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Home of the New Market Shockers
A Proud Member of The Rockingham County Baseball League


                                                                                                          

How It All Began 

 
 
In 1950 the Smith Creek Indians was part of the Twin County League. The Twin County League consisted of Tenth Legion, Broadway, Bergton, Timberville, Quicksburg, Mountain Run, Columbia Furnace and Smith Creek. According to Carl Olshofka the reason the league was named Twin County was because the teams were from both Shenandoah and Rockingham counties. Bobby Strickler was the manager of the Smith Creek Indians in 1960, when the team won the pendant with a 15-4 record. In 1964, Bobby Strickler, Carl Olshofka and Scoupe Gordon formed the Twin County Reds, which played in the Rockingham County Baseball League. The team later became known as the Twin County Twins. The Twin County twins won the league championship in 1972 with a 4-0 series record over the Grottoes Cardinals. In 1976, Bobby Strickler was recognized with the lifetime award from the RCBL for all his years of dedication to the league. Later in 1983, Delmas Miller was recognized with the lifetime award from the RCBL for all his work with the Twin County Twins and the RCBL over the years. The Twin County Twins later dissolved and the RCBL was absent from New Market until 2004.

Davey Mantz and several players from the Grottoes Cardinals formed the New Market Shockers in 2004. This provided a team for local ball players in the New Market area once again. This new generation of players, managers, coaches and fans were welcomed with open arms by the supporters of the Ole Twin County Twins. Bobby Strickler and his family made their way back to Rebel Park and joined forces with Smokey Veney’s family to insure our local baseball players continue to have a place at Rebel Park.

As with any new organization, the Shockers’ have faced their obstacles and over-came them one by one. The 2009 season was the best yet for the Shockers’ with a 15-13 record ending the season tied for 3rd place. Several of the Shockers were recognized by topping the RCBL player statistics in several different categories. The Shockers’ are also proud that Coach Smokey Veney was named 2009 RCBL Coach of the Year!

Thanks to the continued dedication of the Shockers’ board members and supporters, the RCBL thrives in New Market. The hard working are few but we are mighty! The players receive no compensation for taking the field after putting in an 8 hour day at work, but they do it because they love the game! The fans receive little thanks for sitting faithfully in the bleachers cheering and donating 50/50 winnings back to the team, but they are there at every game. We are few, we are faithful, we are proud to be Shockers and support our local boys! 

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