Weymouth hits the spot for UM Location key for crafty lefthander

ORONO – Jason Weymouth isn’t the kind of pitcher who strikes fear into the hearts of opposing hitters.

What the lefthander does do is give the University of Maine a significant contrast to anybody else they send to the mound.

“He’s your prototypical soft lefty that has a lot of success,” said Black Bears coach Paul Kostacopoulos. “Every time we face an opponent’s Jason Weymouth, we struggle. They keep you off-balance.”

Weymouth, a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, throws a fastball, a changeup and a curveball. He’s anything but overpowering.

“He doesn’t throw ‘smoke,’ but when he locates it down he’s tough to hit,” said UMaine senior co-captain Greg Creek. “When we face guys that throw like him, hit their spots, not throwing with a lot of velocity, it’s tough to hit a guy like that.”

Weymouth, a freshman from Charleston, did not play baseball during his first year as a mechanical engineering technology student. After a solid American Legion season with Penquis in 2004, he decided to go out for the team.

“Taking a year off, I realized how much I missed the sport,” said Weymouth, a former three-sport athlete at Foxcroft Academy. “It’s some pretty tough competition in our league, but it’s been fun.”

Weymouth has taken advantage of the opportunity to continue his career at the Division I level. After earning a win Saturday with four solid innings of relief work, he owns a 2-2 record with a 3.90 earned run average.

He has allowed 26 hits in 27 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking seven. Opponents are hitting .248 against him.

“It has actually worked out very well,” Kostacopoulos said. “He may not be stellar every single time, but if we don’t have him, we’re in trouble.”

Weymouth showed promised in three stints on UMaine’s Florida trip in March, but came up with a sore arm that kept him out of the mix for five weeks.

While his role has been limited, Weymouth’s return has been pivotal in bolstering the UMaine staff, especially with Creek, originally the No. 3 starter, having missed the last month with a sore forearm.

While Weymouth can’t afford to get pitches up in the strike zone, he also can’t be successful trying to be to fine in pinpointing his pitches. Kostacopoulos said the lefthander has to go after hitters and allow the natural movement on his pitches to take effect.

“He challenges hitters just like [Steve] Richard and [Greg] Norton do,” said senior catcher and co-captain Aaron Izaryk. “He controls the zone, but he knows he has to stay low. He’s an unbelievable competitor and it’s just great to have him on the mound.”

Weymouth is simply pleased to be part of the Black Bears squad and have the opportunity to play.

“It’s been a blast this whole year just being able to play college ball,” he said.

Dumont to be UM ice assistant

Lewiston native Jamie Dumont, who has spent the past four seasons as an assistant hockey coach at Bowdoin College, will replace Eric Soltys as the volunteer assistant for the University of Maine’s men’s hockey team.

Dumont’s resume includes a four-year playing career at Oswego State University (N.Y.); assistant coaching stints at Oswego, Hobart College (N.Y.) and Bowdoin and a job as a scout for the Chicago Freeze of the North American Hockey League.

In addition, Dumont was the coaching director for the Wyoming Amateur Hockey Association and the head coach of the Wyoming Selects Midget AAA team; an all-star team in Calgary and some Maine State Selects teams.

“This was a great opportunity for us to snag a coach of his quality. We’re thrilled to get a guy with his experience,” said Maine head coach Tim Whitehead. “Bowdoin has had a great run since Jamie has been there and [head coach] Terry [Meagher] speaks very highly of him which means a lot to me.

“Jamie worked our hockey camp [at Maine] last summer and I was very impressed with his thoroughness on the ice, his enthusiasm and his ability to communicate with the kids,” added Whitehead.

“I’m looking forward to working with a high level player on a bigger stage,” said the 31-year-old Dumont who added he felt “very, very fortunate” to go from a Division III school with a great hockey tradition to a Division I school with a great tradition.

“It should be exciting,” said Dumont.

Dumont will work primarily with the Maine forwards. He will be involved in videotape work and he will also have administrative chores like the travel arrangements.

In other hockey news, junior goalie Jimmy Howard was recognized as the team’s Most Valuable Player at the recent banquet; defenseman Bret Tyler was the rookie of the year and sophomore left wing Josh Soares was chosen the most improved player.

Junior defenseman Steve Mullin was the best defensive player; senior defenseman Mat Deschamps won the coach’s award; senior defenseman Troy Barnes was selected the unsung hero; senior right wing John Ronan won the Stein Award; Howard won the three-star award; sophomore right wing Brent Shepheard received an academic achievement award; Buffy Parker and Spiros Polemis of Stockton Springs won the fans’ spirit award; Old Town’s Dave Wollstadt was the volunteer of the year and Northeastern University senior center Jason Guerriero was selected the Bears’ most honored opponent.