SEARSPORT – Wyman Boxing Club of Stockton Springs will host a series of bouts at Searsport District High School on Saturday. Promoter Skeets Wyman said 11 bouts are on the evening’s card. Five of the boxers are from the Wyman club and the others are… Read More
RANGELEY – Saddleback Ski Resort in Rangeley will offer free skiing this Sunday, the last day of the season. It will do so as a “Thank You” for the very positive response it has experienced to the many recent improvements made to the mountain. Saddleback… Read More
Righthander Anthony DeRosa, who was 6-1 with a 4.35 earned run average for the Husson College Eagles last season, will be sidelined indefinitely due to a minor head injury suffered in an auto accident Friday. DeRosa had been the No. 2 man in the starting… Read More
On April 6, 2006, Old Town and Hampden Academy played a preseason baseball game – outdoors. One year and one day later, those same two teams played another preseason game, only this time it was a modified version played indoors. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
When my sister and I were kids, we looked forward to the days that we could get my Dad out of town and relax as a family. Problem was, wherever we went, we made the so-called “milk run,” a term derived from Greyhound bus trips… Read More
With a light snow falling from gray skies Saturday at about 8 a.m., two men took snowblowers to Coffin Field, Brewer’s softball facility. There’s now just a thin layer of snow left, but Brewer athletic director Dennis Kiah is still grateful the Witches’ home opener… Read More
The NFL Draft is only 18 days away, but the annual harvest of top collegiate football talent can’t start too soon for University of Maine senior Daren Stone. Stone is just one of thousands of college players who hope to get a phone call from… Read More
Outdoors enthusiasts go to sporting shows for a variety of reasons. Some like to look at expensive boats and dream of owning one. Others talk turkey with turkey experts or book trips to exotic lodges. In Aroostook County, many attend the yearly Presque Isle Fish… Read More
On Wednesday, as Tim Whitehead prepared his Black Bears to face Michigan State in the Frozen Four, he considered his time at Maine and the sad circumstances under which his heading coaching job began. Shawn Walsh’s untimely passing just prior to the season six years… Read More
Sunday, the last sunny day we had this week (I was paying attention because I had to work that fine day) provided a bit of entertainment for me. April Fools’ Day brought a report of a whale in the Penobscot River in the area of the Eagle’s Nest… Read More
Unity College will host its first Sportsmen’s Conference and Wild Game Dinner at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts on April 19. The event will run from 4-10 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
ST. LOUIS – Hampden Academy soccer coach Ryan Shaw is a relative newcomer among a healthy number of hockey enthusiasts who make the pilgrimage to the Frozen Four every year. They come from all parts of the country and there are plenty of Mainers in… Read More
You knew the negotiations for University of Maine sports radio rights had gone haywire when Stephen King was the victim of a horror story instead of its author. For me, that radio tussle symbolizes a larger issue – the university’s athletic department existing beyond its… Read More
DEXTER – Dexter Municipal Golf Course will be hosting an open house at the course from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Read More
PORTLAND – Thursday’s snowstorm forced the postponement of the Portland Sea Dog’s opener at Hadlock Field. Depending on the weather nad field conditions, the Sea Dogs will attempt to open today at 6 p.m. against Connecticut when Portland will also be awarded its championship rings… Read More
ORONO – This weekend’s Maine-Stony Brook softball series has been moved from Orono to Stony Brook, N.Y., due to inclement weather. Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. at the Stony Brook softball complex. The second game will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion… Read More
The identity of a potential new owner of Clear Channel radio stations in Maine could be announced at any time now. Bids were due a few weeks ago for the cluster of Maine stations, which include University of Maine Black Bear radio flagship station WVOM… Read More
ST. LOUIS – Keenan Hopson said he is glad to be back in the lineup and is looking forward to this afternoon’s NCAA Frozen Four semifinal against Michigan State. The University of Maine junior center-turned-defenseman missed the East Regional victories over St. Cloud State (4-1)… Read More
History certainly repeats itself, doesn’t it? Just take a look at this year’s Frozen Four. Three of the teams were in the Frozen Four last season: Maine, North Dakota and Boston College. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
PORTLAND – Ashley Cimino, a standout at Catherine McAuley High School, has been named among the nation’s best schoolgirl basketball players by Parade Magazine. Cimino earned third-team recognition for the All-America high school girls’ basketball team, meaning she is considered one of the top 30… Read More
It can be frustrating, at times, to turn on the TV to watch a ballgame and see the latest version of today’s top college and professional athletes. They seem to be a little lacking in fundamentals and sportsmanship whether it’s an NBA player taking a dribble and three… Read More
