The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches presented its coach of the year awards for the 2004-05 season during the recent McDonald’s all-star weekend at Husson College.

Schoolboy basketball coaches recognized were: Eastern Maine Class A, Mike McGee, Lawrence of Fairfield; Eastern B, Jeff Hart, Camden Hills of Rockport; Eastern C, Jamie Russell, Piscataquis of Guilford; Eastern D, Larry Worcester, Washburn; Western A, Mike Zamarchi, Marshwood of South Berwick; Western B, David Halligan, Falmouth; Western C, I.J. Pinkham, Boothbay; Western D, Dwight Littlefield, Valley of Bingham.

Schoolgirl basketball coaches honored were: Eastern A, Paul Vachon, Cony of Augusta; Eastern B, Jay Carlsen, Camden Hills of Rockport; Eastern C, Diane Rollins, Central of Corinth; Eastern D, Ron Weatherbee, Lee Academy; Western A, Kristy Parent, Sanford; Western B, Paul True, Lake Region of Naples; Western C, Gavin Kane, Dirigo of Dixfield; Western D, Heidi Deery, Rangeley.

In addition, the MABC recognized Paul Vachon of Cony for reaching 400 career victories and David Halligan of Falmouth and Kevin Jenkins of Gorham for attaining 300 coaching victories.

Seavey to take MABC reins

The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches will have new leadership next year, as Greely of Cumberland Center girls basketball coach Jim Seavey takes over as the organization’s president.

Seavey assumes the post vacated by Jeff Hart of Camden Hills, whose two-year tenure as president concluded with the recent McDonald’s all-star weekend.

Seavey has a 137-98 record in 12 years as Greely’s head coach, a tenure highlighted by the Rangers’ Class B state championship season in 2004 and Western B titles in 2003 and 2004.

Seavey also coached the 2002 Greely softball team to the Class B state championship.

Serving as vice president to Seavey for the next two years will be Dexter boys basketball coach Peter Murray and Mike Giordano, girls basketball coach at South Portland.

MABC representatives to the Maine Basketball Commission will be Penquis of Milo boys coach Tony Hamlin and Cheverus of Portland boys coach Bob Brown.

Deering nationally ranked

Defending Class A baseball state champion Deering High of Portland has been ranked 20th nationally in the latest Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association poll.

Coach Mike D’Andrea’s club returns eight starters from last year’s 24-0 team that defeated Mount Ararat of Topsham 6-1 in the 2004 Class A state final played before 7,000 spectators at Portland’s Hadlock Field.

In that game, Deering defeated Mount Ararat star right-hander Mark Rogers, who went on to be the fifth pick in the first round of the 2004 amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.

The returning Rams are led by senior shortstop Ryan Flaherty, who hit .500 last spring, and senior catcher Andrew Giobbi (.456, 5 home runs, 32 RBI), both of whom are slated to continue their baseball careers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., next year.

Deering has won the last two Class A state championships, and five of the last six.

Most members of the 2005 Deering team also were part of the Portland-based Nova Seafood team that won the American Legion World Series last summer.

The top-ranked team in the national preseason poll was Moody High School of Corpus Christi, Texas. The Trojans went 42-1 last season and earned the No. 2 national ranking in the final poll after posting the first Texas Class 5-A title in school history. Moody is led by senior right-hander Luis Flores, who went 14-0 and did not allow an earned run in 91 innings last spring.

Moody had a 17-1 record through March 20, and was ranked No. 3 in the latest poll behind top-ranked Monsignor Pace High School (9-0) of Opa Locka, Fla., and Russell County High (18-0) of Seale, Ala.

Deering was one of just three teams in the national top 20 that had not played a game as of March 20.

Sailing seminar slated

The Atlantic Challenge high school sailing team will host a racing and boat-handling seminar during its spring meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at its office on 643 Main St. in Rockland.

The public is invited to attend and learn how to get involved with the program, as well as hear the seminar to be presented by Dave Whiting of Portland.

The Atlantic Challenge high school sailing team is open to all high school and junior high students in the Midcoast area. No sailing experience is required. The team currently includes students from Rockland, Georges Valley, Camden Hills and Medomak Valley high schools. The team holds 10 practices and attends regattas in the spring and fall.

Interested students are invited to join the team at the April 6 meeting. There is a boat user fee of $75 for the entire season, and scholarships are available.

For more information on Atlantic Challenge, call 594-1800 or log on to atlanticchallenge.com/seamanship/youth.shtm.

Ernie Clark can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net