Class of 2024

RCBL Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Doug Armentrout

Doug Armentrout played twelve years in the RCBL winning seven championship titles with two teams. Beginning in Grottoes early in career and moving to Linville to play with his brother Mike. The Armentrout brothers were a dynamic duo in football, first at Montevideo then Concord College. During his County League time, Doug was a ferocious power hitter who competed annually for the league home run title and was a perennial All-Star selection.

Mike Burtner

Mike Burtner has had a long and engaged career in the RCBL. He spent 16 years with the Elkton Blue Sox; 1994-2000 as a player, 2001-2007 as manager, and 2008-2009 as player coach. During his time at Elkton he was a RCBL All-Star three times – 1999, 2000, and 2008. As a manager he won the league pennant in 2004 & 2005, the championship in 2002, and was named manager of the year three times – 2001, 2002, and 2004. During his tenure he coached eight MLB Draft Picks: Yates Hall, John Cappelmann, Jeremy Knicely, Michael Cowgill, Kyle Long, Michael Schwimer, Casey Lambert, and Jordan Ballard. He was involved in Getting Grottoes back in the RCBL and was an assistant coach at Grottoes in 2017 & 2018.
Mike has also served the league as Vice-Commissioner in 2011 & 2012 and as Commissioner in 2013 & 2014. He signed the contract to implement PointStreak. In 2015 Mike was presented the RCBL Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also served on board of directors for Elkton Blue Sox, Grottoes Cardinals, and Massanutten Mountaineers.

Eddie Clark

Eddie Clark’s baseball career is nothing short of phenomenal. Having played for the Bridgewater Reds, Harrisonburg Chics, Linville Patriots, and Clover Hill Bucks, among other teams, Clark’s name would frequently graced the papers with a home run tied to it.

Early in his career, Clark spent five years in the Cleveland Indians minor league system before returning to the RCBL as an experienced talent. The name Eddie Clark is well-known throughout the league and is synonymous to many of its greats. An exceptional player and outstanding teammate, Clark utilized his professional experience to help develop, mentor, and lead his squad.

Clark’s pitching talent is well-spoken for with players eagerly anticipating the opportunity to hit against him. His status as an ex-pro caught the attention of young talent seeking to prove themselves. The presence of ex-pros like Clark helped to boost the league’s status and according to Clark, “…Just makes it more competitive.”

Beyond his RCBL career, Clark's legacy extends into coaching and his son's early success in baseball. His playing and leadership experience made him a natural fit for coaching. In 2006-2007, Clark lead Turner Ashby High School to back-to-back state championships. His son, Lucas Clark, also played high school baseball at Turner Ashby and joined the Grottoes Cardinals in the RCBL.

Chris Cofer

Chris played for the Clover Hill Bucks for approximately 15 years from 1998-2013, assistant coach in 2014, and was the head coach for 5 years starting in 2015. He was a key player in many of the championships won and also coached 2 RCBL Championships. He helped to carry the torch as a leader at CH and helped to bring about the famous Buck Truck used to water the field. His in game antics of pulling many pranks on fellow teammates as well as the opposing teams will always be remembered, especially those victim to his hot-foot prank. He was lost too soon but will never be forgotten in the league and from those in the Clover Hill organization.

Ryan Cooper

Ryan Cooper was the premiere 2-way player in the RCBL over the last 20+ years. Cooper began his RCBL career with the Elkton Blue Sox in 2003 when he was named the RCBL's Rookie of the Year. Cooper played for the Blue Sox from 2003 - 2005. After spending 1 season with the Waynesboro Generals in the Valley League in 2006, Cooper returned to Elkton for one more season before joining his hometown Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks where he played from 2008 - 2019. While with the Diamondbacks, Cooper won the league MVP in both 2009 and 2014 and also won the Championship Series MVP in 2012. In reality, there were very few years that he was not the Most Valuable Player in the league due to the impact he had both on the mound and at the plate. For example, in 2017 he didn't win the MVP but went 7-0 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA and a 46:1 strikeout to walk ratio. That same year he batted .393 with 2 HRs and 24 RBIs, 10 doubles and 12 stolen bases. One of the more telling facts that shows his impact on the game was that the team he played on made it to the Championship Series in each year that he played except his final year in 2019.

Dick Gilkerson

Dick Gilkerson was an outstanding left-handed pitcher whose nearly two-decade career in RCBL earned him much respect and recognition. Known for his dual role as a player and manager, Gilkerson significantly impacted the RCBL. He also competed in the Detroit Tigers' farm system, playing for the Butler Tigers in the 1949 Mid-Atlantic League season. Although statistics are hard to come by, Gilkerson’s time with the Butler Tigers shows his ability to play at a high level.

Gilkerson’s presence is widely remembered as influential. His contributions went past his playing skills in the form of leadership. His managerial prowess helped to develop many young careers, effectively shaping and prepping the RCBL with good talent. Dick Gilkerson’s dedication to the game and to his team made him an iconic and pivotal figure in local baseball history.

