Braves baseball aided by transfers

The Husson College baseball team got a little younger this week after the transfer of two local high school standouts.

Lincoln’s Matt Malone and Dover-Foxcroft’s Danny White are back on the Eastern Maine sports scene after their transfers became official from Plymouth State College and Maine Maritime Academy, respectively.

Malone, who played high school ball for Mattanawcook Academy and Southern Aroostook in Dyer Brook and American Legion ball for Lincoln is a player Husson coach John Winkin is very familiar with.

Winkin scouted White when he was playing for Foxcroft Academy.

“They were both fine athletes in high school and I saw both of them play,” Winkin said. “I saw Matt play more in Legion.”

White was a star three-sport athlete for the FA Ponies.

“Danny is a fine athlete and I like him at shortstop. Especially with the loss of Jason Harvey,” said Winkin, who had a hole to fill at short when Harvey transferred to Maine late last year. “I like his quickness and he certainly has a chance to play right away.”

Malone is a talented and versatile player who has experience at first base, third, pitcher, and catcher. His development may be slowed, however, as he hurt his leg in a Tuesday drill and could have some kind of fracture. The exact nature will be known after tests on Wednesday.

“He brings strength to the lineup as a hitter and we’ve looked at him at the corners,” Winkin said. “He’s going to figure prominently and play at some point this season, even with the injury.”

The addition of the two transfers brings to 11 the number of freshmen on the 28-man roster.

White is one of four players in the competition mix to start at three positions: second, short, and third. The others are senior Josh Ferguson; junior Shawn Henderson; and another freshman, Adam Sheehan of Bucksport.

“We’ve got a lot of players with good experience back from last year and that helps a lot,” said Winkin. “But I think we have a talented freshman class as well.”

Ferguson is also a top candidate to be the Braves’ closer.

The Braves are in their second week of preseason drills in Winkin’s first season as Husson’s head coach.

“It’s absolutely invigorating,” said the former University of Maine and Colby College head coach who was Husson’s assistant the last eight years. “It’s not really like starting over, no. I feel very comfortable. That excitement is back, too … No question about it. It’s a lot of fun.”

UM signs withWilson, DeMarini

The UMaine baseball team has signed an agreement with Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and DeMarini Sports to exclusively swing DeMarini bats during the 2004 season.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ Black Bears will also choose from Wilson’s Pro-Stock gloves, uniforms, batting gloves and other accessories.

UMaine, which has won at least 36 games in each of the last three seasons with a 114-50 combined record (.695), opens its 2004 season Feb. 28 in Miami against St. Francis College (N.Y.).

Polar Bears come to Bangor

The No. 2 NCAA Division III women’s basketball team in the country will be in Bangor Wednesday as the 16-0 Bowdoin Polar Bears take on Husson College at Newman Gym.

The 7:30 p.m. game not only provides a chance to check out two of the top Maine women’s teams, it also gives local hoop fans a chance to see some former area high school stars in action.

George Stevens Academy standout and NESCAC player of the week Lora Trenkle leads the Polar Bears into action. Other names of note are Camden Hills star Lauren Withey of Rockport, Bangor’s Alison Smith of Stockton Springs, and Lawrence’s Erika Nickerson of Benton.

Husson is 13-2 after 12 straight victories and the top team in the North Atlantic Conference with a 10-0 record.