HERMON – The Hermon Tennis Challenge will be held at the new Hermon High School tennis courts on Saturday and Sunday. Slots are still available for those wanting to participate. Interested players must pre-register by 6 p.m. Thursday by calling Paul Soucy at 848-4062. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
When the first high school field hockey, soccer and volleyball Heal point standings are released by the Maine Principals’ Association this morning, it’s a pretty safe bet that the Old Town girls soccer team will be close to the top of the Eastern Maine Class B ranks. Read More
The new video scoreboard at center ice at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena is in place and has spawned two smaller scoreboards that will be at displayed at each end. That’s because of an NCAA rule that requires a scoreboard be at least 25… Read More
With all the hoopla surrounding the New York Yankees’ final home game last weekend at Yankee Stadium, I couldn’t help thinking about historic sports venues in my own life. For me, Yankee Stadium, “The House That Ruth Built,” based, interestingly enough, on the nursery rhyme,… Read More
The Yankees played their final game at Yankee Stadium Sunday night. It was marked with pomp and circumstance and a lot of former Yankees on hand. Across the street in the Bronx the new Yankee Stadium rises like a Taj Mahal, an imposing edifice glaring… Read More
The waiting is over for many who’ve spent years waiting for their chance to embark on an adventure many call “the hunt of a lifetime.” Yes, it’s moose season again in Maine, and for the next six days, more than 1,000 permit-holders will head afield. Read More
Lewiston’s Laura Martel, the University of Maine women’s soccer team-leading goal scorer with three this season, has been lost for the season with a knee injury. She will be a medical redshirt, according to Maine coach Scott Atherley. She will have two years of eligibility… Read More
Runners and walkers alike are invited Sunday to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure along the Bangor Waterfront. The race, which starts at 10 a.m., raises awareness for breast cancer. Among its thousands of participants are some serious runners from the… Read More
Taking a page from the motion picture industry’s handbook, let me offer this disclaimer often seen during the trailing credits at the end of a show. Could be a western with lots of horses, a jungle adventure with wild animals or even a kid’s movie with dogs, cats… Read More
The Maine Winter Sports Center will host its first Harvest Classic bike race and tour in Caribou on Sunday. Two events are planned: A 40-mile race and a 20-mile tour. Cyclists of all ages and ability levels are encouraged to participate. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
As summer begins to fade, I try to hold the good days we had in memory against the coming cold season. Soon after the long spell of rainy weather we had going into August, a friend and I planned to spend some time at Crescent… Read More
I’ve had this math problem for the last three years now. For a while I let it go, believing it was just my problem – much like the problem I had the first time I took college calculus. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
HERMON – A ceremony will be held before tonight’s Hermon High School boys soccer game to dedicate and recognize the completion of phase two of the Greater Hermon Community Athletic Complex. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony which will begin at approximately 6:15… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine women’s ice hockey head coach Dan Lichterman announced that Karine Senecal was hired as an assistant coach. Senecal was the team’s graduate assistant coach for the 2007-08 season. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
The University of Maine’s football program got a bit more than 15 minutes of fame last week, but it may have failed to milk the “Battle for the Butter” for all it was worth. Thanks to a somewhat random selection as the “lesser known” college… Read More
The University of Maine-Fort Kent men’s soccer team had a record-setting year last fall by winning 21 games, collecting its first-ever NAIA Tournament victory and denting the NAIA national top 25 poll. They eventually lost to No. 4 Ohio Dominican 7-0 in the Sweet 16… Read More
Kim Delbridge spends a fair amount of time in tree stands, so it’s not surprising the event that eventually spawned his nifty invention took place while he was perched in a tree. There Delbridge was, sitting in his stand, minding his own business (and waiting… Read More
Soccer is a wonderful sport with a glaring need – more goals. So here are some suggestions to create more goals: 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
The LTC Class C football ranks have been two-tiered in recent years, with several consistent contenders for top honors and several other teams striving to join those ranks. John Bapst of Bangor is the most recent team to elevate itself to a contending level, highlighted… Read More
The first phase of the ongoing renovation and reconstruction of Bass Park is heading into the home stretch. The new combination paddock and racing office building should be ready by Oct. 3, in plenty of time for Bangor Raceway’s fall racing schedule, which starts Oct. Read More
