Recruiting is a key aspect of Paul Kostacopoulos’ job description as the head baseball coach at the University of Maine.

This year, the people of Bangor were instrumental in the Black Bears’ ability to land a talented young player.

Curt Smith of Curacao, who played in the Senior League World Series at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor each of the last two summers, is one of two players to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend UMaine during the late signing period.

Smith and outfielder Mark Ostrander of Hopkinton, Mass., plan to attend UMaine in the fall.

“The City of Bangor recruited this kid because of the tournament and how gracious the people were,” Kostacopoulos said of Smith, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound third baseman and outfielder.

“He wanted to come here. He loves the people here. It’s one of the most refreshing recruiting experiences I’ve had,” Kostacopoulos said.

He described Smith as a “five-tool” player, one who can hit, hit for power, run, throw, and play defense. He was in Curacao this week to observe Smith, who recently turned down four or five teams and up to $80,000 to sign a pro contract.

“I like the flexibility that I see in him,” Kostacopoulos said. “His first four or five steps are explosive.”

Ostrander, who also received a lot of attention from pro scouts, will give the Bears a well-rounded outfielder.

The 6-2, 195-pounder also has all the skills to be an outstanding college player.

“We’re pretty excited about him,” said Kostacopoulos, who explained the Yankees and Braves had flown Ostrander to their ballparks for workouts.

However, Ostrander and his parents apparently decided he would not sign and forego the college experience unless big-league clubs made it worth his while financially.

“He had standards that I don’t think they [the pro teams] were going to meet,” Kostacopoulos said. “He and his parents have a refreshing idea of what a college experience should be.”

Ostrander and Smith will be joined by early NLI signees Ray Vallee of Augusta, an infielder, along with middle infielder Moises Rivera of New Paltz, N.Y., and righthanded pitcher John Tesseyman of High Falls, N.Y.

Kostacopoulos said having Simon Williams of Portland and Mike MacDonald of Camden picked in the major league draft earlier this week is a nice boost for the program.

“The percentages of players who sign are low, but we are still able to say that there is an opportunity,” Kostacopoulos said. “It’s always a positive for us to be in the draft.”

Patterson to attend Husson

Travis Patterson headed to Liberty University in Virginia last fall having decided to give up his career as a competitive basketball player.

Less than a year later, the former Dexter High School standout is returning to basketball, and to eastern Maine.

Patterson has verbally committed to attend Husson College in Bangor next fall and plans to play for coach Warren Caruso’s Braves.

“We are very pleased that Travis is coming to Husson,” Caruso said. “We feel he can play either guard position with a great ability to score.”

The explosive 6-foot guard is excited about the opportunity.

“If I was going to play basketball anywhere, it was Husson,” said Patterson, who averaged 25.4 points and 6.1 rebounds during his senior season at Dexter in 2002-03.

“They have a tradition and I wanted to be part of that,” he added. “It was a real easy decision as far as basketball.”

Patterson, a NEWS All-Maine third-team selection in 2003, kept his skills sharp by playing some intramural ball at Liberty. He did not attempt to try out for Liberty’s Division I squad, but he and older brother Brent led their team to an intramural championship.

Travis Patterson felt as though he needed to return to Maine.

“It was wanting to be closer to home for one and to play basketball,” Patterson said of his rationale for transferring.

“Taking a year off, you realize how much you miss the challenge of basketball,” he added.