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Originally being a country boy, Earle Kitchen possessed idle thoughts that he couldn't play baseball with the city boys so he didn’t try out until his senior year at Portland High School. The native of Weston, having moved to Portland when 13, promptly pitched the Bulldogs to the Telegram League title in 1945. That year he was undefeated at 4-0, with 13 strikeouts in one game. Ten outstanding seasons in the Twilight League followed. In 1948 he was chosen as one of the representatives of the state to play in a New England All-Star game at Braves Field in Boston. Now, at 54, Kitchen lives in South Portland and works as a commercial salesman. The Philadelphia Phillies were sold on Kitchen in 1949 and gave him a tryout. The southpaw played for the Phillie farm team in Seaford, Del., but came up with a sore arm. A short stint in the Instructional League in Cocoa, Fla., the next season marked the finish of his pro career. However, his career was far from over. Kitchen captured the Twilight League batting crown in 1948 and took the first-half hitting title in 1953 with a remarkable .511 average. Kitchen, despite all his talents, remained a humble player who kept his feats to himself. Wrote Sunday Telegram sports writer Frank Curran: “He is a good competitor and slow to anger... he loved the game but doesn’t like to talk about Earle Kitchen. From Legacy Portland Press Herald PORTLAND - Earle Leo Kitchen, 90, of Portland, passed away Aug. 12, 2018. Born in Aroostook County, Maine on April 6, 1928 to Leo and Bertha Kitchen, Earle was the youngest of five. His family moved to Portland when he was 15 years old. He graduated Portland High School and was proud of the fact that he never lost a baseball game pitching for the Portland Bulldogs. He was drafted as a pitcher by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school and he returned to Portland Maine two years later. He continued playing baseball in the Portland Twilight League for many years. Earle married Alice True in 1950 and they raised four children in the North Deering section of Portland. Earle and Alice spent their summers on Range Pond in Poland with family. Earle's working years were spent at Noyes Tire Company as a commercial sales representative. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and was a world champion candlepin bowler. Earle was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He had big hands and a big heart that turned into an effortless athlete.

Think Rick Knight would go “big-shot” after guiding the Westbrook Little League All-Star team to Maine and East Regional championships last summer and a 5th place finish in the 2005 Little League World Series? Not a chance. Try to catch Rick any day this spring and it’s likely you’ll find him at the Westbrook Little League complex scrambling to get the fields ready for that night’s game. Plenty of laurels could have been rested on but self-promotion is not in Rick’s vocabulary. The retired Verizon executive is much more at home exhorting his current Eagles team then basking in the spotlight of last summer’s glory. Rick grew up in Westbrook, the youngest of eight children. Rick’s dad, Lawrence Knight, was one of the top pitchers of his era and sparked the baseball flame in Rick, regaling his son with tales of pitchers’ duels against Husky Aube at the storied Warren League Grounds and listening to his beloved Red Sox on the radio. Rick’s keen aptitude for the game was evident, especially, when, after graduating from Westbrook High School in 1970 and St. Joseph’s College in 1974, Rick was hired by New England Telephone, and as part of the management trainee program, was encouraged to participate in a volunteer activity. Rick chose to become involved in two worthy organizations – Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and Westbrook Little League - and has made enormous contributions to each over the past 25 years. The Rick Knight coaching resume is impressive enough: Six time city champs (85, 90, 95, 97, 04, 06) & 4 second places finishes Eight All-Star district championships 85, 87, 89, 93, 94, 02*, 03, 05 Five time All-Star state championships for Westbrook (10-year-old champs 1994 & 2003 – 12-year-old champs 1985, 02,* & 05), One New England Championship & trip to World Series in 2005 Nominated by Little League Inc. as their candidate for 2005 Youth Coach of the Year to “Baseball America” *Served as Coach instead of Manager. Look behind the trophies and you’ll see a man who personifies a delicate blend of attributes necessary to being a successful Little League coach. “He has a gentle and supportive but intense coaching style,” says longtime friend and fellow coach Bob Haskell. His sister Cynthia McGarry adds, “He teaches kids how to respect adults and each other, how to be part of a team, how to work together for the good of all and most importantly, how to develop self-respect.” Run of the mill stuff when you grow up in a large family, but life-long lessons passed down to Westbrook’s youth by Rick Knight. Rick’s mastery of the 12-year-old Little League mind is not purely psychological. He’s a stickler for teaching fundamentals and prides himself on organizing drills and practices that keep kids enthusiastic and attentive. An avid reader of instructional books and an eager participant at coaching clinics, Rick wears a teacher’s mantle while expertly spurring on and gently reining in his young charges’ competitive nature. One example of Knight School: Every member of a Rick Knight-coached All-Star team plays at least 3 innings every game, even though one inning is the minimum required by tournament rules. Rick’s approach has consistently proved successful by producing 1) a happier team and 2) more kids who contribute later in the game. Rick’s success in guiding a plucky band of 12-year-old All-Stars to the mountaintop of Little League baseball in 2005 was a huge boon for the City of Westbrook. Of even greater importance, though, is that Rick Knight will continue to coach his beloved Eagles and provide instruction and inspiration to young ballplayers in Westbrook for years to come. AMERICAN JOURNAL Posted May 6, 2015 Updated March 8, 2016 Westbrook's 2005 Little League World Series team honored https://www.pressherald.com/2015/05/06/westbrooks-2005-little-league-world-series-team-honored/ BY ADAM BIRT “I’ve been coaching Little League baseball for 35 years,” says Rick Knight, who managed the then-boys on their spectacular run, “and this was the most talented team I ever coached. They also played very well together as a team, with the right kind of chemistry for success.” 