When it became apparent he wouldn’t be academically eligible to play for Bangor’s Husson College this spring, Bucksport’s Craig Harvey decided to call Fisher College coach Scott Dulin to see if he had a coaching position available.

Dulin needed a pitching coach and Harvey was hired.

The Falcons, who won only 10 games last season, showed dramatic improvement this season as they finished 27-20.

They reached the Sunrise Conference tournament finals, where they were beaten by Husson 3-0 and 5-1 last week.

Four of their top five pitchers were either freshmen or sophomores.

“I’ve loved it,” said Harvey. “It has been a good learning experience for me. I learned so much.”

The 22-year-old Harvey wasn’t sure how he would be received and pointed out that there were “four or five players who were older than I am.

“But it was very good right from the beginning. They respected me and treated me like I was a 30-year-old assistant. I didn’t really have to adjust to them,” said Harvey, who was 7-1 with a 1.81 earned run average for Husson last season and also hit .348 with 34 RBIs.

“He has done a good job with the pitching staff,” said Dulin.

Harvey enjoyed working with Dulin and the other assistants and said he benefited greatly from the top-notch coaching he received at the high school, American Legion and college levels.

“He gave our pitching staff a big boost,” said Fisher senior right fielder Anthony Arias.

“You can relate to him,” said freshman ace righthander and shortstop Luis Lara. “He’s a good guy and he knows his stuff.”

Lara said he gave them good advice and was able to “calm us down” when they were at critical stages in a game or found themselves in a jam.

In addition to coaching, Harvey helped Dulin with his athletic director duties.

Harvey, the former Brewer American Legion standout, said he missed playing but coaching is something he would like to pursue. He intends to continue his studies at Fisher College and hopes to obtain his degree next year.

Husson baseball heading to NAC

The Husson College baseball team will leave the NAIA and play in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference next season.

The Braves will join Waterville’s Thomas College, the University of Maine-Farmington, Saint Joseph’s of Standish, Castleton State (Vt.) and Massachusetts schools Becker and Elms.

Saint Joseph’s will be a first-year member, also.

“I like the league,” said Husson coach John Winkin. “We’ll play the teams in Maine four times and the others twice each. There will be a four-team, double-elimination tournament.”

And since the conference will have seven teams, the tournament champion will be in line to earn an automatic qualifier to an NCAA Division III regional.

All leagues must have at least seven teams to earn an automatic qualifier.

Caswell earns academic honor

Orland junior Annette Caswell, the center fielder for the Colby College softball team, was selected to the 2004 Academic District 1 college division second team.

The team is chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA) and District 1 is composed of Division III colleges in New York and New England.

Caswell was beset by injuries this season after being named a New England Small College Athletic Conference first-teamer two years ago when she hit .443. The former Bucksport High School standout, who has made only three errors over the past two seasons, is a psychology major with a minor in chemistry.

She is a research assistant in the psychology department and earned Colby’s Charles Dana Scholarship for academic excellence and leadership potential after her freshman year.

Venditti named Colby coach

Dave Venditti, who compiled a 60-34-8 record in his four seasons as the head women’s hockey coach at the University of Southern Maine, will guide the fortunes of the Colby College women’s team next season.

He replaces Jennifer Holsten, who spent eight years at Colby.

Venditti is a 1991 graduate of USM and spent seven years as the head coach of the Portland-based Cheverus High School boys hockey team before returning to his alma mater.

“David has built a very well-respected program at USM. He is a proven leader and I look forward to his work with the Colby women’s ice hockey program,” said Colby athletic director Marcella Zalot in a press release.

Colby went 4-18-1 last season.

Krul takes NMCC soccer post

Holland native Robert Krul has been named head men’s soccer coach at Northern Maine Community College.

Krul played professionally for the New Hampshire Phantoms after starring at Franklin Pierce College. He is also a former owner and director of the Dutch Soccer Academy.

“I’m very excited about taking this position,” said Krul in a press release. “Coaching at the collegiate level enables me to continue to work with some students I’ve coached since they were in middle school.”