There will be a family reunion Tuesday night when the University of Maine’s Black Bear baseball team entertains Husson College’s Braves at 6.

Tony Creek is a senior left fielder-first baseman-pitcher for the Husson College Braves and he will be squaring off against younger brother Greg, a sophomore pitcher-first baseman for the Black Bears.

It will be the first time they will face each other in college. Tony Creek didn’t play last spring because he was fulfilling an accounting internship in Portland.

Greg picked up his first college win in a 16-1 triumph over Husson last spring.

“It definitely should be fun,” said Tony, a tri-captain. “Hopefully, we’ll both get some playing time.”

“I would much rather face him as a pitcher than I would as a hitter considering how well he’s throwing. And I’m not hitting that great right now,” said Tony, who is hitting .218.

Since Greg Creek hurled a seven-inning, four-hit 15-1 victory over Northeastern on Saturday, he won’t pitch Tuesday.

“But, hopefully, I’ll get an at-bat and get to play a little first base. It would be nice to play against him,” said Greg Creek who will get a final chance on Thursday at 3:00 at Husson.

“There will be some bragging rights involved,” said Greg Creek, who is 4-0 with a 3.49 earned run average.

They are close and Greg says “over the last two or three years, we’ve learned to be better friends than we were when we were younger.”

Tony watched Greg in their doubleheader against Northeastern on Friday and Greg returned the favor on Sunday when Husson hosted Lyndon State (Vt.).

“After the first game, he gave me a little tip,” said Tony.

“And when I’m struggling, Tony gives me pointers, too,” said Greg.

Their schedules are hectic during the season but they try to talk at least once a week.

The brothers played one year together at Readfield’s Maranacook High School for their father, Terry, when Tony was a senior and Greg was a freshman. But they played for different American Legion teams: Tony for Augusta and Greg for Winthrop.

As youngsters, they used to play a lot of ball on their front lawn.

“We always played home run derby with tennis balls. As the little brother, I always wanted to beat my big brother but when I did, all hell broke loose,” quipped Greg, who is hitting .269.

Their devoted parents (Terry and Trina) go to as many games as possible and Greg knows where they will be seated on Tuesday.

“Right behind the backstop [for neutrality purposes],” said Greg.

Both said they will be opponents, rather than brothers, during the game.

“But when we look back on it a few years down the road, it’ll be something to smile about,” said Tony.

Cheney powering Maine offense

Early in the season, University of Maine softball coach Deb Smith was pretty sure her freshman class would have a big impact.

Now that the Black Bears are in the heart of their America East Conference season, rookie Brittany Cheney is proving to be better than advertised.

Cheney went 6-for-12 against Albany last weekend to raise her batting average to .383, third-best in America East.

Cheney has 36 hits, which ties her with sophomore Jess Brady of Jackman for tops on the team and fifth in the league. Her 19 runs scored and .454 on-base percentage are third in America East.

She also has 11 RBIs, four doubles and three triples. Cheney’s a tough out, too. She has struck out a team-low five times in 94 at-bats and has drawn a team-high 13 walks.

“She comes through all the time and she’s a great leader,” said sophomore pitcher Jenna Merchant, whose two RBIs in Saturday’s 3-0 win plated Cheney both times. “Her glove is amazing. Every single time the ball gets hit to her, you know it’s an out. She’s very consistent.”

The Black Bears (16-16, 5-5 in America East) now enter a tough week. Maine, which is currently fourth in the league, will face league leader Boston University (9-1 in AE) in a doubleheader Wednesday. Maine travels to Vermont for doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday.