The University of Maine baseball team has announced six players have committed to play for the Black Bears beginning in the fall of 2008.

UMaine coach Steve Trimper and his staff have received National Letters of Intent from four pitchers, an outfielder and an infielder.

The list includes Gardiner High School three-sport standout Kyle Stilphen of Pittston, who recently quarterbacked the Tigers to the Class B football state championship.

Stilphen, a middle infielder, batted .500 last spring with four home runs and 22 RBIs as Gardiner won the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference crown.

“Kyle is one of the premier players in the state who possesses tools that will give him the opportunity to be successful at the University of Maine,” said Trimper, who compared Stilphen to UMaine standout Kevin McAvoy of Brewer.

Taylor Lewis is a lefthanded-hitting outfielder from Uncasville, Conn. The first-team, all-conference selection passed on several Division I-A football opportunities to play baseball for the Black Bears.

“He will become one of the biggest offensive threats in college baseball, especially with his speed and ability to hit to all fields,” Trimper said.

The Bears have recruited a group of four righthanded pitchers, including A.J. Bazdanes of Nashua, N.H.

Bazdanes played for Team Connecticut last summer, posting an 8-1 record with 129 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 76 innings.

“A.J. is a fierce competitor who will have an immediate impact on our pitching staff,” Trimper said.

Keith Bilodeau has been a standout at Bourne (Mass.) High School. Last summer, he compiled a 7-0 American Legion record with a 0.62 earned run average, including a no-hitter.

“Keith is a hard-throwing righty, with an outstanding slider, who has the chance to be a top-notch college baseball player,” Trimper said.

Pat Quinn of Waterford, Conn., is coming off a 6-0 junior season during which he had a 0.75 ERA.

“We feel that he projects to become an impact college baseball pitcher,” Trimper said.

Matt Klaczkiewicz of Newark, Del., pitched at Dickinson High in Wilmington, Del. He struck out 74 batters in 52 2/3 innings last spring, when he was a first-team, all-league pick.

“We project Matt to be a front-line pitcher at the University of Maine,” Trimper said.

The athletes’ eligibility is contingent upon their compliance with NCAA guidelines.

Belcher tops UMaine honorees

Jovan Belcher, who was switched from linebacker to defensive end prior to the 2007 football season, has been named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference First Team.

The junior from West Babylon, N.Y., had a breakout season for coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears. Belcher ranked second on the team and tied for 20th in the league with 85 tackles.

Belcher was adept at getting into the backfield while leading the CAA with 17 tackles for a loss, including a league-best 10 quarterback sacks. He also forced two fumbles.

Four other UMaine players garnered All-CAA recognition.

Junior center Ryan Canary and junior linebacker Andrew Downey (78 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks) were named to the second team.

Junior tailback Jhamal Fluellen (1,052 yards rushing, 27 receptions, 302 yards, 7 total touchdowns) and senior offensive tackle Shawn Demaray of Livermore Falls were third-team selections.