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Bryan Biggers, a standout cornerback for the Husson College football team, hadn’t played baseball since 2004 but approached Eagles coach John Winkin about trying out for the team this spring.
“I knew him from football. I knew he was a good athlete and he said he was willing to work hard,” said Winkin.
Things have worked out nicely.
The Orlando, Fla. native won the starting center field job and will enter the North Atlantic Conference tournament on Friday hitting .333 out of the nine spot in the order. He has driven in 14 runs, scored 11 runs and has struck out just nine times in 84 at-bats.
“I wanted to see if I could still play. I had a lot of fun playing in junior college [Dean JC]. The biggest thing for me was just trying to stay in shape and stay focused. I didn’t want to have a lot of down time in the dorm room,” said Biggers.
After getting off to an understandably slow start on their spring trip to Florida, he has really picked it up.
In fact, in Husson’s last four NAC games, he is 6-for-11 with four RBIs and two runs.
“He has been one of our key hitters of late and he’s going to play a very important role in the tournament,” said Husson shortstop and tri-captain Adam Sheehan. “He’s probably hitting around .400 over the second half of the season. He has made tremendous strides.”
“He is head and shoulders better than he was at the start of the season,” said Husson second baseman and tri-captain Danny White. “He’s a phenomenal athlete. I’ve never seen anybody get out of the box faster than Bryan does. He can really get down the line.”
Winkin said, “He has an amazing ability to accelerate instantly. Not many guys can do that.”
Biggers said he never expected to hit as high as .333 and credits his speed with being the major reason for it.
“I don’t think I’ve hit the ball that well as much as I am legging them out. A lot of people don’t expect me to be fast so when I hit the little slow rollers or put down bunts, it gives me a chance to get on because my speed forces them to make a [hurried] throw,” said Biggers.
He said the toughest task for him as a hitter has been “actually seeing the ball and watching the ball. I’ve been working on my pitch selection and on seeing the ball.”
His teammates have been beneficial, he said.
“They’ve done everything they can to make me feel comfortable. They work with me if I’m doing something wrong. They’ve been a great help,” said Biggers.
Winkin said Biggers has made a “remarkable adjustment” and called him a “good two-strike hitter.
“He’s a tough competitor when it counts the most,” said Winkin. “He’s also a fun guy to have around.”
White concurred, saying, “He’ll always give you a pat on the back” and lift your spirits.
Biggers has provided them with a top-notch center fielder.
“I’m a lot more comfortable on the mound knowing someone as fast as he is will be out there covering all the holes in the outfield,” said pitcher Chad Lavway.
“He gets a great read off the ball. He can track the ball down with anyone,” said Sheehan.
Biggers, who had 41 unassisted tackles, seven assists and five interceptions for the football team last fall and was the first Husson player chosen All-New England, is “really looking forward” to the tournament.
“This will give us an opportunity to showcase our talent,” said Biggers, who has completed his football eligibility but has another year of baseball eligibility and intends to return next spring to play and finish up his degree.
He is enjoying his time in Maine.
“The weather is kind of iffy but when it’s nice outside, it’s really beautiful up here. I really enjoy the woods and the small-town atmosphere,” he said.
Calais native gets Thomas award
Calais’ James MacDonald was named Thomas College’s Senior Male Scholar Athlete.
He has been a member of the Thomas College golf team for three years and also played on the baseball team for one season.
He has been an All-State Intercollegiate Team selection and was a second team All-North Atlantic Conference pick.
Charlee Hayes of Buckfield was the Senior Female Scholar Athlete. She was a four-year softball player and three-year basketball player.
Farmington’s Kim Drosdik was the top Senior Female Athlete. She scored over 1,000 points in her four-year basketball career and was an All-NAC second teamer. She also played field hockey for one season.
Jim Pierce of Dorchester, Mass. was the top Senior Male Athlete as he played three years of baseball and one year of golf. He was a First Team and a Second Team All-NAC baseball pick in successive years.
Polar Bears in tennis regionals
The Bowdoin College women’s and men’s tennis teams have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Bowdoin women, 17-2, will host an NCAA Regional this weekend. They have set a school record for victories and will meet the winner of Friday’s Ithaca-Simmons winner on Saturday. Middlebury also earned a bye and will face Friday’s Bard-Vassar winner on Saturday.
The two finalists will play Sunday and the winner will got to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on May 15 at the University of Mary Washington (Va.).
The Bowdoin men, 15-4, earned a first-round bye and will play in a regional at Drew University (N.J.) this weekend. Bowdoin will play the host team on Saturday.
Colby assistant is Belarus coach
Colby College men’s hockey assistant coach Matt Dennehy is the video coach for the Belarus National Team at the World Ice Hockey championships in Moscow.
Belarus advanced in the preliminary round and is now involved in second round play.
Dennehy was a two-time Division III All-American at Saint Anselm College (N.H.) and just finished his second season under Colby coach Jim Tortorella.
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