As head football coach at Maine Central Institute, Doug Ferguson had always preached to his team about loyalty – to their teammates and to their family.

That is what made Ferguson’s recent decision to step down as the Top Husky one of the tougher choices he has had to make over the last 12 years at the Pittsfield-based school.

“My own preaching came back to haunt me,” Ferguson said. “It was a very difficult decision. I’ve always preached to them about loyalty, to their teammates and the program. I sort of made my decision after the season when my daughter and I really needed some time to get reaquainted. Cripes, I don’t want to step back 10 years from now and see I’ve missed their childhood.”

While 4-year-old daughter Molly and 10-month-old son Lucas played a heart-tugging role in his decision, Ferguson also had to deal with the professional changes in his life, including his new role as MCI’s guidance director.

“It was getting difficult for me to juggle all the responsiblities, as a father, director of guidance, and football coach,” he admitted.

In his five years at MCI, Ferguson posted a 13-33 record. The high point came in 1991 when the Huskies went 7-4 and were runnersup in the Eastern Maine Class C playoffs.

The following year, however, they slipped to 0-9 and there were rumors the program would fold.

Last season, MCI went 1-8, but the team featured some young, talented players.

“There are at least 20 kids coming back,” said Ferguson, who played at Rumford High and Colby College. “We still have a bit of a depth problem, but I think things are in the right place so it was a good time to step down.”

MCI athletic director Wally Covell said Ferguson’s departure should not affect the status of the team.

“I think it’s safe,” Covell said. “We went through several years where some classes were not strong football-wise. But it’s come back. The freshman and sophomore classes are strong and we’ve got some pretty good athletes and some renewed interest.”

Covell said he hopes a new coach will be on board by late spring or early summer. – – –

For the fourth consecutive year, Paul Cloney of Farmington has gotten some of the state’s best basketball players together to form the Maine Stars – a traveling all-star team.

Cloney hopes to take the team to Maryland and New Brunswick for all-star tournaments later this spring in his effort to help further the skills of some of the state’s best schoolboy players.

“What it comes down to is a baker’s dozen of the best ballplayers that I personally pick,” said Cloney. “Maine kids can play and this gives them a chance to get better against some top opponents.”

Members of this year’s team include: Andy Bedard, Mountain Valley; Brian Colman, Brewer; Mark Farmer, Schenck; Daren Meader, Waterville; Danny Dahl, Bangor; Albert Smith, Mt. Blue; Perry Rogers, Hyde; T.J. Caouette, Winthrop; Jake Johnson, Noble; Billy Cole, Lawrence; Josh Nash, Medomak Valley; Aaron McClure, Lisbon; Dale Landrith, Camden-Rockport; Luther Clay, Maine Central Institute; and Joe Charczenko, Westbrook.

Some other of the state’s best players are not part of the team because of other spring commitments such as baseball, track or college preperations. – – –

The high school baseball season opened Monday as teams were allowed to have six pitchers and two catchers begin practice. The remaining positional players begin their seasons next Monday.