Winslow softball coach Blood leaving post after nine seasons

Winslow High School softball coach Steve Blood, who capped off an amazing run in Class B with the Black Raiders’ second state championship in six years will not be back to coach the team next year.

Blood, who has been the softball coach for nine years and has coached in the Winslow system for 19 years, will keep teaching physical education at Winslow Junior High School.

“He feels like he wants to do something else after 19 years,” Winslow athletic director Tank Violette said. “We’ll miss him greatly but respect him for all those years. He’s been very, very committed to the softball program. It’s a big loss.”

Winslow has been undefeated in four regular seasons and won four Eastern Maine titles in a row. But the Raiders were 0-3 in the state championship game before Monday’s win.

“It’s a great way for him to go out,” Violette said of the team’s 3-0 victory over Scarborough.

The school has not started looking for Blood’s replacement yet.

“I keep secretly hoping he’ll change his mind when school starts,” Violette said with a laugh. “But I know he won’t do that. We’ll probably wait a little while on it.”

Bucksport basketball center Christy Grover will get an almost-free trip to Chicago at the beginning of July when she attends the Reebok/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Premier Basketball Camp.

“I’m pretty excited,” Grover said. “I feel pretty honored to get a chance to do this.”

The camp runs July 8-10 at the Windy City Field House. Reebok and the WBCA are footing the bill for the entire trip except for transportation to Chicago, for which the participants must pay, according to NCAA rules.

Grover will spend three days working out and playing games with 79 other top senior schoolgirl basketball players in the nation – all in front of college coaches. Grover said coaches from Georgetown, West Virginia, Maine, St. Bonaventure and Fordham have all contacted her and encouraged her to participate in the camp.

“There are going to be coaches from everywhere, so I’ll probably be a little nervous,” Grover said. “It’s a real challenge for me, but I like that.”

Only 100 players from all over the country were invited and 80 will participate. Invitations were issued by the WBCA based on high school tournament and Amateur Athletic Union play. Grover is the only player from Maine to receive an invitation.

In addition to the hoops, girls at the camp will also meet Reebok-sponsored athletes like Jennifer Azzi of the American Basketball League’s San Jose Lasers.

About 15 true post players like Grover are expected at the camp, according to WBCA director of special projects Nan Elrod.

“We try to identify players with Dvision I potential,” Elrod said. “We’re not looking for the next Chamique Holdsclaw or Cindy Blodgett, although they both attended the camp.”