AYCC celebrated opening day for baseball and softball programs

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Waterville Cal Ripken baseball team members Mason Sheets, 8, and Carter Pantermoller, 8, make their way through the Colby College baseball player tunnel during opening ceremonies on Wednesday, April 26. (photo by Missy Brown/Central Maine Photography staff)

by Mark Huard

Waterville Interim Police Chief William Bonney was chosen to throw the first pitch to officially open up the season. (photo by Missy Brown/Central Maine Photography staff)

The Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC), serving the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville, held a very special opening day for its baseball and softball program on Wednesday, April 26, at the Colby College Baseball Field. More than 200 kids, ages five to 12 participated, along with the Colby College baseball and Thomas College women’s softball teams. The first baseball pitch was thrown out by Waterville Interim Police Chief William Bonney while the first softball pitch was thrown out by Winnie Merrill (former softball player and former New York Yankees manager’s wife). AYCC CEO Ken Walsh paid tribute to “Mr. Baseball” Fran Purnell for his 50 years of volunteer service to the game. Waterville’s Purnell Wrigley Field – a 2/3 MLB licensed replica of Chicago’s Wrigley Field – is named for Purnell.

Waterville Alfond Youth Community Center CEO Ken Walsh said, “We are so pleased that Colby baseball under head coach Jesse Woods was willing to host our opening of the beautiful diamond for our kids. The kids were thrilled to meet the Colby baseball players and the coaches. I was please to see Chief Bill Bonney throw a perfect strike to start the season. It was sad that Fran Purnell could not be there for the first in 50 years due to his illness. If it wasn’t for him, Purnell Wrigley field would not be in use for so many of our boys and girls to play. Fran always said it’s better for these kids to be on the field rather than [on] the streets.”

Waterville Interim Police Chief William Bonney added, “Opening day for baseball is such an exciting time because it marks the coming of summer and it get kids out on the field engaging in one of our most time honored treasures, baseball. I enjoy our community partnerships and I was honored to be asked by the AYCC to throw out the first pitch.”

The Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC) is the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization responsible for operating the only merged Boys and Girls Club and YMCA in the United States. Based in Waterville, Maine, the AYCC serves more than 8,000 members annually — including more than 5,000 youth members – through a comprehensive range of youth and community-focused programs, including childcare and afterschool programs, wellness, fitness, aquatics and summer camps. Learn more or donate at www.clubaycc.org.

Winslow’s Mike Siviski to be inducted in sports hall of fame

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Mike Siviski, center left. (contributed photo)

The Maine Sports Hall of Fame will induct ten in ceremonies at the Merrill Auditorium on October 29. “I am very proud of our diversity in terms of geography and the variety of sports represented,” said Board Chairman Brian Corcoran. “It’s intriguing to learn the stories of those who are the best of the best in Maine athletics.”

Among the 10 new inductees is Winslow’s Mike Siviski, who has won 287 games as a coach at his alma mater Winslow High School. He was a three-sport athlete at Winslow before heading to the University of Maine at Orono, where he played football. He became an assistant football coach at Thornton Academy for 16 years before succeeding Harold “Tank” Violette as the head coach at Winslow in 1985. Over the next 35 seasons, he would lead his teams to eleven regional and seven state titles. Three times the Black Raiders won back-to-back championships.

EVENTS: Battle of Maine slated for March 25, 2023

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Spectators and competitors gather for the National Anthem during last year’s 40th anniversary of the Battle of Maine. (photo by Mark Huard)

The 41st Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships will be taking place at Champions Fitness Club, in Waterville, on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

The competition and demonstrations kickoff at 8 a.m., and will last throughout the day until about 5 p.m. There will be competitions and demos of forms, weapons, and fighting. All ages are welcome to attend this event! Spectator tickets are $10 each and $1 of each go to help the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

Lawrence girls basketball claims state championship

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Front rows, from left to right: Brianna Poulin, Mckenzie Nadeau, Alisabeth Dumont, Hope Bouchard, Elizabeth Crommett, and Alicen Higgins. Back, Payton Cole, Kaylee Elkins, Lilly Gray, Ashley Shores, Madalyn Provost, Nadia Morrison, Taylor Pellerin, and Ella Minihan. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff)

Defeats Brunswick, 58-43

The Lawrence High School girls basketball team won the Class A state championship on March 3, at the Augusta Civic Center, defeating Brunswick, 58-43.

