Above, from left to right, Fran Purnell, Waterville 11U coach Larry Brown, MLB Hall of Famer, and former Boston Red Sox pitcher, Ferguson Jenkins, and coaches Rick Gradie and Wayne Gendreau, during the 2017 Cal Ripken New England Tourney in Waterville.
At left, Jenkins signs an autograph for Waterville 11U catcher Gage Hubbard, prior to a tournament game.
These Huard’s Martial Arts students earned their green belts on August 1. Front row, from left to right, Nawkia Poirier, Dominic Joseph, Ethan Joseph and Garrison Godbout. Back, Adam Fitzgerald, Chris Chen, Carrina Chen, Shae Rodrigue and Kendra Godbout.
John Huard, center in floral shirt, was honored at Purnell Wrigley Field with a monument donated by his teammates, pictured with him, of the University of Maine 1965 football team, which competed in the 1965 Tangerine Bowl against East Carolina University. Photo by Tawni Lively/ Central Maine Photography staff
On July 28, Maine State Cal Ripken Baseball Commissioner Reggie Hatfield was on hand to announce the selection of Waterville being host of the New England Cal Ripken Baseball Championships. The tournament included all of the New England State winners and took place from July 28 to August 3, at Wrigley Field, in Waterville.
As part of the opening ceremony Waterville native and NFL pro football player John Roland Huard was surprised by his former 1965 University of Maine Tangerine Bowl teammates. They arrived via bus and helped dedicate the John Huard monument at Purnell Wrigley Field. Hundreds of friends and fans showed up for this special surprise.
John, a former Waterville Boys & Girls Club member, played pro football for the Denver Broncos (defensive captain), of the American Football League, and New Orleans Saints, of the National Football League, Montreal Alouettes, and the Toronto Argonauts, of the Canadian Football League. He also coached at the pro and college levels. In 2003 he was inducted into the University of Maine’s “Ring of Honor.” He was elected to College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His monument will be in-between Coach John Winkin College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and Clyde Sukeforth, the Maine native baseball scout who signed Jackie Robinson to a professional contract, making him the first African-American to play in baseball’s major leagues.
Purnell Wrigley Field joins the Harold Alfond® Fenway Park, in Oakland, as the only two licensed replica turfed fields in the country – located right here in Central Maine. CEO, Ken Walsh of the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA at the Alfond Youth Center said, “These fields give kids the opportunity to feel like real Major League players! The turf not only gives everyone the chance to play but extends the baseball season here in Maine, giving kids more time to develop their skills and learn sportsmanship while playing the game they love. The Purnell Wrigley Field is truly a grass roots community project built on the support of many and varied contributors of monetary and in-kind gifts. It’s a wonderful project honoring the legacy of some terrific ‘home town’ heroes. John Huard is certainly one of our hometown heroes. His strong character, spirit and love of the game started here in Waterville. His legacy will remain strong within our community forever.”
F.M.I. Contact Ken Walsh, CEO Alfond Youth Center 207-649-1824 or kwalsh@alfondyouthcenter.org.
Clinton Lions PAL football team member Cameron Blodgett, 10, of Clinton, training on a blocking drill for kicks, punts, and field goals, during the Central Maine Youth Football Camp on July 24.
In one week Purnell Wrigley Field, in Waterville, and the Waterville Cal Ripken program will be hosting the 11U New England Regional Tournament. This is the largest tournament in the nation for 11U Cal Ripken baseball players, with the winner being crowned the top 11U team in New England.
Opening ceremony is Friday, July 28, at 4 p.m., followed by skills competitions. Pool Play Games are Saturday, July 29, Sunday, July 30, Monday, July 31. Quarterfinals playoffs are on Tuesday, August 1. Semi finals are on Wednesday, August 2, and the championship game is set for Thursday, August 3, at 5p.m.
A big thank you to the following tournament sponsors: Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel – Host Hotel Sponsor; Central Maine Motors – Tournament Sponsor; Cappza’s Pizza, opening ceremony/luncheon sponsor; Joseph’s Sporting Goods, home run derby sponsor; Bangor Savings Bank, around the horn throwing relaycompetition sponsor; Mount Saint Joseph Residence & Rehabilitation, playoff game first pitch sponsor.
The 2017 New England Lacrosse Camp was held last week at Mini Fenway Park, in Oakland. Above, the boys group, and girls below.
Front, Alex Spaulding. First row, left to right, Jonathan Roach, Garrett Gendreau, John Nawfel, Ben Foster and Chris Nawfel. Second row, Keegan Dumais, Gage Hubbard, Brendan Roderick, Spencer Brown, Wyatt Gradie and Anderson Maines. Back row, coaches Rick Gradie, Larry Brown, Ben Foster and Wayne Gendreau.
Photo by Cemtral Maine Photography staff
Maine Cal Ripken 11U District 5 champions, Waterville, went undefeated for the weekend and defeated Skowhegan in the championship game, 5-4, with Brendan Roderick the winning pitcher.
Front row, from left to right, Colton Carter, Gaige Martin, Cole Quirion, Dawson Moore, Hunter Hart-Guertin and Preston Roy. Second row, Dane Zawistowski, Riley Leary, Cameron Blodgett, Henry Wadsworth, Zebadiah Hannah and Michael Hamlin. Coach Todd Leary, Coach Kevin Guertin, Coach Todd Hamlin, and Manager Barry Quirion. Photo submitted by Central Maine Photography
Cal Ripken 10U District 5 Champions, from Fairfield, moved on to the state tournament last weekend!
Huard’s Martial Arts student Ely Yang, 16, of Winslow, center, captured the 2017 Maine State Jiu-jitsu championship on June 25 at the Black Fly Brazilian Jiu-jitsu championships in Rangeley. Flanking Ely is assistant coach Keegan Yang, left, and coach Mike Huard.
Pictured, front row, from left to right, C. Lamoreau, K. Douin, S. Flannery, M. Marshall, J. Lemelin. Back row, Coach R. Flannery, Coach D. Hayes, D. Hayes, B. Kieltyka, C. Maclean, K. Stred, K. Douin, Coach J. Douin.
The St. Michael boys middle school baseball team, in Augusta, posted an undefeated, 11-0, season. They won the championship game against China, 12-0, on June 8, and are now the Sheepscot Valley Athlletic Conference champions.