Craig’s Champs on to nationals > Burlington, N.C., next stop for state and New England softball victors.

If they had one, the Craig Avionics softball team’s bus would have logged a lot of miles this season.

The American Softball Association Class A team has played in tournaments all over New England. Instead of getting easier during August, the final full month of the softball season, the team’s schedule has become much more competitive.

This softball team, that was undefeated in the Bangor Parks and Recreation League, won the state tournament for the second time in three years and the New England championship for the first time.

Now, Craig Avionics will play in the four-day National ASA Men’s Class A Softball Championship Tournament in Burlington, N.C., over the Labor Day weekend.

The top two teams in each state go on to regional play. The top four teams from a regional can compete in the nationals – the World Series of men’s softball.

“I’m really looking forward to it because this’ll be my third trip, and I’m hoping our team can finish the highest of any I’ve been on before,” said left center fielder Randy Porter of Concord, N.H.

Porter has played for a state champion and national qualifier team in each of the last three years. Craig Davenport, the sponsor of Craig’s, decided not to sponsor a team last year, so Porter played for state champion Bruno’s of Portland. Bruno’s finished fourth in New England and 24th in the nation.

Although he now lives in New Hampshire, Porter is still eligible to play for Maine teams. He did not sever ties with the leagues in this state after moving from Bangor in 1986, and he has not joined any New Hampshire teams.

The 1990 Craig Avionics team finished third in the New Englands and 17th in the country.

Davenport moved his business from Bangor to Concord, N.H., in 1986. He did not sponsor a team that year or for the next three years.

Davenport decided to field a team again in 1990. He almost completely funds the Maine team – covering the lodging costs for the team when it plays in out-of-town tournaments.

After winning their first New England title, Porter and his teammates are optimistic about their chances in the nationals.

“We’ve got a great lineup from top to bottom,” said Harold Grant, the team’s coach and manager since 1985. “We’ve got guys who get on base almost every time and power hitters to drive them in. And we’ve played real solid defense all season.”

The 12 members of the team making the trip to North Carolina are catcher-relief pitcher Jerry Worthington of Lincoln, pitcher Chip Doughty and second baseman Ron Doughty of Brunswick, first baseman Ralph Helms and utility player John Cote from Hermon, shortstop Chris Watson from Brewer, third baseman Paul Winn of Sanford, left fielder Steve Hussey from Hudson, right center fielder David Carey of Milo, right fielder John Haney of Bangor, and designated hitter Gino Carey from South Portland.

“Defense is a big key in Class A, and we’ve played wicked good defense this year,” Porter said. “We practice a lot, before every game, and it pays off.”

Porter and his teammates hope the practice will continue to pay off with a great showing in the national tournament.