Cutting down the net after the Class A Northern Championship Title on Friday Feb 24. On the ladder, left, from top down, Ali Higgins, Brianna Poulin and Taylor Pellerin. Right, top down, Ella Minihan, Hope Bouchard and Makenzie Nadeau. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff)

PHOTO: Lawrence’s Hope Bouchard presented with award for outstanding play and sportsmanship

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Lawrence Senior Hope Bouchard receives the 2023 Bob Whytock Award for outstanding play and sportsmanship at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, Feb 24. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff)

PHOTOS: Lawrence girls basketball claims eastern title

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Members of the Lawrence girls Varsity team hold the Class A Northern championship trophy after their win at the Augusta Civic Center against Gardiner on Friday, February, 24. Front, from left to right, the six seniors, Hope Bouchard, Ali Higgins, Brianna Poulin, Lizie Dumont, Elizabeth Crommett and Makenzie Nadeau. Back, Maddie Provost, Payton Cole, Ella Minihan, Kaylee Elkins, Ashley Shores, Lilly Gray, Nadia Morrison and Taylor Pellerin. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff)

Cutting down the net after the Class A Northern Championship Title on Friday Feb 24. On the ladder, left, from top down, Ali Higgins, Brianna Poulin and Taylor Pellerin. Right, top down, Ella Minihan, Hope Bouchard and Makenzie Nadeau. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff)

PHOTO: New rankings at Huard’s Martial Arts

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Congratulations to the following students who earned new rankings at Huard’s Martial Arts, in Winslow, on Saturday, November 12. From left to right, Mikayla Achorn (3rd degree brown belt), Mayleigh Crews (green belt), Jackson Hanson (green belt), Trenton Clark (green belt), Elsie Dumont (green belt), Ethan Frost (green belt), Manny Hurtado (green belt), Ayden Willey (green belt), Walker Johnson (green belt), Kaitlynn Shores (green belt), and Maddie Field (3rd degree brown belt). (photo by Mark Huard)

2022-23 Lawrence High School girls varsity basketball team

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Beginning at bottom left, clockwise, MaKenzie Nadeau, Natalie Pelletier, Ella Minihan, Maddie Provost, Kenzie McAvoy, Payton Cole, Taylor Pellerin, Elizabeth Crommett, Ashley Shores, Brianna Poulin, Kaylee Elkins, Saydee Wentworth, Hope Bouchard, Lilly Gray, Kayci Ross, Nadia Morrison, Amy Boyce, Lizie Dumont, Ariana Goodwin, Trinity Brickett, Ali Higgins, and Kiera Day. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Skowhegan wins another field hockey state title

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Photo courtesy of Knightvision Photography

by Mark Huard

On Saturday, November 5, Skowhegan Area High School won its 20th field hockey state championship, defeating Cheverus High School, of Portland, at Messalonskee High School field, in Oakland.

It was a beautiful day with a great turnout for both schools. Each team went into the game undefeated with a 17-0 record. Cheverus had scored 138 goals and had five against and Skowhegan had scored 104 goals with four against. It was a matchup the state was eager to see. In 2021 Cheverus had defeated Skowhegan and a follow up game would certainly be exciting for the field hockey community.

Skowhegan scored early in the first quarter with a goal by Layla Conway assisted by Laney Leblanc. After Cheverus took the lead with two quick goals by sophomore standout Lucy Johnson. Skowhegan tied the score in the fourth quarter, and later took the lead, 3-2, also scoring two quick goals by Layla Conway, and assisted by Samantha Thebarge and Kate Kelso, respectively. Skowhegan held on to the lead for the remainder of the game.

Head Coach Paula Doughty attributed the win to solid training and commitment of her players and coaching staff. The assistant coaches Tammie Veinotte, Kim Leo, Fawn Haynie, Lizzie York and Megan Smith were instrumental in the team’s success. The summer and fall were spent readying for this tournaments and the hard work paid off.

Skowhegan entered this game by winning its 21st Northern Maine final in a row and 27 regional finals in the team’s history which is an accomplishment not matched in Maine. The team had battled a strong Oxford Hills team in the Northern Maine final to secure the spot in the final. This was Skowhegan’s 27th trip to the state game since 1991 and has a record of 20 state wins and 7 state losses.

The team believed in a quote by one of the team captains, Norie Tibbetts: “I know we lost last year, and I guess some could say we’re underdogs, but we’re still Skowhegan Field Hockey.”

TEAM PHOTO: Sonny’s Junior PAL champions (2022)

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From left to right, Easton Ramer, Bryce Faulkner, Bentley Hamlin, Mason Guerette, Jack LeClair, Gracien Hamlin, Jackson Curtis, Ryan Bruinsma, Stella Curtis, Carson Foster, Jesse Jones, Tucker Graves, Finn VanGorden, Chase Bonney, Levi Brann, Coach Brian Guerette , Coach Nathan VanGorden, Coach Mark Murphy, Head Coach Jamie Foster. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)