Starting times for this weekend’s 44th Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Touirnament will be published in Thursday’s BDN. The tourney runs Friday through Sunday with three divisions rotating among three golf courses – Rockland Golf Club, Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor and Penobscot Valley Country… Read More
TAMPA, Fla. – John Tortorella was fired Tuesday as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, four years after leading the team to its only Stanley Cup championship. The former UMaine hockey standout had one season remaining on his contract. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Boston’s offensive display against the Orioles in the four-game set that concluded Monday night will not be taken lightly by the rest of the league. This is the Red Sox team the rest of baseball feared would show up, and it has. Baltimore, a team… Read More
Each summer, thousands of Mainers head to their seasonal camps, where they’ll eventually be joined by friends and relatives eager to have a bit of fun in the sun. Eventually. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
The Lee Academy softball team stumbled out of the gate in the Eastern Maine Class C ranks, but a 1-3 start didn’t deter a veteran team led by five seniors. “They were very positive, they didn’t get down on each other,” said Pandas coach Ron… Read More
One of the finest teachers and coaches I had the pleasure to know and compete against has died. We were sorry to learn of the recent death of Niles Nelson III of Bangor, who for many years, was the boys varsity basketball coach at Hermon… Read More
DURHAM, N.C.- Kevin White was hired as Duke’s athletic director Saturday, leaving Notre Dame after eight years for a school with an elite basketball team and a football team that has had 13 straight losing seasons. Notre Dame appointed Missy Conboy as its interim AD. Read More
University of Maine freshman center Keif Orsini and defenseman Mike Banwell have both had successful shoulder surgeries recently and should be ready for next season, according to Maine hockey coach Tim Whitehead. Banwell had his surgery three weeks ago and Orsini had his procedure within… Read More
As a large throng of Atlantic salmon anglers waited for their turn to fish the productive Eddington pools Friday morning, Dick Ruhlin walked back from the water with a grin and a fishing report. “I saw three,” the Brewer fisherman, who also serves on the… Read More
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is giving people a good reason to fish together this weekend as it promotes Family Fishing Days. Today and Sunday, people are allowed to fish for free on waterways throughout the state. The opportunity is open to… Read More
I like to think most hikers consider themselves to be good stewards of the land. It’s in their interest to take care of how they travel and camp in the backcountry. After all, part of the reason people hike is to experience unfettered travel through a pristine landscape. Read More
Recently my co-worker, Dave Duguay, came to me and asked if I knew what a “timberdoodle” was. I had never heard of such a thing and wondered what on earth he was talking about. I began to wonder if he was playing a joke on me, as he… Read More
Hall of Fame honors typically involve great achievement in the major spectator sports that result in public name recognition, or in Olympic endeavors or the most popular of spectator sports. When Jerry Perkins accepts induction into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in Portland on… Read More
Speedway 95 co-owners Del Merritt and Alice Baker paved the corners in turns two and four at the Hermon track last fall to try to create a second racing groove and provide more side-by-side racing. That paving was done because the outside groove had been… Read More
PORTLAND – Voting for the 2008 Eastern League All-Star Game will begin Friday, and fans will be able to select one position player and one pitcher from their hometown team to the game, which will be held July 16 at Manchester, N.H. To vote for… Read More
Tryouts for Bay League summer baseball teams will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Winkin Baseball Complex on the campus of Husson College in Bangor. The tryouts are open to players age 18 or older, and interested participants should wear proper attire to… Read More
For the past year you’ve been eagerly awaiting the mid-June day when you’d find out if this is finally your year to earn one of those elusive moose permits. Maybe you’ve been waiting 10 years. Or 20. Or more. I’m sorry to be the one… Read More
Krystal (Fogler) Laviguer, who coached Husson College’s first-ever women’s swim team two years ago, and had been the director of the Bangor-based school’s Swan (fitness) Center and pool, has left the institution to pursue other opportunities. Laviguer had turned the coaching reins over to Butch… Read More
The weather hasn’t cooperated yet. But Cheryl Stokes, the president of the Atlantic Sports Group who teamed up with Seth Brown to bring Premier League Soccer to Bangor his summer, likes what she has seen so far. The Maine Tide Women’s Premier League team has… Read More
With most students having headed home for the summer, construction work has begun on the University of Maine’s outdoor athletic facilities. Employees from Sargent Corp. in Old Town were busy Tuesday leveling the gravel at the site of the new field hockey field. The work… Read More