Prior to Saturday night’s victory over Stony Brook, it had been almost three years since a University of Maine quarterback had thrown for four touchdowns in a game. Sophomore Adam Farkes accomplished the feat in only 30 minutes of first-half action. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
BANGOR – National Congress of State Games Male Athlete of the Year Chris Page will be part of a public reception at Union Street Athletics on Friday at noon. Hermon’s Page will be honored at a banquet in Rochester, New York on September 25 at… Read More
A day in the Maine woods can be full of surprises, no matter how many years you’ve spent afield. Wild critters abound, and even when a day of hunting doesn’t go exactly as planned, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t end in fabulous fashion. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
Ashland girls soccer coach Peter Belskis figured he’d have a top-line defense coming into this season. But his back line and goalkeeping have been better than even he bargained for. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Catherria Turner has been named the new assistant coach for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, head coach Cindy Blodgett announced Monday. Turner, who played basketball at Oklahoma State, comes to Maine after serving as an assistant coach at Simpson College (Iowa) since 2007. Read More
I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the subject of heroes. With all the talk these days about New England Patriots’ injured quarterback, Tom Brady, and how his backup Matt Cassel will fare, I started thinking about all the hoopla these athletes receive. About the time… Read More
The search for the ultimate truth goes on. In the meantime, the magic formula to predict the World Series champ continues to be as elusive as lipstick on a pig. So, crank these new prognosticating tools into your fantasy games and see what happens. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a proposal to include the Atlantic salmon in three large Maine rivers under federal Endangered Species Act protection, I expected Mainers would react to the news. The targeted rivers – the Androscoggin, the Kennebec and the Penobscot… Read More
You can always tell an old hunter -you just can’t tell them much! This old joke has been used to rib hundreds of professions and pastimes over the years and still draws a chuckle. In this particular case, however, the scenario is often true and the reason is… Read More
Nate Warren is accustomed to fast starts. He’s the reigning Class C state champion in the 100-meter dash, winning the event last spring in 11.29 seconds. He also helped Bucksport win the state 400-meter relay in 45.56. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
There’s a very homey feeling when glancing at the roster of the University of Maine cross country teams. A number of coach Mark Lech’s top returning and incoming runners hail from the Pine Tree State, and the Black Bears appear poised to do some damage… Read More
Nineteen freshmen and sophomores will dot the University of Maine’s 27-man hockey roster this season. They are undergoing dry land training as well as getting limited on-ice practice time in preparation for their Oct. 17 opener at the Alaskan Gold Rush Tournament where they will… Read More
If you were hoping to be able to target both does and bucks during this fall’s deer season, wait no longer. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife will stage its annual any-deer permit drawing on Friday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
A decision by officials at Bangor television station WABI (Channel 5) to hit a passing shot on U.S. Open tennis coverage to digital sister station WABI-DT (better known as “The CW”) this week drew some foul calls from some fans. WABI was caught flat-footed by… Read More
If the opening week of play is any indication, LTC football fans should be in for an exciting season. In addition to Mattanawcook Academy’s 14-12 victory at Foxcroft on Friday night, Orono rallied from a 20-0 first-quarter deficit to top Rockland 28-20 while Bucksport outlasted… Read More
The situation is less than ideal but Bob Corkum is used to challenges. The newly-hired University of Maine hockey assistant coach returns to the program he helped lead to national prominence as a player. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Cindy Blodgett is a firm believer that playing tough competition helps a basketball team reach its full potential. The University of Maine’s 2008-09 nonconference schedule provides a testy start as the Black Bears tip off the season in Durham, N.C., against former UMaine coach Joanne… Read More
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $140,502 to the University of Maine system, according to a statement Tuesday from U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. The grant will be used to fund “Sports Done Right,” a statewide initiative aimed at developing… Read More
The Maine Golf Hall of Fame will hold its annual golf tournament and induction ceremony on Sept. 12 at Highland Green Golf Course in Topsham. The golf tournament, which starts at 8 a.m., has two options available: a nine-hole scramble or an 18-hole scramble. The… Read More
Just who watches all this stuff is a question worth pondering. “All this stuff” is the volume of sports on television. Everywhere and all the time is now a given in TV sports, and there is more on the way. The University of Texas is… Read More
