Homich proud to give back

ELLSWORTH – At 18, Matt Homich is a little young to give a lot of thought to giving back to a sport that has given him so much enjoyment.

That sort of payback usually is reserved for later, when a player evolves into a coach or a student who scrapes by on money from summer jobs to get through college evolves into a prosperous businessman with the cash to donate to the causes that shaped his adolescence.

Homich may evolve into both one day, but as for the giving back, he couldn’t wait.

The 2006 Ellsworth High School graduate, who helped the Eagles’ baseball team to a 14-2 regular-season record and a berth in the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals, has facilitated the construction of two press boxes for use at Demeyer Park Fields 1 and 2, home to this year’s state Little League softball and baseball tournaments for 11- and 12-year-olds. Opening ceremonies are set for Saturday.

Homich was pondering what to do for his Eagle Scout project last fall when he got the idea after talking with officials of the James Russell Wiggins Down East Family YMCA, which maintains the fields along with the city and is where Homich has spent much time during his formative years.

“Baseball is my passion, and I asked them if there was anything I could do related to my passion,” said Homich, who played youth baseball in Ellsworth through the YMCA just before the city joined Little League Baseball four years ago.

Once he decided on press boxes, he discussed it with his parents, Paul and Beverly Homich, and then met with Mark Harding, a carpentry teacher at the Hancock County Technical Center.

A sketch of the proposed press boxes was drafted, as well as a list of the materials needed.

Homich then secured a building permit from Ellsworth City Hall and began soliciting materials, with EBS Building Supplies and Michael Jordan, a local contractor each donating enough materials to build one of the press boxes.

Harding’s carpentry classes built the boxes, and Homich, fellow Boy Scouts and some of his other buddies painted them.

Now those buildings, each 12 feet high and 10 feet square, are ready to house game officials and media types as Ellsworth hosts the state championships of the highest-profile division of Little League for the first time.

The press boxes were among many improvements made at the fields in order for Ellsworth to host the states on behalf of Maine District 1 – including a 12-foot high, 60-foot-long mini-Green Monster on the right field fence of the baseball field.

“Matt getting the press boxes built was a very important part of our work to really rebuild the Demeyer fields,” said Rob Eaton, the YMCA’s youth services director. “We’ve had a ton of volunteers and a ton of donations, but Matt was really a catalyst with the press boxes.”

Homich today looks at those facilities he facilitated with great pride.

“It’s incredible to see all the improvements everyone has made there,” he said.

Soon the Eagle Scout will be off to Boston College, where his baseball will consist largely of intramurals and following the Red Sox.

But his story of giving back surely will be shared with the next generation of Ellsworth kids as a blueprint for their own future success.

“One of the things I’m constantly talking to teenagers about is the importance of being part of their community,” said Eaton. “Most kids that age are focused on themselves, but Matt is one big example of it not being all about me, but being all about us.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net