Daniel “Tiger” Stewart is the new varsity baseball coach at Bucksport High School.

Stewart, the Golden Bucks’ junior varsity coach for the last three years, replaces Mike Cowing, who recently resigned after three seasons due to “philosophical differences with a very few parents.”

“I’m not anti-parents,” Cowing added. “I’ve really gotten support from a lot of the parents, but there were a few where there were differences.”

Cowing guided the Bucksport baseball team to the Eastern Maine Class B championship in 2003, and the Golden Bucks reached the regional semifinals last spring before falling to Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor, the eventual Eastern B champ. Bucksport was ousted in preliminary-round play in 2004.

Cowing also served as Bucksport’s boys varsity basketball coach for the better part of the last two years until resigning shortly before the end of the 2005-06 season. He was replaced on an interim basis by junior varsity coach Josh Tripp, and the school is now advertising for Cowing’s successor.

“It’s a loss,” said Bucksport athletic director Brendan Harvey. “Mike’s all about doing the right things, and he really works well with the kids.”

Cowing made his decision not to return to the baseball program shortly after February vacation.

“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” said Cowing, who teaches mathematics at Bucksport High School. “I’ll miss those relationships with the kids. I love the teaching aspect, it makes no difference if it’s on the field or in the classroom.”

Cowing also coaches the school’s varsity golf team, and said he has not decided if he will return to that post in the fall.

Before joining the Bucksport coaching staff, Stewart coached varsity baseball for two years and junior varsity baseball for two years at Ellsworth High School.

This year’s Bucksport team is in position to be a contender in Eastern B, with just three seniors graduated from last year’s squad and 12 returning varsity players. That contingent includes two of last year’s top three pitchers in Joe Robicheau and Chris Maguire.

The Golden Bucks, like other teams throughout the state, began full-team practices this week. Bucksport opens its season April 22 against Class C power George Stevens Academy at Blue Hill.

“It’s a natural rivalry, because a lot of the kids play together during the summer,” said Stewart. “It will be a good early season test.”

Fabian wins Travis Roy Award

Ted Fabian, a senior forward from Messalonskee High in Oakland, has been named winner of the 11th Travis Roy Award, given annually to the top Class A high school hockey player in the state.

Fabian had 27 goals and 34 assists for 61 points in 19 games this winter for the Eagles, who finished fifth in Eastern Maine Class A with an 11-7 regular-season record and lost to Brunswick in the regional quarterfinals.

Other finalists for this year’s award were senior forwards Sam Johnson of Cheverus of Portland and Kyle Baker of Kennebunk.

Since 1996, the Travis Roy Award has been presented annually at the Maine State Class A High School Hockey Banquet to a high school senior based on academic achievement, community involvement, and playing ability. The award was named in honor of Roy, a Falmouth native and former standout at North Yarmouth Academy who was paralyzed from injuries suffered playing his first shift of college hockey as a freshman at Boston University in 1995.

HA’s Cushing UMaine-bound

Two players with Hampden Academy roots are among members of the incoming recruiting class for the University of Maine men’s soccer team.

Andre Cushing, a senior midfielder for the Broncos last fall, is one of eight high school recruits for the Black Bears, while former Hampden Academy midfielder Peter Alexander, now at Dean College, will be one of three transfers joining the program.

Cushing helped Hampden win the Eastern Maine Class A championship in 2004 and reach the regional final again last fall. He was a first-team Penobscot Valley Conference and Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference all-star over his final two seasons with the Broncos, and also was a member of the Eastern Maine Class A and All-Maine teams.

Cushing finished his high school career with 14 goals and a school-record 62 assists.

“Andre has tremendous potential at this level,” said Maine coach Travers Evans. “He has a solid technical base and is an explosive athlete. I am very excited to have him, and to watch him progress.”

Alexander, a 2005 HA graduate, also was a key member of the Broncos’ 2004 Eastern A championship team. Last fall he scored four goals and had three assists for Dean College, which was ranked among the top 15 teams in the National Junior College Athletics Association.

“Peter is a technically solid player who loves the game,” said Evans. “He is a soccer junkie. He had a very good year at Dean playing some of the best competition in the country. I believe he has a tremendous upside and we are glad that he has joined our program.”

Other high school players set to join the UMaine program are midfielder Philip Reed of Gorham, back Sean Michael Meehan of Portland, back Cameron Alksnis of Toronto, Ontario, forward Jordan Antonucci of Gloversville, N.Y., midfielder Kenny Caceros of Ottawa, Ontario, midfielder Marc Goulet of Plainville, Conn., and goalie Dereck Loisel of Warwick, R.I.

Other transfers to the Black Bears are back Adrian Leroy of Ottawa, Ontario, and Carleton University and back Kiaran McCormack of Dundalk, Ireland, and the University of Vermont.

The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.