I caught the tail end of a John Wooden interview the other night on TV, and I came away thinking that all coaches in all sports should try to imitate this guy in all that they do. After all, in addition to the remarkable career… Read More
There is always some story to be played out when it comes to a Red Sox season. Why change now? Jonathan Papelbon is now the closer for the Sox. That, of course, is exactly where we left him last year. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – It was another fine day for the Maine Winter Sports Center team, especially Haley Johnson. Johnson, who competes on the biathlon circuit in the U.S. and Europe, finished fifth overall and fourth among the U.S. finishers in the women’s cross country 30-kilometer… Read More
In most of our cozy freshwater fishing hamlets, the beginning of open-water angling is still a few weeks away. The ice that coats most of the state’s lakes and ponds has conspired to make sure of that. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
Compared to the forecast, Saturday turned out to be a gem, didn’t it? Last I heard the dire outlook was 90 percent chance of precipitation, maybe 80 percent. Wrong, thank you! After giving the day a good start and waiting to see if things were… Read More
When my frequent hiking partner and good friend, Scott Fisher, called and offered me a spot on his permit to climb Mount Katahdin over the weekend of March 10-11, I jumped at the chance. Actually, I had started begging him to go back in mid-January. After almost a… Read More
Whitewater paddlers will head to Searsmont this morning for the first local race of a busy canoe and kayak season. The St. George River Race is back after a one-year hiatus caused by historic low water conditions in 2006. This will be the 28th “annual”… Read More
The alarm went off at 11:45 p.m. I had been able to get about three hours of sleep before heading out to listen for owls. “Whose idea was this?” I grumbled as I drove to meet my survey partner, Paul Markson. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Max Saenger won’t be at the Nordic Heritage Center when it hosts the 2009 U.S. Junior Olympics. His fingerprints, however, will be all over both the grounds and the organization here. So will his name. Officials from the Maine Winter Sports Center,… Read More
While the position on the radio dial and the station call letters are changing, the voices for future University of Maine sports broadcasts may not. Two weeks after announcing a new five-year contract agreement with the University of Maine for exclusive radio broadcast rights to… Read More
The fact that 180 runners and walkers finished the inaugural Flattop 5K road race in Lamoine last spring was no shock to Robin Emery. The Flattop 5K honored the late Bill Pinkham, who had a flat top hairstyle. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
Not only could this be the year, it will be the year for the Boston Red Sox. I guarantee it. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
BANGOR – Jon Penner of Brewer bowled his first-ever 300 game Thursday night during Pine Tree League team competition at Family Fun Lanes. The 19-year-old from Brewer bowled strings of 153, 224 and 300 for his team (Team 10). Read More
The Lee Academy baseball team accomplished something new last spring – its first Class D state championship. But the Pandas graduated eight seniors from that 19-1 team, a contingent including seven starters led by infielder Tyler Thompson, who amassed more than 100 hits and 100… Read More
Jeff Albert had just finished eating lunch Saturday when a friend pointed to a waving ice fishing flag 200 feet away on the frozen surface of Glazier Lake. Albert ran to the flag, looked into the hole, and quickly realized he had a fight on… Read More
Life is all about second chances and the ability to capitalize on those opportunities. The University of Maine’s hockey team looked cooked, going 13-14-1 over its last 28 games including four straight losses to UMass. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
The Searsport High School baseball team waited 31 years between state titles before winning it all at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish last June. But this year’s squad, featuring seven starters back from the 2006 Class C state championship edition, is geared toward making sure… Read More
Chris Ewing, noted weatherman for WABI-TV 5 in Bangor, tells me that it is now officially spring. I like Chris. No sweaters. No theme music. Just the meteorological facts. My oldest boy Scott, the future architect, likes this time of the year because of all… Read More
As the Hermon softball team began tryouts Monday afternoon, one member of the Hawk team took the lead in guiding her teammates through some warmups. Junior pitcher Ashley Kelley, who had a breakout year in 2006, skipped ahead of her teammates, showing them a drill. Read More
If you were looking for one of the nation’s top snowboard cross racers on Thursday or Friday, you were most likely to find them doing some pretty unlikely work. They weren’t resting up for their Friday time trials or Saturday’s championship heats, nor spending all… Read More