Cross country is not an easy sport. In a typical high school meet, runners go up and down tough hills, dodge roots and rocks and grind through muck and mire. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Jack Cosgrove had some choice words for University of Maine quarterback Adam Farkes on the visitors’ sideline during the first half of Saturday’s game at Monmouth. The Black Bears’ head coach had hoped to motivate his sophomore signal caller, who had struggled with his passing… Read More
As a steady stream of visitors paid their entry fees and headed to the Bangor Auditorium floor Saturday, one longtime organizer of the Bangor Gun Show said things seemed a bit different this year in one small way. “Maybe [it’s] a sign of the times… Read More
The subject is background checks and the subsequent work which follows if you’re hired. A lot was made recently about Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and his research into the political viability of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the party’s vice-presidential running mate. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Like many bird hunters who receive senior citizen discounts, I’ve noticed that my dog’s bell doesn’t ring as clearly as it did back along. Allowing that I had become a bit tone deaf, I took the advice of another hearing-impaired bird hunter and bought a couple of dog… Read More
In the middle of last week, I stopped by a local tagging station to find out how the area’s bear hunters had been faring during the first week of the bait-hunting season. Not so well, I heard. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
The fourth annual Penobscot River Unified Atlantic Salmon banquet will be held at the Bangor Banquet and Conference Center on Oct. 18. The club is a joint effort of the Eddington, Veazie and Penobscot salmon clubs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
Every hike teaches me a lesson. Sometimes I learn something about myself and my limits, while other times it’s more about the hike or the mountain I’ve chosen to climb. My most recent hike taught me a few things. First, I learned that I’ll travel… Read More
With dusk Friday comes the dawn of a new high school football season. Defending Eastern Maine champions Lawrence of Fairfield, Gardiner and Foxcroft Academy all will contend to return to the state finals Nov. 22 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland – but no doubt they… Read More
On Tuesday, the news many had expected finally arrived: Federal agencies are moving forward with a plan to expand the protection of Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon by including fish in the Kennebec, Androscoggin and Penobscot rivers under an endangered species listing. On Wednesday, I… Read More
Summer’s nearly over – although it’s hard to tell given the recent July-and-August-like conditions. However, it’s only a matter of time before “cross country weather” sets in for the state’s high school runners. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
Former Dexter High School defender Brandi Alton, along with Allison Hill of Cape Elizabeth and Melissa Rivet of Bridgton have been selected as captains for the University of Southern Maine field hockey team for the upcoming season. “Brandi, Allison and Melissa are excellent choices as… Read More
With 19 players back from a team that won the Eastern Maine Class D championship a year ago, the Ashland boys soccer team should be back in the postseason mix again this fall. Even with a 4-3 loss at Easton on Tuesday, coach Kevin Paradis’… Read More
I am not a big proponent of the use of video replay for major league baseball. Here’s why. Unlike other sports, baseball has always incorporated within its boundaries of judicial, on-the-field decisions human beings to make the final call. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
At first glance, Houlton sophomore Chelsi Murray is your typical high school athlete. Murray is a key factor in coach Tim Tweedie’s midfield alignment for the Shiretowners’ girls soccer team, and she was making some aggressive plays in a game at Caribou last Friday. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Seven former University of Maine players are on National Football League rosters after teams made their final cuts Saturday to reach the 53-man limit. Linebacker Stephen Cooper of San Diego, strong safety Brandon McGowan of Chicago, linebacker Lofa Tatupu of Seattle, fullback/special teams player Montell… Read More
CANBERRA, Australia – Exeter native Adam Craig earned a 13th-place finish Sunday in the eighth stop of the International Cycling Union World Cup cross country mountain bike series. Ralph Naef of Switzerland, who was passed up for a berth on that nation’s Olympic team, won… Read More
For generations, Mainers have been able to walk down to the local shoreline, toss some bait or a lure into the water and fish for a variety of saltwater fish. Some enjoy the frenzied action provided by a school of mackerel. Others prefer targeting striped… Read More
The records have been falling at Maine harness racing venues lately as fast as leaves in late October. Gorham native and longtime horse owner Michael Andrew has nearly the cornered the market on those historic performances as three of the record racers are owned by… Read More
Red Sox fans may have a hard time understanding this. Tampa Bay is the biggest story in Major League Baseball this year. They are on their way to the postseason and are having one of the greatest turnaround seasons in baseball history. On Wednesday they… Read More