Two members of the Browne family of Vassalboro head the list of four members of the golf community who will be inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame in September. Brothers James Browne and Robert Browne will be inducted posthumously while longtime Megunticook Golf… Read More
There actually are moments in the course of sports seasons that become turning points in the year, one way or the other. The Red Sox went through one of those last week in the sweep of the Royals, a young team on the rise but… Read More
As a longtime teacher and coach, this time of the year brings with it the hopes and the dreams of a young generation of high school graduates who are about to embark on their new lives. Problem is, much of the celebration which follows leads… Read More
CALAIS – Coming into this softball season, the Calais Blue Devils weren’t sure what to expect after losing ace pitcher Steph Perry to graduation and fielding an underclassmen-laden team. Coach Greg Smith’s Blue Devils have far exceeded expectations so far, racing out to a 11-2… Read More
Monmouth native Thomas “Tip” Fairchild has finally rejoined his Corpus Christi Hooks teammates following a yearlong rehabilitation after 2007 Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. The 24-year-old righthanded starting pitcher appeared in two games (both starts) for Corpus Christi – the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate –… Read More
Alcohol buying at games needs tighter monitoring Today, I read how another baseball fan has died from injuries he received while at a major league ballgame. No, this didn’t happen as a result of a slashing foul ball or even a bat that slipped out… Read More
The PVC JV Championship track and field meet at Pendleton Street in Brewer will be held Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. The PVC Small Schools Championship at Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft will be on Friday at 3:30 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
OLD TOWN – The Old Town High School football program has taken another step in its rebuilding process with the hiring of Josh Curtis as the Coyotes’ head coach. Curtis, whose nomination was approved this week by the local school board, replaces George “Toogie” McKay,… Read More
The horses are all fine and ready to race again, but one driver will be laid up awhile with a broken shoulder. Tim Nehila of Scarborough suffered the injury in a crash during Sunday afternoon’s fourth race at Scarborough Downs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
One of the state’s biggest outdoor success stories in recent years has been the introduction and subsequent widespread support of yearly hunting opportunities for Maine’s youth. In various seasons, kids have had the chance to head afield with an adult on a particular Saturday and… Read More
Sometime it would nice to turn your world upside down – introduce a little variety, some spontaneity, have dessert first, do what you want to do first rather than wait until after work – wouldn’t it? We get tied into life’s routines and forget that… Read More
My patient, much put-upon wife finds it somewhat odd that month after month, year after year, there are untold numbers of new, or at least upgraded or improved, outdoor products on the market. More to the point, she’s incredulous I don’t already own one of every cast- and-blast… Read More
Each morning, I am serenaded by the songs of cardinals, mockingbirds and a gray catbird that has staked out territory in the thicket by the side of my apartment house. I had become accustomed to hearing them, so I was surprised when one day I… Read More
Alison DiGravio of Farmington spent the winter on the road, logging close to 50,000 miles while traveling across the nation to mogul competitions. The Carrabassett Valley Academy junior’s efforts have paid off, as she has been named to the U.S. Ski Team’s Developmental Group based… Read More
Vacancies filled at Mattanawcook Hainer tabbed as new football coach; Libby hired to guide boys hoop
LINCOLN – Mattanawcook Academy has filled its varsity football and boys basketball coaching vacancies from within. Dave Hainer, SAD 67’s health coordinator and MA’s varsity baseball coach, has been named to replace the retired Art Greenlaw in the football post, while Ryan Libby has been… Read More
Schoolgirl basketball in Maine won’t be quite the same next winter. First Bob McShane retired as the head coach at Calais after 22 seasons, 375 wins, nine Eastern Maine Class C championships and five state titles. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
The economy is certainly putting a hurt on the auto racing industry. Unity Raceway owner Ralph Nason curtailed racing for the 2005 season in early September that year due to the rising fuel costs and, this past April, decided not to open for the season… Read More
BANGOR – The Brewer Falcons and Bangor Comrades American Legion baseball programs are organizing the first Comrades vs. Falcons alumni game at 7 p.m. on July 11 at Husson College’s Winkin Baseball Complex. Because this is a fundraiser for both squads, team officials are asking… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine senior field hockey player Erin Reusch and senior women’s ice hockey player Pam Patterson were named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team. Reusch, of Salem, N.H., started all 16 games and was fourth on the team in… Read More
