Celebrating 100 Years of the Rockingham County Baseball League

Play ball! Special event to open the new baseball exhibit and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rockingham County Baseball League

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 6 pm | Rocktown History

Limited seating, registration required

382 High Street, Dayton

We’ll be gathering in the gallery at 6:00 pm, for classic baseball fare and exhibition notes from Curator Scott Suter. At 7:00 pm, we’ll move to the lecture hall for an RCBL Panel Discussion moderated by Karl Magenhofer with Tom Bocock, Chris Rush, Kirk Messick, and Tyler Conley. We anticipate a sell-out crowd, so ticket registration is required. (Free, donations encouraged.)

Karl Magenhofer’s voice has narrated local sports for over two decades. He has provided color and play by play commentary for JMU, Bridgewater College, local high schools, and RCBL teams. His baseball resume includes calling the plays for the Baltimore Orioles AA affiliate, the Bowie Baysox!
Kirk Messick, new RCBL Massanutten Mountaineers owner, played for Broadway High School, Lynchburg College, Broadway Bruins, and New Market Shockers. Three-time RCBL Pitcher of the Year, he set the single season strike-out record: 131 in 2007.
Tyler Conley has played for the Broadway High School Gobblers, Broadway Bruins, and Bridgewater College Eagles. Since summer 2015, Tyler has played and advocated for the Clover Hill Bucks.
Chris Rush began his RCBL career as an assistant coach for the Broadway Bruins. He also assisted the New Market Shockers before taking over as Head Coach, leading the team to an 11-win season and earning 2015 RCBL Coach of the Year. Chris and the Shockers were Co-Champions of the East Division of the RCBL and advanced to the semi-final round of the RCBL playoffs.Chris has been the Montezuma Braves’ Head Coach since 2019
One of the most talented all-around athletes to play in the RCBL, Tom Bocock came to the league after record-setting high school and collegiate careers, and three seasons in the minor leagues. He was a pitcher, utility fielder and feared clean-up hitter during the league’s aluminum bat era. He played 11 seasons with the Bridgewater Reds, contributing to 10 pennants and eight consecutive series wins. Bocock is one of the most decorated athletes in league history, earning a total of four post-season honors: Most Valuable Pitcher 1985, Co-MVP 1986, and MVP again in 1988 and 1989. In addition, he is one of only three players to earn both the Most Valuable Pitcher award and the Most Valuable Player award.