Bangor High School has won back-to-back Eastern Maine Class A baseball championships and a state title in 2006, posting a stellar 37-3 record during the last two seasons.

One of the common denominators for those powerhouse Rams teams is third baseman Shane Walton.

Walton, who is gearing up for his senior season at Bangor, has decided to continue his baseball career at the University of Maine. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Walton on Tuesday made a verbal commitment to play for coach Steve Trimper’s Black Bears starting in the fall.

Walton has been among the key cogs for coach Jeff Fahey, whose Rams had a 30-game winning streak snapped in last year’s state title game against Deering High of Portland.

Last spring, Walton batted around .400 in the No. 2 spot for Bangor, while anchoring the defense at third base. He was chosen for the All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference North First Team.

“He’s legit,” Fahey said. “I can’t remember a better third baseman at Bangor. I would guess that he’s probably made three errors in three years.”

Walton also excelled for the Bangor Comrades American Legion team, batting .333 with 24 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, with no errors, during the regular season en route to All-Zone 1 first-team honors.

Walton’s lateral quickness enables him to get to a lot of balls and his speed also is beneficial on the basepaths.

And while he may be a candidate to be moved to second base at UMaine, his competitiveness and demeanor should help him make the transition to Division I baseball.

“He loves the game, is very competitive, but he keeps everything in perspective,” Fahey said. “It doesn’t matter whether he’s had a great game or a poor game, he’s pretty even-keeled. He’s just a great kid.”

Fahey also said Walton, who was an All-KVAC second-team “utility” pick in 2006, has continued to improve as a hitter. He makes more consistent contact and hits line drives and balls to the gaps.

In joining UMaine, Walton becomes the third Bangor product on the squad along with former Rams standouts in infielder Brian Hackett and pitcher Jim Cox.

The roster also includes former Brewer star Kevin McAvoy and former Old Town mainstay Jarrett Lukas.

Walton also was a major force in the Rams’ football success during the last three years. The productive and durable halfback and relentless defensive back was an All-PTC first-team defensive choice last fall.

Trimper is prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on a recruit until a National Letter of Intent has been signed and returned to the school.

Walton’s participation at UMaine is contingent upon gaining admission to the school and compliance with NCAA initial eligibility guidelines.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

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