The University of Maine will have a new softball coaching staff next season. Stacey Sullivan, who was the America East Coach of the Year in her first season in 2006 but struggled through an 11-39 campaign last season, won’t have her contracted renewed after it… Read More
For the most part, coaches always want to look at the big picture in track and field. Sometimes, that involves a smaller school competing against some of the bigger schools in the state – and holding their own against them. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
New Cabela’s worth the trip For sporting shoppers, browsersDuring the month of November, outdoor enthusiasts in these parts are likely to hear one question, over and over, from fellow members of the blaze-orange fraternity. “Get your deer yet?” other hunters will ask. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Megan Taylor knows all about the football tradition at Foxcroft Academy. Her dad played for the Ponies back in the mid-1970s, and her older brother wore the school’s maroon and white more recently. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
The scholarship era has begun in the NAIA’s Sunrise Conference. The University of Maine-Machias announced Wednesday it has signed its first scholarship athlete. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
Home games against Union College, Niagara University and Bentley College are among the highlights of the University of Maine men’s hockey teams’ nonleague schedule for the 2008-09 season. The schedule also includes trips to Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Fairbanks, Alaska, a Portland date with the… Read More
Every so often, a remarkable story comes along. Boston Red Sox lefthander Jon Lester was that story Monday night when he no-hit the Kansas City Royals. When you consider that he faced an uncertain future when diagnosed with lymphoma a few years ago yet returned… Read More
The winner of the Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament will receive an extra bonus this year, automatic exemption into the Maine Amateur Golf Championship. “I started discussing this a year or two ago with Nancy [DeFrancesco],” said Bunyan tournament director Skip Chappelle. DeFrancesco… Read More
Shawn Smith, a junior quarterback and defensive back from Hampden Academy, is one of 400 high school football players nationwide who have been nominated for the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. That game, which will feature 90 of the nation’s top seniors from the Class… Read More
One of the great joys of my basketball career was the time I spent working for the Marty Blake Agency in Atlanta as a professional basketball scout. I was always flattered to have the opportunity to watch college basketball players and minor league players have… Read More
A legendary era in Maine high school basketball has come to an end. Paul Vachon, who has piloted the Cony of Augusta girls basketball team to seven Class A state championships – the most among any coach in the state – has decided to hang… Read More
When Ken Clark headed to the Penobscot River on Wednesday, he was prepared for a long day of fishing for Atlantic salmon. “I came down, brought my chair and a book to read, to spend pretty much most of the day,” Clark said. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
After nine canceled race dates, a nearly month-long postponement to the start of the season, and another two-week suspension of the season after one night of racing, harness racing will return to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday night. All the mud has been cleaned out of… Read More
Ever since the town of Fort Kent staged a World Cup biathlon event back in 2004, local organizers have been looking ahead, and eagerly awaiting another World Cup event. According to the International Biathlon Union’s plan, that second World Cup was to take place in… Read More
So far this spring has been slow starting as far as my getting time on the water, but even at that I’ve had a half-dozen launchings. And any time on the water is better than none, right? The weather around these parts is beginning to… Read More
After suffering through a long, difficult winter, I view May’s open water fishing opportunities like a starving man surveys a smorgasbord. So many options and so little time, it’s hard to decide where to start. Add in work, family obligations and Mother Nature’s proclivity for wet, windy, spring… Read More
If you’ve ever wanted to learn about some plentiful forest fare, you may want to consider taking a class that will be offered by the Merryspring Nature Center in Rockport. Greg Marley will again teach the popular “Identifying Wild Mushrooms” class. Students will meet on… Read More
The problem with having competing interests is that oftentimes, one of them has to take a back seat to the other. Such is the case with me, anyway. My other passion in life – horses – tends to take up much of my time, and… Read More
After racing respectably for an underfunded team, Morrill’s Travis Benjamin realized he and his team needed help after a three-race stretch last year on the Pro All-Stars Series Super Late Model North tour. “In the first race at Thompson (Conn.), I was running top-five when… Read More
As a local attorney took a noontime walk through the neighborhood of my youth the other day, I couldn’t help but lament the inconsistency of my own dedication to personal fitness. So much so that a moment later, as I popped into the car to… Read More
