Parlin is doubly pleased at states A, B games both have significance

Softball fans in central Maine, especially anyone who has followed the coaching career of Terry Parlin, had a lot to celebrate this weekend.

Parlin, who spent 10 years as the coach at Messalonskee of Oakland, led Winslow to its second straight Class B state title, while the Eagles won their first Class A crown.

Under Parlin, Messalonskee won four Eastern Maine Class A championships, including three straight, but couldn’t break through for a state title until Saturday’s 4-0 win over Gorham.

“For me, it was a big game,” Parlin said Saturday. “… Going the way it was going, it almost looked like it was going to be No. 5 so I got a little concerned.”

The Eagles were close several times, however, and were outscored a combined 15-8 from 1996-96 and 2000.

“I still have a lot of ties with Messalonskee and I want to see them win,” said Parlin, who has retired from teaching and has started a house-building business. “It’s tough when you go 0-4 in the state game. Everybody wants to win that last game and you kind of forget about some of those big wins you have to get there. For once we can end the season without the speech of being a good loser. It’s nice.”

Parlin’s state-title drought ended with his daughter Jen Parlin of New York looking on. She was at the 2000 Class A state game when the Eagles lost 1-0 to Portland.

Terry Parlin coached at Messalonskee until the 2004 season. He left the softball position to become the school’s athletic director for the year, relinquishing the coaching job to longtime assistant coach and former Waterville star athlete Deb Cormier.

Cormier, it turns out, has resigned from coaching both softball and girls soccer to move to Palm Springs, Calif. She had coached the soccer team for 10 years.

Before the Class A game started, Cormier said she asked around to find out if anyone knew the outcome of Parlin’s game and found out during her game.

“A relative of Terry’s came over and stood near the dugout and said he had won,” she said Monday. “I’m excited for him. He’s worked so hard.”

The Winslow players also had Parlin’s history on their minds Saturday.

“He’s a great coach, he’s a great competitor, and it’s really great to go out and win this for him and for us,” said junior Janelle Sylvester, the winning pitcher.

Winslow’s game and awards ceremony were over by about 1:45 p.m. Saturday, but Parlin didn’t think he’d have time to rush back to Augusta to watch Messalonskee battle South Portland to a 7-4 win.

“I’d love to be there but I think the parents and the school system have other plans for me and the kids,” he said of the impending victory celebration.

All-Star games on tap

The top seniors in the state and players in the Penobscot Valley Conference are gearing up for a week of softball all-star games.

First up are tonight’s PVC games at Brewer High’s Coffin Field with Classes C and D playing at 5 p.m. and Classes A and B at 7. All players who were named to the PVC first team were invited to play.

Thursday night the Maine Softball Coaches Association will have its senior all-star night, which includes the announcement of the top players in each regional and classification in the state as well as Miss Maine Softball. The ceremony will be held between the 5 p.m. C-D game and the 7 p.m. A-B game.

Lee closes out stellar year

No matter how Saturday’s Class D state softball game ended, the girls involved in sports at Lee Academy have to be happy with what they accomplished this year.

It’s a big haul: Class D state basketball and cross country championships, Eastern Maine titles in soccer and softball, and a tie for the girls individual golf title.

Although the Pandas were considered among the favorites in soccer and basketball, the school softball team was coming off a 6-10 season in 2004.

Lee closed out its 2005 season with a 14-5 record, including its third Eastern Maine title in four years.

“It was great for these girls … especially in the case of softball where we won six games last year and we end up being in the state game,” coach Ron Weatherbee said. “Can’t complain on that side of things. They had a great four seasons, four sports.”

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.