The Shiretowners story took root in 1974 with an Intermediate "A” team, which, a year later, won the Maritime Intermediate "A” Baseball Championship. In 1977, the squad moved to the NB Senior Baseball League, and, in its third year of existence, captured the NB Senior Baseball title, the first for Woodstock since 1959.

Team success was due not only to games played on the field, but also to the off-field organization. A committed group of volunteers, about 50 in number, worked tirelessly year-round to provide a strong foundation.

In 1979, the Shiretowners won the regular season pennant with a 19-11 win-loss record in a very competitive four-team league. This was accomplished with a squad of local talent supplemented with two imports from Massachusetts.

After defeating the Marysville Red Lanterns 4-2 in the best-of-seven semi-final, the Shiretowners edged Fredericton Granadas 4-3 in a best-of-seven championship final. The series was described by a provincial sports writer as a "super series” won in the most dramatic of ways, a way in which kids dream of winning "the big game.” What more could fans ask for than a game-winning, home run in the bottom of the 9^thinning of a tied game! Woodstock-7; Fredericton-6.

Not only was the series a success on the field for the Shiretowners, but approximately 7,500 fans jammed Connell Field for the four home games. With the victory, the Shiretowners represented New Brunswick at the 1980 Canadian Senior Baseball Championship in Trois-Rivieres, Que., where they finished second, earning the silver medal.

~ INDUCTION MAY 15, 2010 ~