Portland Boxing Club flyweight, Jorge Abiague, won a unanimous 5-0 decision over Daniel Lozano of Tampa, Florida to win the 2008 National Golden Gloves Championship held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Abiague will join Portland Boxing Club teammate Lisa Kuronya as the only two open class National champions ever… Read More
Are you not going to a Red Sox game this year because of the economy? Has the cost of gas decreased the trips to Boston to spend big bucks on the Sox or other sporting events? USA Today ran a story last week that said,… Read More
The second event in the TradeWinds Marketplace/Sub 5 Track Club race series, the Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K (9.3 miles), is on tap for Sunday. The marathon will commence at 7 a.m. at Cathedral Pines Campground, three miles north of Stratton on Route 27, while the… Read More
Four University of Maine seniors will be playing their final collegiate baseball games during this week’s season-ending America East series at Binghamton. The quartet, who were all recruited by former coach Paul Kostacopoulos, will complete their careers without fanfare as the Black Bears (19-26-1) have… Read More
On another seasonable spring day in Maine, the fish are biting, the bugs are starting to swarm, and as-yet-unsuccessful turkey hunters are enjoying the third week of the season. And as you might expect, there’s plenty of outdoor information to pass along. Here’s a quick… Read More
The 17th annual Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Open, set for May 31-June 1, has added a fee option for this year’s event. The tournament now includes a price of $110 for players who prefer to walk. The regular price of $150 includes use of… Read More
Seth Brown’s motives were simple. Raised in Bangor and Searsport, he wanted to return to Maine with his family and supply the area with a high level of summer soccer entertainment. And he wanted to embrace the Bangor area and immerse the community in his… Read More
Scarborough’s Ryan Moore can see himself driving for a “competitive truck team” some day. But for now, he is overseeing brake work for the Gillett-Evernham Motorsports team. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
The Caribou boys tennis team narrowly missed winning its first Eastern Maine title last spring before Mount Desert Island rallied to upend the undefeated and top-ranked Vikings 3-2 in the Class B regional final. “Last year was a pretty tough loss,” said 21st-year head coach… Read More
Every great drama has its subplots. When Bangor and Brewer high schools compete against each other in track and field, the atmosphere is almost always championship-like with every point crucial. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
My first fishing memories involve a small brook not far from the family camp, where my brother, sister and I were allowed to tromp, unaccompanied and free. There were plenty of small trout there … and a few bigger ones. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
In my house, there have been some notorious Boston Red Sox postseason squanders, often occurring in some pretty big – in terms of seasonal significance – games that remain family legends in terms of reaction to these blunders. In 1986 when the Red Sox had… Read More
Saint Joseph’s College and the University of Southern Maine are only about seven miles apart. This spring, there has been a lot of outstanding baseball played within a very small radius in the Standish-Gorham area. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine softball player Ashley Waters has been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 1 Second Team for the second consecutive year. A communications major, the junior second baseman led America East in hits (58), home runs (10) and… Read More
Every coach likes their first-year players to contribute. But Husson College’s freshmen have not only contributed, they’ve played a vital role in the Eagles march to the championship round of the North Atlantic Conference baseball tournament. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
At this time of year, many Mainers take part in a seasonal ritual that involves heading far off the beaten path in search of new places to fish. And for many, that means heading into the vast territory of the North Maine Woods. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
During the formative years of my sporting adventures, especially when I was in my 20s and 30s, preparation generally took a backseat to impulsiveness. On a fairly regular basis, at least once a year, a fishing trip or water-oriented hunt would be delayed, cut short, or even postponed… Read More
Last week, a midmorning birding walk produced a special treat. The weekend had been cool and rainy, so when Monday dawned bright and warm – a perfect spring day – I decided to take advantage of it, as I was working the second shift that day. Read More
The Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks & Lands announced this week that the Penobscot Narrows Observatory has been recognized as an Editor’s Choice in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England. The Editor’s Choice recommendation designates Yankee editors’ and writers’ favorite restaurants, lodgings… Read More
Just asking a question or two or three. … . Just why are Husson College and Castleton State College of Vermont playing for the North Atlantic Conference baseball championship in Glens Falls, N.Y., this weekend? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