Hampden’s behavior was not the norm I’d like to start by saying how proud I am of the four teams from the Hampden area who recently participated in one of Eastern Maine’s most elite tournaments: The Great Harbor Shootout. This is an annual tournament that… Read More
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – University of Maine sophomore goalie Ben Bishop has had extra motivation this season. Knowing that the Frozen Four was in St. Louis, approximately 20 miles from his hometown of Des Peres, Mo., Bishop wanted desperately to help lead his Black Bears to… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine Athletic Department will be chartering a fan bus to St. Louis for the men’s hockey NCAA Frozen Four. In the first round, Maine will face Michigan State on April 5. The Frozen Four final will be held April 7… Read More
WINTERPORT – Sonny’s Driving Range and Training Center will open for the season on Wednesday. Sonny’s will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Info on camps, lessons, programs, and prices are online at: www.sonnysrange.com. Read More
BANGOR – Rick Reidy of Bucksport rolled his first perfect game in the Mixed Couples League at the Family Fun Bowling Center on Friday. Reidy, 53, posted games of 197, 170, and 300, good for a 667 series. Read More
Seth Wescott leads his guest on a serpentine path through the base lodge of his home mountain, his pace brisk as he turns corners, climbs stairs, and finally ducks behind a pillar to sit at a nearly hidden table just off the food court. Here,… Read More
Let’s go green! That is a chant that is probably heard in a lot of sports arenas, but that chant is taking on a new meaning. Thanks to work by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), many professional sports teams are turning at least some… Read More
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The NCAA Tournament’s East Regional will be memorable for University of Maine hockey office secretary/administrative assistant Jeanne Goss. Goss, who has been with the program for 14 years, is taking a leave of absence next year and won’t return to her position. Read More
Have you ever dreamed about owning a sea kayak? Stay tuned ‘cuz I’ve got a deal for you, and depending on your luck, it won’t cost you more than $3. I’ll get to the relevant details in a minute. Didn’t it rain some wicked last… Read More
At some point in our lives, we all come across the term “Black and White.” Usually this phrase is referring to certain laws or regulations, a prescribed course of action, specific directions, or even a dress code that some or all of us are dictated to follow. Despite… Read More
Due to a printing error, the 2007 Open Water Fishing Law book published by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has three regulation errors. The department is working to correct those errors and ensure that they don’t occur again. “It is unfortunate that… Read More
The clear whistle reached me across the distance. The sky was a soft blue and the warming breeze stirred through the boughs of tall white pines, sounding like the ocean. These sensations combined to remind me that winter was on its way out. Spring is… Read More
I won’t be shocked if the University of Maine Black Bears win twice this weekend and return to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four. Maine isn’t exactly riding a wave of momentum heading into its East Regional matchup against St. Cloud State tonight. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Keenan Hopson had a stomach ache Tuesday morning and when it got progressively worse and he started vomiting, he had his roommate drive him to the hospital. Later that night, Hopson had an emergency appendectomy at Bangor’s Eastern Maine Medical Center which… Read More
When 20 of the top male snowboard cross racers in the world head to Sugarloaf/USA for this weekend’s Champion’s Cross event, they won’t find a course (nor an event) that they’ve become accustomed to on the world circuit. And if those riders are smiling at… Read More
The Saint Joseph’s College baseball team’s bats were as hot as the Florida sun during its seven-game swing in the Sunshine State, and the Monks returned home with an unblemished record. “That and a nickel will get you a cup of coffee,” said 15-year head… Read More
The annual Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Basketball Games traditionally are a celebration of some of the state’s top high school athletes. But the weekend of events at Husson College in Bangor also features recognition for some of the state’s top coaches. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
When he first stepped foot on the University of Maine campus, Michel Leveille knew just “basic English. “I had to learn how to interact with people [in English],” said the Levis, Quebec, native Tuesday as the Black Bear hockey team continued preparation for its NCAA… Read More
Coach Jones: great coach, great person I was sorry to see the story of Wilton Jones’ coaching resignation from boys varsity basketball at Mount Desert Island High School (BDN, March 10-11). I knew it was probably coming but hoped that he would coach another few… Read More
I’m trying to figure out the logic behind the University of Maine in Orono giving the broadcasting rights for radio coverage of their heralded sports teams to the folks at Clear Channel. Taking that responsibility away from WZON, AM 620, The Sports Zone in Bangor… Read More
