Diamonds ⚾️ Dwellings🏠 and Downpours 🌧️

Winchester Wire #007: Loyal Royals, events and happenings, homes on the market and more

Author

Winchester Wire
May 28, 2025

Winstigators,

The Valley Baseball League was started in 1923 and was sanctioned by the NCAA in 1961. It’s a summer league for college baseball players looking to get more experience and keep playing after their college seasons have ended. The league is partially funded by a grant from Major League Baseball and has sent over 1,000 ballplayers to join the professional ranks.

In 1979, Winchester was granted a VBL team named the Royals and their success was immediate. The Winchester Royals won the VBL championship every year from 1979 through 1983 and have won it an additional eight times, tying the Harrisonburg Turks for the most amount of championships in league history. Notable players that have come through Winchester and spent a summer playing for the Royals are Jimmy Key, Reggie Sanders, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Tyler Thornburg, and Kyle Snyder. Additionally, Dayton Moore managed the Royals in 1992 and 1993 before he became the general manager of the Kansas City Royals and architected the team that won the 2015 World Series.

The Bridgeforth family of Winchester were the original owners of the team and they also owned the Royal Crown Cola bottling plant in town which is why the team is named the “Royals.” Their homefield, Bridgeforth Stadium, is named after the family and seats 1,500 people, located inside Jim Barnett Park.

Bridgeforth Stadium at Jim Barnett Park

The Royals have an exhibition game at Bridgeforth Stadium scheduled for tonight but with the weather we’ve had this week, there’s a strong chance it’ll be played tomorrow evening instead.

The 2025 Royals officially start their season on Friday evening at 7pm with a game against the Strasburg Express and have another game on Saturday at 7pm against the New Market Rebels. 

Want to learn more about the Winchester Royals? Visit their website here.

Homes of the Week

Events and happenings in Winchester and the surrounding territories:

Wednesday, May 28th 

Stitch Needlepoint, Middleburg - Wednesday Night Stitch 5pm-7pm

Dividing Creek Beer Co., Winchester - Gilmore Girls Trivia Night 6:30pm-8:30pm

Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery, Middleburg - Trivia Night at the Barn 6pm-8pm

Prohibition Hub, Hagerstown MD - Ash Wednesday Cigar Night 6pm-11pm

Shenandoah Valley Axe Co., Front Royal - Family night 5-8pm

Dirt Farm Brewing, Bluemont - Happy Hour 3-5pm, half price pints

Thursday, May 29th

Vault and Cellar, Middletown - Weekly Bourbon Tastings With Dan, 6pm

Runner’s Retreat, Winchester - RRTGR (running group) run starts at 6pm sharp

50/50 Taphouse, Winchester - Trivia Night, 8:30pm

Dirt Farm Brewing, Bluemont - Happy Hour 3-5pm, half price pints

Healthy Families NSV, Winchester - Women’s Circle For Mom’s, 4:30-6:30pm

Vibrissa Beer, Winchester - You Should Be Dancing (Inaugural Event) 7-10pm

Friday, May 30th

Rock Harbor Golf Course, Winchester - Top of the Tee Charity Golf Classic, 8am

Bright Box Theater, Winchester - Of Good Nature w/ Last Resort, doors at 7pm

Daughter of the Stars Theater, Stanley VA - Open Mic Night, 7pm

Backseat Bar and Grill, Winchester - So Low, 8-11pm

Chester Street Tavern, Front Royal - Open musician stage 3-5pm, 7-10pm Live Music with "From the Heart" John Landis, Kenny Smith, and Friends

Vibrissa Beer, Winchester - First Responder Friday’s (all day, 20% off food and drinks for first responders!)

Saturday, May 31st

Jim Barnett Park Skate Pad, Winchester - Game of Skate, 11 am-3pm

The Monument, Winchester - Saturday Dance Party w/ DJ Curfew, 9pm

Clarke County Farmer’s Market, Berryville - 8am-noon

Chilly Hollow Brewing Co., Berryville - Franklin’s Smokin Backyard BBQ Food Truck, 1pm-6pm, Live Music from Curt & Rob 1pm-4pm

Sunset Polo, The Plains - Hawaiian Luau Night, gates at 5:30pm

Fox Meadow Winery, Linden - Sunset in the Vineyard, noon - 9pm, Cousins Maine Lobster available all day, live music from Acoustic Soul 5:30-8:30pm

Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy, Winchester - Spring Dance Recital, 11 am & 4:30 pm

Bright Box Theater, Winchester - Comedy Night featuring Eliot Chang[7PM SHOW]

James Charles Winery, Winchester - Live music with Adam Bennett, 3-6pm

Tarara Winery, Leesburg - The Amish Outlaws, 6pm

Locke Store, Millwood - Wine Tasting, noon-3pm

Washington County Agriculture Expo Center, Boonsboro MD - Overdrive Monster Trucks, two shows, check times

Daughter of the Stars Theater, Stanley VA - Live Music: Hasty Brothers 7:30-9:30pm

Sunday, June 1st

Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg - Sunday Funday (fundraiser for SIDS/SUIDS) 2-6pm

Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy, Winchester - Spring Dance Recital, 2:30 pm

Main Street Gazebo, Front Royal - Farm to Market farmer’s market, 9am-2pm

Chilly Hollow Brewing Co., Berryville - Paint a Planter, noon-2pm

Locke Store, Millwood - Wine Tasting, noon-3pm

West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester - Strawberry Festival, 11am-5pm

Monday, June 2nd

Winchester Brew Works, Winchester - 2000s Trivia Night, 6:30pm

Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg - Board Games and Brews, noon-8pm

Tuesday, June 3rd

Vibrissa Beer, Winchester - Trivia Night, 6:30pm

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