A five-race series for Sportsman cars, a concession building, a rest room facility and more space for cars in the pit area are among the new wrinkles at Caribou’s Spud Speedway, which opens its season on May 18. The track will conduct races every Sunday… Read More
Later this month, Old Town High School distance ace Hilary Maxim will compete in the Penobscot Valley Conference track and field championships in Presque Isle, hoping for another strong performance in what has been a memorable senior year of running. Less than 24 hours later,… Read More
The bright green flags are flapping on both sides of the Penobscot River , signifying that Atlantic salmon season is officially open. Officially, yes. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
BREWER – One of them is from Maine’s largest city, Portland. The other is from the rural setting of Glenburn. The one from Portland is a freshman lefthander. The Glenburn native is a senior righthander. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
BOYS Big School (Classes A-B) 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 Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
The outlook is a bit more optimistic this week for the University of Maine baseball team. Monday night’s dramatic 7-4 victory over Hartford gave the Black Bears a boost of energy heading into this weekend’s crucial America East four-game series at Vermont. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
When I had the good fortune to play on a state championship baseball team, my father gave me a valuable piece of advice. Successful teams usually have a group of diehard fans and we had some junior high school students who were regulars at our… Read More
ORONO – Change was promised and change is being delivered at Penobscot Valley Country Club. Groundwork at the formerly private club, which was purchased by Harris Golf last fall, began April 18 and already a significant number of bunkers and tee boxes have been dug. Read More
The Mount Desert Island boys tennis team is the two-time defending Eastern Maine Class B champion, and has high hopes of competing for that honor again this spring. But the Trojans will do so with a new leader guiding them, as Ben Rowell has replaced… Read More
It has taken 362 days of surgery, rehabilitation, and training, but Thomas “Tip” Fairchild is officially back in the game. He must be. He has the baseball cards to prove it and his name is even listed among minor league prospects on ESPN’s online fantasy… Read More
For nearly a decade, Bangor-area salmon clubs have marked the traditional opening of fishing season symbolically, even though their home river was officially closed to angling for the species. Those breakfasts were generally educational, and often fun. However, they were also somber affairs, once you… Read More
You would think losing an ace pitcher with the caliber of Ashley Kelley would be decimating to a softball team. Don’t tell that to the Hermon Hawks, who have won their first four games, including an impressive victory at Bucksport where freshman pitcher Debbie Colpitts… Read More
I had the good fortune as a high school basketball coach to spend time with recently retired Bangor Daily News advertising executive Wayne Lawton. Wayne’s son Brian, a professional golfer, spent four years in our basketball program at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor. Read More
WESTBROOK – Shane Tripp and Brooke Anton rolled to singles titles recently in the Maine State Candlepin Bowling Association tourney at the Colonial Lanes. Tripp defeated Mike Leland 1,263-1,185 in a 10-string match. Both bowlers are from the Colonial Lanes. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
MARS HILL – Mars Hill Country Club will open its back nine today at 8 a.m. and riding carts will be allowed. Read More
CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Dozens of skiers hit the slopes Monday for the season’s final day of skiing at Sugarloaf ski resort. The mountain was the last in the eastern U.S. to close for the season, said spokesman Ethan Austin. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Rained washed out regular racing events at two Maine racetracks on Saturday. Wiscasset Raceway was forced to postpone its opening weekend. It will be made up on June 6. Racing will resume at the track on Saturday at 2 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
MADRID, Spain – Exeter native Adam Craig finished 31st overall at the third race of the International Cycling Union World Cup cross country mountain biking series Sunday. Defending Olympic gold medalist and reigning world champion Julien Absalon of France won the race in 2 hours,… Read More
WEST ENFIELD – Green Valley Golf Course has opened its course and driving range for the season. The facility also includes a new golf store. Read More
ORRINGTON – The Senior Stableford League at Rocky Knoll Country Club will begin Wednesday with a rain date for Thursday. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. on a first-come/first-served basis. Tee off is scheduled for 9 a.m. The weekly 18-hole tournament is open to golfers age… Read More
We have now entered another stage of the steroid/performance enhancing drug age and its impact on professional baseball. First there was the don’t ask, don’t tell stage where everyone “knew” something was going on, but all remained quiet as the dollars poured in. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More