Last weekend I met a friend for an early morning bird walk at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. As I parked my car, I could see she had already arrived, and she appeared from around a hedge as I was gathering my binoculars from… Read More
Summer’s slipping away from me. It seems like only last week that I was swatting black flies or wearing a head net to keep off the mosquitoes. Of course, that didn’t happen last week, but in May and June. Now that the flies of spring and early summer… Read More
The Penobscot County Conservation Association will host the 31st annual Bangor Gun Show at the Bangor Auditorium on Sept. 6-7. The show will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
As I reeled in my line to change my fly yet again, it took just a glance to confirm I needed a new leader tippet. I’d tried six dry-fly patterns on just one pool alone and had previously visited three different spots on two other streams. Wading slowly… Read More
The last time varsity football was played in Washington County, it was grounded not by a 3-4 defense but the Great Depression. More than 75 years later it is back, as a cooperative entry from Calais and Woodland high schools is preparing for its season… Read More
MADAWASKA – The 2007 schoolboy soccer season was quite a ride – or flight – for the Madawaska Owls. The Owls got hot at the right time and captured the Eastern Maine Class C championship before falling to Saint Dominic of Auburn in the state… Read More
After more than seven minutes of listening to his supervisor, Rick Mills, say nice things about him, Maine Game Warden Reggie Hammond tried to silence his sergeant. “That’s enough,” a clearly embarrassed Hammond said. “That’s good.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
CARIBOU – In cross country, the time that really matters to produce a team victory is the pack time – the time differential between a team’s No. 1 and No. 5 runners. A superstar frontrunner can be consistently at the head of the field, but… Read More
Luis Ayala, who guided the Foxcroft Academy wrestling team to a pair of Class C state championships and five consecutive Eastern Maine titles in eight years as the Ponies’ head coach, has resigned from that position. Ayala cited professional reasons for the move. His job… Read More
Bob Girvan II of Kenduskeag, who died of brain cancer on Thursday at age 54, was a fiery competitor whose golf game was sharpened at his family’s golf course in Kenduskeag, about 15 miles northwest of Bangor. Now called Kenduskeag Golf and Country Club, it’s… Read More
FORT KENT – Grace Boutot’s summer training program is vastly different than most other high school cross country runners in the state. The Fort Kent High School senior is not only one of the top runners in Class C coming into this season, but a… Read More
Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages tend to accumulate books that help them enjoy their chosen pursuits. Some read about hunting. Others collect editions that focus on fishing. Others have countless volumes that detail hikes they long to take … some day. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
His ultimate destination is the Gateway City, but he won’t be able to use Mapquest or a Magellan global positioning satellite system to get there. That’s because Curt Smith’s journey must take him from Davenport, Iowa, to Palm Beach, Fla., through Springfield, Mo., to Memphis,… Read More
I have watched probably as much athletic fare as the next person, and I certainly have witnessed first-hand as many inspiring events as most people have. I always came away from this enthusiastic stuff wondering what other things could be accomplished in life if we… Read More
Almost five years ago, the announcement was greeted with gasps, smiles, cheers … and truth be known, a small dose of apprehension. In public, everyone said the right things: The ambitious plan to restore the Penobscot River by removing two dams and adding fish passage… Read More
With just a few exceptions, Maine youngsters learn to shoot with a .22 rifle and a small-bore shotgun, most likely a .410 or 20 gauge. As these blossoming hunters grow and mature, paper targets and tin cans change to upland birds, waterfowl and big game animals, so their… Read More
Paul Santavy has been appointed the manager for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Maine Fisheries Program Complex in East Orland, which oversees the Craig Brook and Green Lake National Fish Hatcheries and the Maine Fishery Resources Office. In his three years with the USFWS,… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine men’s ice hockey head coach Tim Whitehead announced Friday that Bob Corkum has been named Associate Head Coach. Corkum replaces Guy Perron, who left earlier this summer to accept a position with the Colorado Avalanche. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
This is a story on the back burner. Foods on the back burner tend to simmer and get heavy. In the 2004 NHL season, Todd Bertuzzi, a player with Vancouver at the time, hit opponent Steve Moore in the back of the head during a game, crushing his… Read More
Sebastian “Sparky” Boyington is a serious mountain biker. The 21-year-old Milford resident has ridden trails from New Jersey to Quebec, and he uses high-end equipment – not surprising given that he works in the bike department at the Ski Rack in Bangor. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
