Players honored for historic feat

    Editor’s note: Reprinted with permission of the Bugle-Observer.
    The Woodstock Shiretowners 1979 baseball team was inducted into the Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame for their contribution to Woodstock baseball in a ceremony held on May 15.
By Devon Judge
Bugle-Observer
    The 1979 baseball season for the Woodstock Shiretowners was the peak of a young organization.
Photograph by Devon Judge/Bugle-Observer
INDUCTED – The 1979 Woodstock Shiretowners baseball team was inducted into the Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame on May 15, honoring the team’s successful season that ended in a provincial title victory. In the back row, second and third from left, respectively are Brian Carpenter and John Donato, both formerly of Houlton.
    “This team was a crowning jewel in a program which originated in the late fall of 1973 and led to an on-field product in the 1974 season,” said team third baseman Paul Allen while making the official nomination.
    The 1974 Shiretowners won the Tobique Valley League title and followed up with the 1975 Maritime Intermediate A title. These successes gained the team entry into the N.B. Senior League for the 1977 season, in which they lost 4-1 in the provincial finals to the Fredericton Granadas. In 1978, the Shiretowners were ousted in the semi-final round.
    With two teams dropping out of the league prior to the 1979 season, the four-team circuit proved stronger than ever with the best players from Saint John and Moncton joining the Fredericton and Marysville squads.
    In the end, the Shiretowners returned the senior championship to the town after a 20-year hiatus and the team did so in dramatic fashion – a walk-off homerun by catcher Mark Sullivan.
    “A strong community-minded executive provided a sense of direction,” said Allen. “A large group of 50 volunteers worked tirelessly year-round to generate the necessary finances to achieve the goals. These volunteers were key in helping the program be a success.
    “A committed group of local talented players provided the basis for a competitive team – a team that knew how to play the game.
    “For 10 years the program met with success on the field in terms of being very competitive – this achievement in spite of being the smallest centre in the league.”
Photograph by Karen Donato
INDUCTED – Brian Carpenter, left, and John Donato were part of the 1979 Woodstock Shiretowners inducted into the Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame on May 15.
    Adding a little flair to the induction, the 1979 voice of the Shiretowners, Don Peabody, introduced the team as they would be announced on the field. Peabody also showed the crowd some highlights from the championship win over Fredericton on Sept. 16, 1979.
    “This was very much a community team,” said team executive member Don Allen in accepting the nomination. “It was a great effort.
    “It was pleasure then and it is certainly a pleasure today.”
    Playing on the team from Houlton were John Donato, Brian Carpenter and Jim Anderson.