbage Area.

Thurmont Camp Barracks Family Room.

Photos Courtesy of the Maryland Room, Frederick County Public Libraries