Mike D’Andrea received his early education and athletic prowess growing up on Munjoy Hul, an area of Portland where many prominent citizens developed their bold and natural temperament, by gazing out over Casco Bay, the doorway to Portland, Maine. Many stories and poems have been written about the character of this Port City and the obstacles that he was to overcome. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these two lines in each stanza of My Lost Youth: “A boy’s will is the wind’s will
and the thoughts of yore are long, long thoughts.”
Mike attended Jack elementary School, Lyman Moore Middle School then graduating from Portland High School, in 1988. In the fall of 1988 he matriculated to the University of Maine where he graduated in 1992.
His athletic skills, ability and determination began to shine as a participant on the 13-15 Portland Babe Ruth All-Star Teams. John Eisenhart, Westbrook High School’s Varsity Baseball, and former Babe Ruth teammate recalls, “What a fearless competitor he was during the 1985 State Tournament, it didn’t make any difference whether he was pitching, hitting or playing defense he executed with great self confidence, a trait that rubbed off on to his teammates. We had a lot of outstanding players on that team, but Mike was a l-man wrecking crew. For his leadership he was awarded the Tournament’s MVP Plaque. I see his fearless competitiveness in his Deering teams that he had as a player.”
this versatile athlete continued his exploits at Portland High School beginning in 1985 where he became a member of basketball and baseball teams. Mike considered himself fortunate to have had such outstanding coaches during his playing days in Tony Dibiase, Fred James and John Winkin just to name a few.
When the spring of 1986 came around Mike made his appearance known with his bat and strong right arm. Coach Fred James didn’t wait long to get him in the batting lineup and on the mound. “Mike was a fierce competitor with a real Bulldog attitude. ‘the tougher the opponent, the more he would beg for the ball to pitch. For his three years as a varsity player he batted 3rd in the order. He always had a positive attitude and loved the game.”
his Portland High School Statistics:
1986 - 88: Bat. Ave - .347; 30 RBIs
1986 - 88: All-Telegram and All-State
1986 & 87: State Championships
1986 & 83: Edson Hadlock Pitching Award (15-1 rec.); MVP Pitching Award
ERA: 1.96; 191 strikeouts in 119 innings; 68 walks; 85 runs
During the summer months Mike played for Andrew Legion Post and was a member of two state championship teams - 1986 and 1987.
Mike went on to play for the renowned UMO baseball Coach John Winkin.
1989: No. | starter his freshman year and held that position for the next four years 1989-91: All NAC Awards
1991-92: Invited to tryout for Olympic baseball team
1992: Signed with Atlanta Braves Organization
Pulaski Braves - Voted Lop League Prospect. Led league in strike outs Macon Braves
Durham Bulls MVP tor Durham
Greenville Braves - Selected to Southern All-Stars
Webster defines a dynasty, as a powerful group that maintains its position for a considerable time. Deering High School Rams have won five state crowns in the past seven years, a remarkable feat when you consider that Coach Mike D’Andrea has been their coach the last eight years.
1997 - Deering High School hired Mike and JV Baseball coach
1998 - 13W-5L-SM AA Coach of the Year
1999 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *Maine State Championships
2000 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *State Championships
2001 - 20-4 *State Championship
POO? - 18-4
2003 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *State Championships
2004 - 24-0 (First undefeated telegram team since Cheverus 1961)
League and *State Championships
New England High School Coach of the Year
Maine Coach of the Year
As Nova Seafood Legion coach, Mike won state titles in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Regional Championships in 1999 and 2004, winning the National Crown in 2004, as well as being named Zone | Coach of the Year.
Carol Ridlon, a mother that had two sons that played for Coach D’Andrea, said, “Mike valued and showed respect to all his players, was always concern of their academic status in school and encouraged his players to go to college.”
Churchill once said, “Sharpness 1n fundamentals is the winning edge in sports.” Mike D’Andrea has surely proven that.