Bucksport High School’s John Wardwell Field was speckled with ice and snow Monday afternoon as the school’s softball team held its first practice of the year in the gymnasium. Even though the Golden Bucks had to open the 2007 season indoors, seniors Terren Hall and… Read More
When the latest winter storm dumped inches of snow, ice, and water over the weekend, many of us likely decided to hunker down, close our eyes, and ignore the whole event. Not Dale Cross. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
UMaine tunes out the Sports Zone… Shortsighted, sneaky googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
It is time to take this opportunity to thank Pete Rose for helping to make sure he does not get to the Baseball Hall of Fame. For years we listened to his moaning that he never bet on baseball. Then came the “I bet on… Read More
PALMETTO BAY, Fla. – U.S. Air Force Capt. Kevin Eastler, formerly of Farmington and now residing in Aurora, Colo., won the gold medal Saturday in the 20-kilometer Pan American Racewalk Cup qualifying trials held at the Old Cutler Road Course on Saturday. Eastler edged training… Read More
MWSC biathletes shine in sprints Fort Kent facility has played important role in skiers’ development
FORT KENT – Maine Winter Sports Center athletes cleaned up in Saturday’s sprint races. The U.S. titles in all three men’s sprint races were claimed by competitors with a connection to the MWSC, while the top two overall senior women have skied for the MWSC… Read More
The ice crackled under our feet as we trudged slowly, carefully, toward the middle of the lake. The sound, although eerie, was exactly what we wanted to hear. Underneath our feet was two feet of solid ice … then a thin coating of water …… Read More
He is ready to play and just hopes he gets the chance. University of Maine sophomore goalie Ben Bishop returned to the practice ice on Thursday, three weeks after suffering his second groin pull in a 5-1 win over Merrimack College. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
It took him 27 years of service in Major League Baseball and a roundabout journey from Maine almost all the way down the Atlantic Coast, over to Texas and back to New England, but John Blake feels like he’s finally where he’s supposed to be. Read More
FORT KENT – At least one Aroostook County resident is excited by the coming of a second biathlon World Cup to the 10th Mountain Ski Center in 2009. Like many of the Maine Winter Sports Center team members competing at this week’s North America and… Read More
Aquaterra Adventures in Bar Harbor is teaming with SOLO Wilderness Medicine to offer a wilderness first-aid class with an emphasis on paddle sports. The course is ideal for anyone who plans to lead kayaking trips or canoeing trips, teach paddle sports at a camp, or… Read More
Winter is growing old and the reports of spring migrants are beginning to trickle in to the birding hotline. There are also some interesting winter visitors still hanging around, offering some lucky birders great viewing opportunities. First, the returning migrants. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
Every so often you have to break out of the mold, color outside the lines, break the routine – you know what I mean. Lately I’ve felt that I’ve been driving in a small circle from home to work and work to home and once… Read More
Most of my ice fishing outings occur for lack of other options during Maine’s tedious annual cold spell. While results are more predictable early on, as soon as safe ice depths allow anglers to set traps, many of my truly enjoyable winter fishing trips take place in March. Read More
With the Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Weekend bringing down the curtain on the state’s 2006-07 basketball season – weather permitting – here’s one last look at the some of the highlights of the schoolboy basketball campaign. Best In Show: The Bangor Rams stepped up their… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The ongoing offseason drama surrounding the uncertain status of Boston’s free agency deal with right fielder J.D. Drew reminded many of an old Saturday Night Live sketch by comedian Chevy Chase. But instead of “Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead,” the… Read More
BANGOR – The Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star banquet scheduled Friday night and the games set for Saturday will proceed as scheduled despite a forecast of a winter storm, according to a press release from the organization Thursday night. The Friday and Saturday events are scheduled… Read More
Nearly a year ago, Maine’s wildlife biologists peered into their crystal balls (and crunched more numbers than you can imagine) and came up with a preseason prediction on the success of 2006 deer hunters. Their estimate: 29,400 deer would fall during the state’s varied deer… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – You never know who you’re going to run into at City of Palms Park. Sure, the park has seen its share of celebrities and sports luminaries, but it’s not every day you can say you rubbed elbows with two Hall of… Read More
Mark Sweeney is a proud alumnus of the University of Maine and its tradition-rich baseball program. The former Black Bear All-American keeps tabs on UMaine’s progress and occasionally touches base with second-year coach Steve Trimper. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
