“It’s Bigger Than Baseball”: A Town, Its Legends, and the 12U All-Stars Unite for Front Royal’s First State Title in 62 Years

On Sunday afternoon, the BrickHouse Bar and Grill was packed wall-to-wall with family, friends, former athletes, and proud residents, all gathered to honor the Front Royal 12U All-Stars, fresh off their first state championship win since 1962.

The rally, hosted by the Hike Kidz Foundation, Play Favorites, and the BrickHouse team, was organized to raise funds for the team’s upcoming trip to the Southeast Regional Tournament in Warner Robins, Georgia. But it quickly became more than just a fundraiser. It was a powerful display of community pride, a celebration decades in the making, and a reminder of how baseball has long connected generations in Front Royal.

Toby Brown, general manager of BrickHouse, welcomed the standing-room-only crowd with heartfelt gratitude.

“First of all, thank you for being here and supporting these boys,” Brown told the crowd. “This event isn’t just about raising money, it’s about showing them that Front Royal is behind them all the way.”

Chris and Christy Grady, owners of BrickHouse Bar and Grill, welcome the crowd during Sunday’s rally in support of the Front Royal 12U All-Stars. The Gradys helped host the event, which raised funds to support the team’s upcoming trip to the Southeast Regional Tournament in Georgia.

The 12U All-Stars earned their spot in the regional tournament with a nail-biting 6–5 victory over SYA at Caroline County Little League on Wednesday. The win marked Front Royal’s first Little League state championship since 1962, and it sparked a wave of celebration across the town, culminating in Sunday’s energetic rally.

Mayor Lori Cockrell took the mic to offer official congratulations from the town.

“These young men have made us incredibly proud,” said Mayor Cockrell. “This is a big win not only for them, but for all of Front Royal. They represent the best of who we are: hard work, teamwork, and perseverance. We’re behind them every step of the way.”

Coaches Joe Cook, Jesse Henry, and Shane Wines stand with pride during Sunday’s rally at BrickHouse Bar and Grill, celebrating the Front Royal 12U All-Stars’ state championship victory. The trio has led the team to its first state title since 1962 and now prepares for the Southeast Regional Tournament in Georgia.

Behind the team’s success stands a trio of coaches who have led with heart, humility, and a deep respect for the game: Joe Cook, Jesse Henry, and Shane Wines.

“The journey so far has been incredible,” said Coach Joe Cook. “We’ve faced strong competition, and every step has prepared us for what’s next in Georgia. These boys have earned this moment.”

Coach Jesse Henry was asked what it’s really like to coach a team of 12-year-olds, an age where the line between childhood and young adulthood is both exciting and unpredictable.

“Honestly, with this group, it’s not as difficult as you’d think,” Henry said. “They all love the game, and they all work hard. Through all my years playing and coaching, this is by far the group that I’ve seen work the hardest. And it shows.”

Henry explained that the team’s commitment goes beyond just showing up for games. “They show up every day, mentally and physically. That tells you they care. They want to be here,” he said. “And that’s all we ask them to do. Clock in and show up.”

Wines chimed in with a grin: “Jesse’s been saying that all season. And now, just look at him. That maroon mohawk on his head? That’s real dedication.”

Coach Henry had made a promise to the team: if they won the state title, he’d get a mohawk, which was inspired by a memory of a coach from a rival team who once beat them wearing flip-flops and a bright red mohawk. True to his word, Henry showed up Sunday with a freshly shaved maroon mohawk, dyed in the team’s colors.

“It was a team bet,” Henry laughed. “I told them if we made it, I’d do it. I think I still have dye under my fingernails.”

But the moment also had meaning. “It’s not about the haircut,” said Wines. “It’s about keeping promises and showing these boys that if you believe in something, if you work for it, great things happen.”

Coach Shane Wines reflected on how far the team has come since a tough loss two years ago, when many of the same players suffered a first-round exit.

“We’ve talked a lot about learning through failure,” Wines said. “That loss stuck with them. Since then, they’ve battled, they’ve trained, and they’ve grown. They came back stronger.”

“This is something they’ll remember forever,” Wines added. “I remember being 12. I remember my All-Star team. When you make a run like this, it stays with you for life.”

The emotional highlight of the rally came when Danny Pond and Jeff Board, players from Front Royal’s 1960 and 1961 state championship teams, stepped forward to share memories and support.

“Sixty-four years later, and I still remember it like it was yesterday,” said Board. “The community was everything then, just like it is now.”

Danny Pond and Jeff Board share memories from Front Royal’s 1960 and 1961 state championship teams during Sunday’s rally. The former All-Stars reflected on their journey and offered words of encouragement to today’s players, connecting generations of Front Royal baseball history.

Board added, “We looked up to the ’53 team that made it to Williamsport. Back then, we thought Front Royal would win the state every few years. We took it for granted. But seeing it happen again after all this time, it’s something special.”

The two men recounted how the town once hosted the 1961 state tournament and how, in 1963, Front Royal teams across all levels — American Legion and Babe Ruth — won their state tournaments, with the Little League team advancing to the state semifinals. That year, people across Virginia called Front Royal “the baseball capital of the state.”

“We should put a sign on the bridge,” Pond joked. “Front Royal — Baseball Capital of Virginia.”

Pond noted that the same 1963 high school team is being inducted into the Warren County Hall of Fame this fall. “This town has always raised ballplayers,” he said. “And now it’s happening again.”

The 2025 team now prepares for a 10-hour drive to Warner Robins. Though they hope to wear uniforms that read “Virginia,” the coaches said the familiar Front Royal jerseys — the same ones worn throughout the tournament — might make the trip for superstition’s sake.

“Baseball people are superstitious,” Coach Cook said. “We’ve been winning in Front Royal, so we may keep wearing Front Royal.”

Sunday’s rally also included a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and posters fans could sign to be sent with the team. There was laughter, music, and hugs all around, and a promise of more to come.

A town-wide sendoff is planned for Tuesday at 5 a.m., with residents encouraged to line Commerce Avenue to cheer on the boys as they depart. On Thursday night at 7 p.m., a watch party at the BrickHouse Bar and Grill will bring fans together to see the game live on ESPN+.

“We can’t thank this community enough,” said Coach Henry. “This isn’t just a title for the team, it’s for the entire town. Everyone talks about Front Royal being a baseball town, and we just proved it still is.”

Coach Wines nodded in agreement. “The support we’ve seen? It’s bigger than baseball.”

And if the All-Stars get their way in Georgia, their next stop could be Williamsport — with all of Front Royal watching, cheering, and believing.

State Champions! Front Royal 12U All-Stars Advance to Southeast Regionals