The Sports Zone is getting some competition. Bangor radio stations WABI (910 AM) and WWBX (97.1 FM) are making the switch to all-sports programming as affiliates of Boston sports radio giant WEEI (850 AM), effective Sept. 1. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
For several years, Jesse Smith served as the crew chief for his father, Gary. Gary Smith has raced Pro Stock cars at several tracks in Maine and the northeast including Hermon’s Speedway 95 and he has been running in the Pro All-Stars Series Super Late… Read More
Bob Corkum will soon be named to replace his former University of Maine teammate Guy Perron as a full-time assistant coach at Maine, according to a story in U.S. Hockey Report/Amateur Hockey News. Corkum has spent the last two seasons as the associate head coach… Read More
Back in 1958, Hollis Grindle headed out onto Beech Hill Pond in Otis and enjoyed a marvelous day of fishing that others have talked about ever since. The reason: Grindle hooked and landed a state record lake trout. His monster fish weighed 311/2 pounds, was… Read More
She may stand just 5-foot-2, but she more than compensates for her lack of size with her vision, skill and tenacity. This will be the last go-round for University of Maine senior midfielder Kim Stephenson of Hampden. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
Experience is essential to success in cross country – or any sport for that matter. That’s one of many elements the Brewer girls will have on their side when they take to the trails this fall in their quest for glory in the Kennebec Valley… Read More
The Senior League World Series again provided an exceptional quality of baseball on one of the finest playing facilities in the Northeast: Mansfield Stadium. On one hand, it is one of Bangor’s proudest moments. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Rachel Foster will attend the University of Maine this fall as a student in its Honors College as part of a seven-year curriculum that will help her become a doctor of osteopathic medicine. Foster graduated from Houlton High School in June having led the Shiretowners… Read More
Motivation doesn’t have to be negative As a former participating parent of Bangor Youth Football, and a friend of several current players parents, I feel it may be time to make the practice of disparaging the players’ friends as “sissies” because they play soccer instead… Read More
Dexter Regional High School opened preseason soccer practices this week with two new varsity coaches. Peter Murray, the Tigers’ longtime boys varsity basketball coach, is the school’s new boys varsity coach. He replaces Paul Shaw, who stepped down after six years to focus on his… Read More
I came away from the Senior League World Series banquet the other night at the Elks Club, feeling warm and satisfied that the spirit of volunteerism was alive and well as far as Senior League baseball was concerned. Parents, coaches, and tournament coordinators were gathered… Read More
In the days leading up to this year’s fifth annual Fort Kent International Muskie Derby, some were a bit concerned. The water was high … very high. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
Dan Chasse grew up in Fort Kent and has been playing golf since he was six. So, when the local school board decided bring the varsity golf team back this fall after Chasse had talked with athletic administrator Paul Michaud about it “for about two… Read More
There are lots of typical sounds to hear at a ballpark: The crack of the bat, the roar of a crowd, and the cries of vendors selling peanuts, soda, and hot dogs. Anyone attending Sunday’s Portland Sea Dogs game at Hadlock Field heard some decidedly… Read More
Strategy is as much a part of the Senior League World Series as pitching, hitting and defense, given such issues as pitch-count rules and special pinch runners. And picking the strategic move of the weeklong event is a no-brainer, as it came during the pivotal… Read More
AUBURN – Windham native Shawn Warren was one of those people who wondered why a touring pro would need to take time off from playing golf. Now that he’s touring himself, he understands. “In past years, I’ve made a schedule [that was full of tournaments],”… Read More
BEIJING – Anna Willard of Greenwood qualified for the final in the inaugural Olympic women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday by placing sixth in her heat. Willard, a 2002 graduate of Telstar High School in Bethel who now lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., was timed in 9… Read More
Willemstad, Curacao, has taken probably the most circuitous route possible to Saturday’s Senior League World Series championship game. It lost to a team from Maricaibo, Venezuela, in the Latin America regional championship game, but gained new life when the Venezuelan team was disqualified from the… Read More
Every once in a while you hear about an adventure and say, “I want to go there.” This past July, Alan Groh of Ellsworth went on such an adventure. Alan, his brother Nelson, Alan’s son Brandon, and their friend Jim Appleton canoed the Thelon River… Read More
Devin Lyshon has played plenty of baseball games in front of 50 or 75 fans – fans extremely dedicated to the fortunes of his team or his opponent, but nevertheless a smattering of support that reflects the competition for free time during the brief period between heating seasons… Read More