Youthful GV Bucs win title Winslow new coach of Bucksport soccer

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Young and dangerous.

That’s how Russell “Rusty” Worcester Jr. has described his Georges Valley softball team this year.

Young, because the Buccaneers of Thomaston didn’t have a single senior on its roster this spring. Dangerous, because what they lacked in experience, Worcester felt, they made up in talent.

“We’re so young but we knew we had some very, very good talent,” he said after Georges Valley won its first Class C state title Saturday. “I thought, if some [teams] underestimate us and look by us they could be in trouble.”

The Bucs beat Eastern Maine champion Sumner of East Sullivan 5-2 at Brewer’s Coffin Field. They did it with a freshman pitcher, Danielle Frye, another freshman at third base, three more sophomores who played Saturday, and six juniors.

All that youth had the Buccaneers players wondering just how they’d finish this year. Georges Valley lost to Sacopee Valley of Hiram in the Western Maine quarterfinals last year.

“Coming into the season we were hoping to do good but I wasn’t exactly thinking state champions,” said junior first baseman Ashley Geel, who had a double, a single and two RBIs. “I was hoping we’d get up in the top three in our [classification]. We came to this game and I was like, [wow]. It’s awesome.”

Worcester said the team’s development, from Frye’s composure in the circle to the Buccaneers’ ability to create runs and understand offensive situations, was key to the season.

Frye held up well in the state final. She walked four, but struck out five and limited Sumner to just five hits.

“Having a freshman pitcher, it’s a scary situation because you’ve got to make sure she’s ready for that,” Worcester said. “But she came in focused. It’s a big jump to varsity, but she’s done a great job. Hopefully she’ll get better and better each year she throws.”

Georges Valley had seven hits and got something from almost every spot in the lineup, whether it was reaching on errors or groundouts to advance runners.

In the fifth inning, junior Nicole Poland bunted – with two strikes – and grounded out to the pitcher, but she was able to squeeze in junior Aley Watts from third.

“Those are the things we talk about,” Worcester said. “You have to take a chance, lay those down and execute. They’re young but they’re beyond their years in the mental aspect of the game.”

Worcester also credited assistant coach John Frye, Danielle’s father, as well as the community. Thomaston frequently hosts Little League softball all-star tournaments, which has translated to a strong program at the younger levels.

“Two years ago we had four windmill pitchers on the Little League team,” Worcester said. “The parents and the community are so dedicated. They come into the gym, they bring their own kids in and start them throwing at 10. It’s really a close-knit community.”

It’s a close team, too, and the Bucs are already thinking repeat. Minutes after the Georges Valley players received their state championship medals, Geel was already thinking about how far they’ll go next spring.

“That was the first thing I was thinking,” said the 6-foot-2 Geel, who would like to play basketball and softball in college. “I cannot wait until next year. Everybody’s going to be gunning for us but we’ll learn more over the summer and hopefully we’ll get it next year, too.”

Winslow new Bucks soccer coach

Aaron Winslow will have to dust off his old goalie skills for the upcoming soccer season as he takes over the Bucksport girls soccer team this fall.

Winslow, a math teacher at the high school, was officially hired by the school committee last week, athletic director Brendan Harvey said.

Winslow will take over a Golden Bucks team that went 12-2-2 last year, advanced to the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals and returns at least seven starters, but lost a number of key seniors including four-year varsity starting goalie Katie Hurd.

“It’s pretty much going to be, who wants to play goalie,” said Winslow, who played some goalie and was a defender for Belfast High, of which he is a 1997 graduate. “Right now, we’re looking at athletes to see where we can move people around. There are a couple of girls we’re looking at but it’ll probably be in September that we figure all that out.”

The Bucks will participate in some casual games this summer, during which Winslow will figure out where he can fill in the holes.

“We’re going to figure out who can step into the starting lineup,” he said.

Winslow spent three years as a junior varsity soccer coach at Belfast High School.

“I’ve been wanting to get back into coaching at the high school level,” he said. “Soccer is something I’ve done all my life.”

He is also the head coach of the Waldo County YMCA swim team, which is based in Belfast, and is an avid canoe paddler. Winslow swam at Keene State (N.H.) College.

His father is longtime Belfast High boys swimming coach Bob Winslow, who led the Lions to Class B state titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Aaron Winslow is following in his father’s footsteps – he said Bob Winslow coached middle school soccer in Belfast for a few years in the 1990s.

Aaron Winslow replaces Jack Gordon, who resigned last fall after seven years. The Golden Bucks won the 2001 Eastern Maine Class B championship.

Senior all-star games on tap

Maine’s top senior softball players will be on the field one final time as high school players for Thursday’s two Maine Softball Coaches Association senior all-star games.

The festivities, which includes the announcement of the Miss Maine Softball winner as well as Players of the Year awards in different classes and regions, will be held at the Cony High field in Augusta starting at 5 p.m.

The first game pits the Eastern Maine Classes C and D all-stars against the Western Maine C-D all-stars.

The awards ceremony will be held after the C-D game ends, followed by the A-B all-star game. Both games will last nine innings.

In case of rain there will be no makeup date.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.