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Thurmont Little League Kicks Off Fall Season

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Ryan Tokar, Thurmont Little League

Thurmont Little League (TLL) closed registration for its fall season on August 15, and practices began in late August for the majority of its players. It was a welcome sight for many; however, for others, it seemed as if there was no off-season to speak of due to the many tournaments and activities the players took part in throughout the summer.

The Thurmont Minors All-Stars represented the league well this summer in two different tournaments. Managed by Jeff Kuhn, with assistants Gregg Warner, Justus Yocum, and John Veronie, the team finished in second place in the Pen Mar “Mayhem on the Mountain Tournament.” However, it was their performance in the Emory Frye Tournament in Brunswick that brought home a championship for Thurmont Little League, after battling it out for several days against some of the top teams in the area. Congratulations to this awesome group of boys on their performance and for making TLL proud!

In late July, the Potter Baseball Tour made its annual stop in Thurmont. Coach Potter and his team travel up and down the coast doing service projects and teaching kids how sports and service go hand-in-hand in building character and doing the right thing. TLL is happy to collaborate with Coach Potter on several activities each year. In the past, they have hosted a charity kickball game and helped update the Thurmont Food Bank. This time around, the crew, along with members of TLL, painted the exterior of the Thurmont Senior Center.

Speaking of Coach Potter, he also helped Thurmont secure a bid in the annual Cooperstown Dreams Tournament, which saw several of our 11- and 12-year-old’s fundraising for the past year in order to take the trip of a lifetime. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, TLL was forced to change up plans and head to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for The Ripken Experience Tournament. Playing as Potter Pirates Black, the team from Thurmont spent the week in Tennessee playing six games over five-days against great teams from all over the country. The team started the week with an opening ceremony that included inspirational words from former MLB player Ryan Klesko; participated in a skills competition featuring a Home Run Derby, in which TLL’s Brennen Conrad put on an excellent performance; and spent the week bonding and having fun as a team. All in all, it was a great trip that these players will never forget. Each player took home a ring as a keepsake from the event.

Finally, on August 18, TLL held its annual meeting and board of directors election. Results of the election were not immediately available at the time of this writing, but there will be more details on the outcome in next month’s edition. It was a wonderful year for the league financially, as it bounced back well after the lost COVID season during 2020. Highlights included over $5,200 raised on opening day from raffle baskets and spirit wear, $3,000 from TLL discount cards, and the most successful hit-a-thon in league history that brought in over $22,000. TLL could not do any of this without the help of its community and volunteers and is thankful for all of the support, especially during these challenging and uncertain times. We are looking forward to an exciting fall season ahead.

Thurmont Minors All Stars celebrate their championship victory in the Emory Frye Tournament.

Potter Pirates Black team members pose with their rings in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Cooperstown Dreams Park: The Trip of a Lifetime

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A local group of 11 players and three coaches from Thurmont Little League have teamed up to plan the baseball trip of a lifetime in August 2021.  The team, consisting of players ages 10 through 12, will participate in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament in Cooperstown, New York. This tournament is well known nationwide and attracts hundreds of youth baseball teams each summer. 

This annual event has a long waiting list and is difficult to get into. However, with the help of Coach Jeff Potter from the Potter Baseball Tour, the team was able to secure a spot in this summer’s event. The team will play under the name Potter Pirates Black. Thurmont Little League has partnered with Potter Baseball on several activities over the past few years, including a charity kickball tournament to benefit the Fuse Teen Center and a painting project on the exterior of the Thurmont Food Bank. They are excited to partner with Coach Potter and his organization again for this amazing opportunity. The local team will consist of players Jay Code, Brennan Conrad, Chase Cregger, Carson Fry, Mason Hewitt, Lane Koenig, Nathaniel Morlan, Justice Myers, Theron Rolko, Hunter Sanbower, and Tanner Shorb. Manager John Code and assistant coaches Keith Myers and Chris Morlan will accompany the team to Cooperstown, along with umpire Blaine Young and Coach Potter.

Players and coaches get to stay on-site for a week, lodging at Baseball Village. They will be spending quality time together, meeting players from all over the country, and, of course, playing a lot of baseball. They will be provided with daily meals and custom uniforms for the tournament. The team will get to partake in an opening and closing ceremony, skills competitions, and a minimum of seven games. Other benefits include Pin trading, personalized baseball cards for the players, tournament rings, and a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. There will be digital webcasts of the games and highlights as well for those wishing to follow along at home.

The trip comes with a hefty cost, so the team is fundraising and seeking support from the community to help them fulfill their dreams. They are asking the community to consider supporting the team at a fundraiser or by donating to the group. Many efforts are already underway such as Roy Rogers and Thurmont Kountry Kitchen donating a portion of their proceeds from scheduled fundraiser nights. In addition, there has also been a Pampered Chef Party fundraiser and a Super Bowl grid fundraiser in support of the team. A Go Fund Me page has also been established as a method of collecting online donations. For more information on how you can help support this worthy cause, please contact team manager, John Code at jcode8@yahoo.com.