UM men’s basketball signs Bernal, Hartnett

The University of Maine men’s basketball program has received letters of intent from two recruits.

Junior Bernal, a 6-foot-4 player from Manhattan, N.Y., who played high school ball at the Hyde School in Bath and is currently a prep school player at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, has signed on with the Black Bears along with guard Tyson Hartnett of Medford, N.J.

Maine coach Ted Woodward likes Bernal’s versatility as he can play three offensive positions and cover three defensively as well.

“He’s a kid we’ve been very aware of the last couple years,” said Maine coach Ted Woodward. “He’s always been one of our prime targets and we’re excited to have him. He’s a tremendous defender and he has a nice upside ahead of him.”

Bernal earned tournament MVP honors while leading Hyde to the 2003 Western Maine Class C championship game. He is currently coached by former Maine player Ed Jones.

Harnett is a 6-5 guard who holds the New Jersey state record for consecutive made free throws at 53 and counting. He is a Burlington County and Olympic Conference all-star.

“He’s a very good shooter and a great student,” said Woodward. “We thought he’d be a kid who could add to our program as a shooter and he has decent size for a guard. He can stretch defenses, too.”

Pending admission to UMaine and compliance with NCAA rules and the initial eligibility clearinghouse, both players will join the Black Bears in the fall of 2005.

UM softball announces schedule

The University of Maine softball team will open defense of its America East tournament title with a tough nonconference schedule.

Interim head coach Michelle Puls and the Black Bears announced the 2005 season schedule Tuesday. The Bears will face six teams that also advanced to at least regional play in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Maine opens Feb. 27 with a doubleheader against Furman. During the first week of March, the Bears will play doubleheaders at nationally ranked South Florida and Florida State, which advanced to the Women’s College World Series.

The rest of the tourney teams on the schedule are Cornell, Hofstra, Massachusetts and Seton Hall. All of those games will be played away.

“Taking difficult games early on should be a learning experience for us,” said Puls, a Bangor native in her first season. “Usually we start off easy and then go hard. We have kind of switched it up this year and are starting off with a bang.”

Maine will participate in three in-season tournaments, plus play eight contests at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla., March 7-11.

The Bears open the home slate April 9, hosting Hartford for a three-game series.