One of the most versatile schoolboy athletes in central Maine will stay home to pursue a two-sport future at the college level. Winslow High standout Eric Lopez, who earned all-conference honors in football, basketball, and baseball as a senior with the Black Raiders, will make the short drive over the Kennebec River to attend Thomas College in Waterville this fall.

Lopez figures to play a prominent role on the Terriers’ basketball and baseball teams. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard was an honorable mention on the 2005 Bangor Daily News All-Maine basketball team, and he also starred as a pitcher and shortstop for the Winslow baseball team this spring.

“For me, Thomas is a great place to be,” said Lopez. “It’s an up-and-coming college, and I felt a very warm welcome there, so I’m going to test the waters. I just figured at this time, it’s a great place to go.”

Lopez also starred at wide receiver and defensive back while helping the Winslow football team win the 2004 Eastern Maine Class B championship. He will play in his final organized football game Friday for the East squad in the 16th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic.

“It’s like a sense of closure, and this is a great way to do it because I’m with a bunch of guys I haven’t played with before,” said Lopez. “There are a lot of really gifted people in this game, and we all enjoy football very much so it’s great to have all these different types of people combine for one game.”

Lopez figures to be a prime target for East quarterbacks Joey Carmichael of Bucksport and Peter Cekutis of Windham. He also understands that he’s one of a number of playmakers in an explosive offense that also includes the likes of Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Nick Tymoczko of Bucksport, Aaron Gallant of Bangor, and Josh Aldus and Garren Horne of Belfast.

“It’s definitely a different ballgame. Everyone is very talented at their position, and everybody has different skills that they can bring to the table,” said Lopez. “Our team’s got a great combination of size and speed, and we’re going to have fun with it.”

Walker named Mt. Blue AD

Scott Walker, who resigned earlier this year after three seasons as the head football coach at his alma mater, Lawrence High School in Fairfield, is moving into athletic administration.

Walker has been named athletic director at a rival Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A school, Mt. Blue High of Farmington. Walker graduated from Lawrence High School in 1991 and played football at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He also coached at Dartmouth before moving on to become a head coach at the high school level in Michigan.

He later returned to Maine and served as an assistant coach at Colby College for two years before returning to Lawrence. At Mt. Blue, Walker replaces Bonnie Levesque, who recently was named the principal at Madison Area Junior High School.