Maine Black Bears send teen batboy out in grand style Jones has bridged 2 eras in his 8 years

LOS ANGELES – During his tenure with the University of Maine baseball team, he has worked for legendary coach John Winkin and successful skipper Paul Kostacopoulos.

As he prepares to relinquish his duties after eight seasons, Ryan Jones of Bangor is enjoying the ride as the Black Bears compete this weekend in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.

The 14-year-old knows he has at least a few big games left with the team.

“I can’t wait. It’s going to be fun,” Jones said Friday. He likes the players’ approach to the NCAA Tournament setting.

“I know they’re not really expected to win it all, but there’s always a chance that they could and they’re really hoping for it,” he added. “They’re just taking it one game at a time, just kind of seizing the moment.”

Along with his dad, UMaine equipment manager Steve Jones, and his mom Jackie, who works in the UMaine admissions office, Ryan has been a fixture around Mahaney Diamond in Orono.

“Ryan is a wonderful kid. The players love him,” Kostacopoulos said. “All the players enjoy having him around. It’s a great experience for a kid his age.”

Jones has enthusiastically retrieved discarded bats and wayward helmets, chased down foul balls, and served umpires water during his time with the team. It’s a job he has enjoyed tremendously.

“It’s been awesome,” said Jones, who plays baseball at the William S. Cohen School and in Junior League. “These guys, and the coaches, have treated me nice.”

It is the interaction with the UMaine players and coaches that is most rewarding.

“Hanging around the guys is the best part,” Jones said. “It’s always fun to talk to them about different stuff.”

And after all these years, Jones knows the appropriate times to strike up a conversation.

“Most of the time when we’re at the field I don’t try to get them sidetracked, I just try to keep them on the task that’s at hand,” said Jones, who also delivers 45 papers every morning for the NEWS.

Jones learned long ago to keep things in perspective on those rare occasions when tempers flare or frustration is demonstrated by a player or coach.

“I’ve been hanging around them for a while, so I’m pretty much used to what they say,” Jones said. “If they use foul language, they say ‘Sorry,” and I just say, ‘That’s OK, I’ve heard it before.'”

This season, Jones has found a new friend in Bears freshman Aaron Izaryk.

“We’ve gone swimming twice since we’ve been in L.A.,” said Jones, who shares a love of cars with Izaryk. “[Thursday] on the bus, he was sitting on the bus and he said, ‘Oh, look at those rims.’ We just try to look out for cool cars.”

Next year, because as a high school freshman he becomes a “recruitable athlete” under NCAA rules, Jones must give up the job he has loved so well. The players will miss him.

“He’s been great, unbelievable,” said UMaine senior Mike Ross. “He’s great to have around, very positive.”

Jones, who plays shortstop, has picked up plenty of pointers from the Bears, including the need to stay down on ground balls. But his greatest reward has been watching the team succeed.

“I’ll still come up and watch them next year and the years after that,” Jones said. “It meant a lot to me when they won America East this year.”