Former Maine Athletic Conference Player of the Year Donnie Sawyer of Brewer missed last season after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder. Rob Worcester of Columbia Falls was pitching for the University of Maine last spring.

But Worcester suffered a small tear in his rotator cuff over the summer in the Portland Twilight League that forced him to ponder his future. He nixed the idea of surgery and decided to join his younger brother Mike at Husson College in Bangor.

Sawyer and Worcester have led the Braves to the second seed for this weekend’s NAIA New England Baseball Championship at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.

Second baseman Sawyer is Husson’s leading hitter with a .429 average. His 45 hits are tops and he has also contributed two homers, 24 runs batted in and 31 runs scored.

Worcester is 4-2 and has the lowest earned run average on the staff at 3.48. He leads the staff in strikeouts (46), innings pitched (44) and complete games (5). He has surrendered only one homer and five extra-base hits.

“In Donnie’s case, it seemed like he never left, hitting-wise,” said Husson coach John Kolasinski. “He seems to feel more comfortable at second base and he has been a leader.

“Rob has stepped in and been our big boy on the mound. He is throwing his best right now. He gives us that solid number one starter. We know he can beat anybody,” added Kolasinski.

“I wasn’t happy with the way I had been pitching until a couple of weeks ago,” Worcester said. “But I’ve started getting in a groove. I had trouble putting the ball where I wanted to early. I kept getting behind the hitters. But, lately, I’ve been doing good. It has been a while since I’ve been as consistent as I have been the last two weeks.”

Worcester pitched a five-inning no-hitter over UMaine-Presque Isle over the weekend.

“My fastball has been my best pitch and I’ve been spotting it pretty well. I change speeds off it a bit. I also use my slider and I have a little bit of a changeup,” said Worcester, who has enjoyed his season at Husson.

“It has been a lot of fun playing with my brother and playing for coach Kolasinski and coach [John] Winkin. And I’m peaking for the playoffs, which is good,” said Worcester.

Sawyer said he has been “fairly happy” with his season.

“But I haven’t been getting around on the ball. My power alley is right-center. I haven’t been pulling the ball. I don’t know why. Maybe it was the year off,” said Sawyer.

“I’ve been seeing the ball very well but I haven’t been swinging at good pitches. I’ve been swinging at a lot of first pitches. I haven’t been getting my pitch, which is why I don’t have many extra base hits [8] like I did a couple of years ago,” added Sawyer. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to turn it on for the playoffs.”

The former shortstop said he hasn’t been completely comfortable at second base but things are coming around.

UMaine Hall seeks nominations

The University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame is looking for nominations for the 2001 induction process.

Candidates may not be active members of the athletic department or a UMaine student in the last five years. Previously nominated candidates who have not been inducted remain nominated and needn’t be renominated. The deadline for nominations is June 1.

The primary criterion for selection is achievement in the UMaine athletic program, but other factors including character, leadership and integrity, along with non-athletic service to the university and achievement later in life, also are considered.

Hall of Famers must have received outstanding recognition in team sports or have achieved national or regional acclaim. Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19.

For more information, contact Joe Roberts at 5747 Memorial Gymnasium, Orono, ME 04469-5747 or call 207-581-3596. A nomination form also is available on the UMaine athletics Web site at GoBlackBears.com.

New England Championship

(At St. Joseph’s, Standish)

Friday’s Games

Game 1: Husson vs. Thomas, 3 p.m.

Game 2: Castleton State vs. St. Joseph’s, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Game 3: Husson-Thomas loser vs. Castleton-Saint Joseph’s loser, 11 a.m.

Game 4: Husson-Thomas winner vs. Castleton-Saint Joseph’s winner, 3 p.m.

Game 5: Winner G3 vs. Loser G4, 7 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 6: Winner G4 vs. Winner G5, noon

Game 7: Winner G6 vs. Loser G6, 4 p.m., if necessary