BANGOR – It is a special opportunity members of the Bangor Senior League baseball team will have in the coming week.

While the nine other teams in the 2005 Senior League World Series will have survived district, state and regional tournaments to earn berths in the tourney that begins Sunday at Mansfield Stadium, Bangor earned its berth as champion of the host district for the event, Maine District 3.

It’s an opportunity this year’s Bangor team doesn’t want to take for granted.

“Everyone loves to be in this,” said center fielder Tom Crews. “Who wouldn’t want the chance to play people from all around the world?”

This marks the fourth year the Senior League World Series has come to Bangor. The first two years produced wins for the local entries. Bangor topped San Pedro, Calif., 7-3 in 2002, and Orono-Veazie edged a team from Calgary, Alberta, 5-4 in 2003. Bangor was winless last year, but dropped narrow decisions to Canada (7-5) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (10-8).

The memories of last year’s experience are not lost on the several players back on the Bangor roster this summer.

“Last year was the biggest crowds we’ve ever played in front of, which was exciting,” said pitcher-first baseman Alex Gallant. “It’s fun to go against teams from places we’ve never heard of. I’m looking forward to playing again, and I want to win games because the more we win the more fans will come.”

“They’re all 15- and 16-year-olds just like us,” added Kyle Vanidestine, a second baseman and outfielder. “It’s the small things we’ve got to take care of, and if we can do that we can win some ballgames.”

Gallant, Neal Russell and Ian Edwards are the primary pitchers for Bangor, according to manager Tyler Jellison, who is assisted by coaches Mike Jellison, Bruce MacGregor and Chip Webb. Kyle Gallant is the team’s top reliever, with Shane Walton also working out of the bullpen.

“I think we’re more of a power pitching team,” said Jellison, a senior at the University of Maine at Farmington who last spring coached varsity baseball at Carrabec High School in North Anson. “Neal can mix it up real well, Ian can mix it up real well, and Alex throws hard. I think we have good experience with our starters.”

The offense is led by Kyle Gallant and Gordon Webb, who played key roles for the Bangor team that finished third in the recent state American Legion tournament. Gallant, the starting shortstop, will bat leadoff, while Webb will hit in the middle of the order.

“I think this is the best one-through-nine lineup that the Bangor area’s had to offer to the Senior League World Series hitting-wise,” said Jellison.

Other team members are Troy Jellison, Tony Martinez, Tyler Brookings, Tyler McDade, Christian Larochelle and Jimmy Batchelder.

Bangor opens the tournament against Canada at noon Sunday, then faces Agana, Guam, at 8 p.m. Monday. The team is idle Tuesday before facing the U.S. South at 8 p.m. Wednesday and concluding pool play against the U.S. West at 8 p.m. Thursday.

“Last year we got into the first game and the adrenaline rush was just incredible,” said Russell. “You just never knew what was going to happen, you didn’t know how to take the other team. Just seeing what the other teams were like helps us get ready this year.”

The team has practiced three times a week since winning the District 3 title July 18.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” said Jellison. “I really expect us to be extremely, and I mean extremely, competitive against these teams,” Jellison said. “Whether or not that means we win or lose, I don’t know, but I really think we’re going to be very competitive.”

SLWS NOTEBOOK: The final three berths to the 2005 Senior League World Series will be determined Thursday. Defending Series champion Freehold Township, N.J., defeated Hyde Park, N.Y., 4-1 Wednesday to remain the only unbeaten team in the U.S. East regional. Freehold Township will play Montoursville, Pa., Thursday, needing one win to return to the SLWS while -Montoursville needs to defeat Freehold Township twice to oust the champs. … Both pool champions in the U.S. South regional were knocked out in Wednesday’s semifinals. Mobile, Ala., advanced with an 11-4 win over previously unbeaten Kernersville, N.C., while Clarkesville, Ga., eliminated previously unbeaten Bradenton, Fla., 6-4. … Also to be determined Thursday is the U.S. Central champion, and among those teams still alive in that region is Urbandale, Iowa, which appeared in the 2003 SLWS. … Series berths set to be determined Wednesday were the U.S. West, with Pearl City, Hawaii, facing Palmdale, Calif., and Canada, with Thunder Bay, Ontario, facing the East Napean LL of Ottawa, Ontario.