It’s hard to fathom that a team which started 8-0-1, including two wins at North Dakota and a victory over Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., could face the predicament the University of Maine hockey team finds itself in. The Black… Read More
Paul Soucy has guided the Big East Conference through many changes in the Eastern Maine high school basketball landscape during his 22 years as that league’s first and only director. The conference was formed as the Eastern 8 during the mid-1980s to accommodate northern Maine’s… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox media guide calls him a “sport psychology coach,” but Bob Tewksbury prefers calling himself a sports psychology-mental skills coach. Never mind his job title, what exactly is he? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
Edward Little High School freshman Christie Bernier took gold in the one-mile racewalk Saturday with a time of 7 minutes, 58.93 seconds at the Nike Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Landover, Md. Boothbay High School freshman Matthew Forgues finished fourth in the boys… Read More
I was never much of a bowler. I hit rock bottom in the popular sport when I was a freshman in high school. I thought it might be a nifty idea to take my girlfriend Nancy on a bowling excursion. You remember those dates. Impress… Read More
Just because the Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron has been around for 40 years, teaching generations of boaters, don’t think the club’s members don’t have a few new tricks up their sleeves. And if you’re a 16- or 17-year-old who enjoys zooming around your… Read More
John DeRaps knows it’s tough to end a postseason run the way his Narraguagus of Harrington girls basketball team did. “It’s part of the game,” DeRaps said. “You’re gonna lose some like that, but you’re gonna win some like that.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
The attention being given to Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is truly astounding. The attention is not just from the Japanese media who are bulging the walls of spring training facilities. Bobby Wine is a former major league All-Star infielder and a longtime coach and… Read More
YMCA swimming deserves coverage After reading the fair coverage that the BDN gave the state high School swim meets, I was very disappointed on March 5th to find absolutely no coverage of the State YMCA Swim Meet, which happened all weekend in the Wallace Pool… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Ask Boston Red Sox minor league instructor and coordinator Lou Frazier about the potential of top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury and his eyes sparkle, even in on a bright, sunny day afternoon in western Florida. “The sky’s the limit with this kid,”… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Daisuke Matsuzaka circus came to town Sunday afternoon and appropriately enough, one of its performances was held under the big top. Another sellout crowd of 7,957 fans jammed into all 7,575 seats and took up whatever standing room space was… Read More
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior Arel Gordon of the University of Maine set a school record en route to his seventh-place finish in the men’s 60-meter dash in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. Gordon ran a time of 6.71 seconds, besting Joshua… Read More
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Colby College senior Karen Prisby finished sixth in the women’s 5,000-meter run to earn All-America honors in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. Prisby set a Colby indoor record with a time of 17:05.73. It’s her… Read More
A year ago, mainstream America became acquainted with a sport that had previously been hugely popular in extreme sports competitions as snowboardcross – known also as boardercross to some, boarder X to others, snowboard X to still others – made its Olympic debut. The rough-and-tumble… Read More
BAR HARBOR – After more than two decades as a high school basketball coach, Wilton Jones has decided to consider life after tournament time. So Jones has stepped down as boys varsity basketball coach at Mount Desert Island, a post he has held for the… Read More
VESTAL, N.Y. – Bye bye Bracey. Bracey Barker has been among the top players in America East during the last three seasons. She’ll be missed, sort of, by some of the league’s other coaches. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Since the New Year began, every time I turn around one friend after another has been ill with a cold, the flu, narvo virus, or some other cold-weather malady. Most recently, four of my near and dear sporting buddies were overcome with the same virus, an ailment with… Read More
Have you checked your internal clock lately? The days are getting longer (more than two hours, 45 minutes longer than Dec. 22) and the sun is getting warmer. You say the past few days haven’t felt much warmer? Arctic blasts, you say? Subnormal temperatures? It’s… Read More
Tree identification can be easy, even when there are no leaves to study, according to volunteers at the Sunkhaze Stream Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR will host a winter twig ID hike today beginning at 8:45 a.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More