Legion team for Hampden Hermon, Winterport residents may play

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As high school baseball and softball players prepare for the beginning of the spring sports season, players in Hampden, Winterport, Glenburn, and Hermon can also look ahead to an American Legion season.

A Hampden-based Legion team will enter play in Zone 1 this season.

Team president Jon Perry said there were several catalysts behind putting a team together.

In the past, Hampden players have played Legion baseball with the Brewer Falcons, a team that also draws from strong Brewer and Bucksport high school baseball programs. Class B Hermon players have played for the Bangor Comrades, which also draws players from Class A power Bangor High School and John Bapst in Bangor.

“We were fortunate to get two, three, maybe four players on those teams, but what about the others who want to play?” Perry said.

He said a group of parents concerned about that aspect and who were looking at strong freshman and sophomore classes at Hampden approached him about running a team.

“Brewer and Bangor have been good to us, but we felt that it would make sense to offer a high level of baseball for our kids and it would help the school programs,” Perry said.

Thus, the birth of the Hampden River Dogs. Perry said that more than $10,000 has been raised for the team and uniforms have been ordered. He also has received two applications for the head coaching position.

The River Dogs also will have the luxury of playing on a first-rate diamond, Mike Bordick Field, that numerous area businesses recently contributed toward building.

The River Dogs’ entrance into Zone 1 play was made easier by the Sebasticook team’s departure from the zone. Sebasticook, a team made up of players from the Pittsfield and Newport areas, will play in Zone 2.

“So, it remains a 10-team league and makes it easy to schedule,” Perry said.

Perry also said that Zone 1 commissioner Dave Paul encouraged and supported the Hampden group in getting the project up and running.

“We look for a long-term commitment, financial stability, and they’ve certainly shown it,” Paul said. “It’s going to be a first class operation. It seemed like a good fit.”

Going, going, almost gone

A number of the state’s high school players have made decisions about where they will play college basketball.

Micah Grant of Winslow and Matt Mulligan of Penobscot Valley in Howland plan to attend Husson College in Bangor.

Orono’s Mike Socoby and Presque Isle’s Fred Bird plan to play at the University of Maine-Presque Isle.

Socoby’s teammate, Justin Perron, will attend the University of Maine-Farmington.

Danny White of Foxcroft Academy and Thornton Academy of Saco’s Sean Mayo will look for playing time at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, N.H.

Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook’s Corey Shields plans to attend the University of Maine- Fort Kent.

Cony of Augusta’s Jac Arbour is headed to Bowdoin.

Edward Little of Auburn’s Jake Roberts will attend Colby-Sawyer in New London, N.H.

Banned bats listed

The Maine Principals’ Association has posted on its Web site a list of softball bats that are banned from use in the high school softball season.

The posting was made because of confusion over legal and banned bats with similar names. For example, the DeMarini Doublewall Classic is banned while the Doublewall Distance Lite is legal.

Listed as banned are the DeMarini Doublewall Demolition and Doublewall Distance. The DeMarini Doublewall Distance w Fli is listed as legal.

The Louisville Slugger SB103 (Genesis) is banned while the Genesis SB34 is legal.

Miken Velocit-E Ultra (balanced) and Velocit-E Ultra (maxload) models are banned while their VelocitE and Ultra II are approved.

Worth 3DX, EST5, EST23, and ESTL are banned. Worth’s 3DXFP, 3DXB, 3DXE, EST5C, EST5E, EST5K, EST23E, and ESTLE are approved.

Also listed as banned are DeMarini’s B-52 and Fatboy, Easton’s STS4 Tri-Shell Connexion, Steele’s Triple XXX, and Worth’s PST (also known as the PST 137) and SSEST.

The banned bats may bear a seal that reads “2000 ASA Conforms to Standards.” Those bats must have an “ASA Re-certification” seal in order to be legal.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net