Photo by Ryan Ottney | Daily Times
Muralist Brent Woodard, of Lucasville, stands next to the New Boston Little League Mural at Millbrook Park. Dedication is expected for June 22.
Ryan Scott Ottney
PDT Staff Writer
NEW BOSTON — More than 50 years after New Boston Little League played in the Little League World Series, the team is being honored with a special mural at Millbrook Park, in New Boston. Mayor James Warren said the mural is expected to be dedicated to the team during a special ceremony June 22.
In 1960, New Boston became the first team from Ohio to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Va., after beating Portsmouth and playing Elyria for the state title. Then New Boston beat all other northern state teams for the regional championship to advance to the National Little League World Series. New Boston represented the northern United States in the Series, California represented the west, Texas represented the south, and Pennsylvania represented the east. Teams also played from Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada, and Hawaii.
Pennsylvania finally won the Series, but New Boston finished fifth in the entire world league.
“It was an unbelievable team,” said Bill Powell, whose son Mike Powell played on the team. “The toughest game we had was the first one, against Portsmouth, and it went extra innings. Then they won 11 straight tournament games. Ten more after Portsmouth.”
In honor of the team’s achievement, a group of individuals — which include New Boston Mayor James Warren — have raised money to commission a mural depicting the 1960 New Boston Little League team. Artist Charlie Reed was first commissioned last summer to create the piece on the back of the baseball field press box facing the New Boston Stadium. In April, the job was handed over to Brent Woodard, of Lucasville, to complete.
“He (Reed) had gotten the sketch up, which was a feat unto itself. He did a great job on that sketch,” Woodard said.
Woodard has a bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Columbus College of Art and Design, and a master’s degree in Studio Arts from Marshall University. He does private commissions and his studio, The Rock Cries Out Studio, is available online at www.therockcriesoutstudios.com. He previously worked with Little League designing a drug-awareness patch for the league, so when they needed another artist to complete the mural they called him.
Woodard started the project in April and has clocked about 30 hours until Wednesday, when he was applying the final protective clear coat.
“It’s anti-graffiti clear coat, so if anybody would get a wild hair to spray paint it or write on it or do anything, with a power wash or just a good scrub brush it’ll just come right off and it won’t affect the mural,” Woodard said.
Now that the mural is complete, Mayor James Warren said the village, Little League and Woodard will participate in a public dedication ceremony at the park on Saturday, June 22.
Ryan Scott Ottney may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Ryan on Twitter @PDTwriter.
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