Mark Graves

Mark Graves played at a high level wherever he played baseball. He was on the 1967 Italian national team that lost to Spain in the European Championship that went on the Little League World Series. 1968 through 1970 he played for the Belgium National team and played in the Junior League World Series. In 1971 he was named the team MVP at Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, VA.

Mark played four seasons in the RCBL, one for the Harrisonburg AC’s and three for the Shenandoah Indians. He was an All-Star all four seasons.

Mike Martin

Mike Martin appeared on the RCBL scene around 1986, where he pitched for the Clover Hill Bucks. His ability to excel as a dual threat on the offensive and defensive end made him an invaluable asset to the team. Towards the end of his playing career, Martin took on the role of player/coach leading younger high school and college talent.

Martin finished out his RCBL career managing a dominant Bucks team who, at the time, had won nine titles in the last ten seasons. His playing experience and managerial style rewarded him with the Manager of the Year award in 2007. Martin’s vocal nature was one of his most captivating attributes during his managerial tenure. He always had praise for his players and never missed the opportunity to acknowledge their efforts. That being said, the coach would also never shy away from letting others know when he thought there was room for improvement.

In 2013, the head coach was quoted saying, “We had two weeks where we didn’t have the intensity that we needed to.” This was after the team had failed to win a championship for the first time in six years. The quote exemplifies how Martin held himself and his team to high standards, a quality that defines a great manager.

Isaac "Ike" McCary

Ike McCary was involved in the Rockingham County Baseball League for forty years. He Managed four different teams, Keezletown, Grottoes, Linville, and Harrisonburg A.C.’s He won league titles while managing Grottoes and Linville. He became Commissioner of the RCBL in 1991 after serving as Vice-Commissioner for five years. He served as Commissioner for seven out of nine years during the 90’s, sometimes switching roles with Karl Olschofka. In 2000 he received the Buck Bowman Recognition Award.

John Radosevich

John Radosevich played in the RCBL for 4 years and then also umpired in the league for almost 8 years. John was a prolific hitter and first baseman and helped guide the Linville Patriots to several pennant championships with his bat. Before playing in the RCBL, John was a pitcher at West Virginia University where he is still recognized as being the record holder for the following pitching titles, career ERA of 1.34, season winning percentage in 1963 of 1.000, season strikeouts in 1965 with 120 and in 1964 with 123, career strikeouts with 338, strikeouts per 9 innings in 1963 with 15, strikeout per 9 innings over a career with 14.15, and career strikeouts to walk ratio with 4.63/1. While attending WVU, John also played for the Valley Baseball League Harrisonburg Turks, where he won MVP, threw multiple complete games, and threw a no-hitter. John was drafted in 1965 and played four years in the minor leagues where his career was cut short due to an arm injury. After returning from the minors, John joined the Linville Patriots where he primarily played 1st. John was known as one of the best hitters in the league and he had several game winning at bats over his career with Linville. John was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Fayatte County, PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Charlie Rhodes

Charlie was an avid sports fan. He served as the voice of the Linville Patriots baseball team from 1970 – 1980. He was an umpire with the Rockingham County Baseball League for 15 years. He umpired high school baseball for 20 years and refereed high school basketball for 12 years. But most notably, he was a devoted fan of the James Madison University basketball team and known throughout the JMU community as “the man with the towel” due to his enthusiastic towel waving during each home game from his first row seat behind the team bench.

James "Smokey" Veney

sJames “Smokey” Veney's name is synonymous with dedication, perseverance, and success in the RCBL. As a manager for the New Market Shockers, Smokey demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his team and the league, making significant contributions that have left a lasting impact on the RCBL community.

In 2009, Smokey's exceptional leadership earned him the prestigious title of Manager of the Year. His strategic emphasis on a deep pitching rotation and his ability to stay competitive in any situation were key elements of his managerial style. Known for his knack for developing talent and recruiting effectively, Smokey was instrumental in building competitive teams year after year.

Smokey's deep-rooted connection to the New Market Shockers began in the franchise's inaugural year in 2004. Veney was recruited for managerial job based on his many years dedicated to Little League. Over the years, he faced numerous challenges, including the struggle to retain returning players. Despite these adversities, Smokey's resilience and dedication to his team never wavered. His sons, Josh and JD Veney, and Kevin Rush, played for the Shockers, adding a personal dimension to his commitment and involvement to his team.

In addition to his managerial duties, Smokey's influence extended to his role as the head coach for the 2011 East All-Star team. His ability to inspire and lead was further showcased in this role, highlighting his deep understanding of the game and his ability to bring out the best in his players.

James “Smokey” Veney's profound care for the RCBL and its tight-knit community has left an indelible mark on the league. His tenure as a manager and coach is characterized by his strategic expertise, competitive spirit, and unwavering dedication to the sport.

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