10 years later, Westbrook Little League team reflects on magical run The 2005 team advanced to the Little League World Series. BY STEVE SOLLOWAY STAFF WRITER . August 16, 2015 https://www.pressherald.com/2015/08/16/10-years-later-westbrook-little-league-team-reflects-on-magical-run/ “Even today there are conversations in the coffee shop about that team,” said Lou Lampron, a fixture in Westbrook community sports for decades. “That summer was a special time in Westbrook. Any time, at any level, you reach the World Series it’s special. I don’t care if it’s the Red Sox or a team of 12-year-olds.” Much like Boston’s historic comeback against the New York Yankees to reach the 2004 World Series 10 months earlier, Westbrook mounted an improbable comeback to win the New England Regional and earn a trip to Pennsylvania. Westbrook didn’t win the World Series, but somehow, that didn’t seem to matter. Maine had already embraced them. Only the Suburban Little League of Portland in 1951 and Augusta East in 1971 had preceded Westbrook in the World Series. Neither of the other teams had the benefit of playing in front of ESPN cameras. They won’t forget Knight, either. He was 53 then and recently had left his position in management for Verizon. The 2005 All-Star squad wasn’t his first team or his last. This year’s Westbrook Little League All-Star team reached the state tournament. “Rick was great at teaching and coaching,” said Lemay. “He was stern, and if we ever started to lose focus, he got us back on track. We were the team that could afford playing loose. There was no pressure from Rick, no pressure from our parents.” Rick Knight has returned to the World Series several times, most recently two or three years ago. He and a friend got to the U.S. championship game early but the grandstands were full. He went to the ticket window anyway. The tickets are free but fans need one for a seat. Sorry, Knight was told. No more tickets. Knight was wearing his 2005 World Series cap. The designs vary from year to year but the colors don’t. Someone else in the ticket office moved to the window and spoke to Knight. “You were the manager of the team from Maine, weren’t you. How many tickets do you want?” Knight and his friend got two, right behind home plate.

Paul Kostacopoulos first remembers coming to Maine as a little boy. “The family has always had a place up in Machias,” he recalls. Little did the kindergartener know that he would come back one day to take over, for a decade, a then-struggling baseball powerhouse at the University of Maine---and return again years later for his own induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. “I loved my time at Maine,” says Kosty, who is in his tenth year now at Annapolis. “Great baseball school.” “Kosty coached the UMO Black Bears from 1997 thru 2005. Following in the footsteps of legendary Maine Coach John Winkin, he took over a program that had struggled for a couple years, and almost immediately restored it to a level of success. In l997, Kosty led the Black Bears to a 24-27 record, and a 16-8 mark in all-important America East conference play—five wins more than the preceding year. For this, Coach Kostacopoulos was award Coach of the Year honors in America East. 2002 was a perhaps a high water mark year for Kosty with the Black Bears. The team had a 40-win season, and earned its first of two NCAA national tourney appearances they would have during the Kostacopoulos years at Orono. Maine beat Southern Mississippi 12-2 in the first round of the tournament for the program’s first NCAA tourney win since l991 (last year of Mark Sweeney’s UMO career). The Middletown, Connecticut native also led the Bears into the NCAA tourney again in 2005. UMaine had a 35-19 record under Kosty in 2005 and won America East. Kosty finished his UMO years with a record of 284—195 (.583 winning percentage). He coached several players who went on to distinguished professional careers—e.g. outfelder Simon Williams, right handed pitchers Mike McDonald and Mike Collar. Paul coached at Providence College prior to coming to UMO. He became the youngest Division 1 baseball head coach when he was hired to coach his alma mater Friars team in l990 at age 25. Kosty coached two players at Providence who went on to long careers in MLB—Lou Merloni, and John McDonald, both infielders with stops at Fenway Park. Kosty himself had been a 2B man at Providence, captain his senior year,l987, hitting .260, and chosen Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Kostacopoulos was well known during his Orono years for the time and energy he put into kids skills clinics. Not only did he rejuvenate the Black Bear campus-based sessions, he also started a statewide organization, SMART BASEBALL INC., that did clinics, often sponsored by local business throughout the 16 counties of Maine. Those clinics included not just baseball, but also talking with kids about the importance of school work, nutrition, and being a good family member and teammate. “He spoke to a Legion baseball banquet of ours once. It was all about life lessons, being dedicated to baseball, committed to your team. He was a great role model for us,” said Rick Libby, ex-Libby-Mitchell Post 76 Legion coach,Scarborough. Kosty has always had deep ties to the state of Maine. His father, Pete Kostacopoulos was long time coach at Bowdoin in the l960s before going on to coach Wesleyan for more than two decades. Paul’s brother, Pete, also has ties to baseball in the state of Maine, having coached at Colby College, along with stops at Dartmouth, Wesleyan, and now Worcester Academy in Massachusetts (where he has been assisted from time to time by Maine Baseball HOFer Bo McFarland; McFarland also coached at Bowdoin as an assistant both in baseball and basketball 2009 on). Coach Kostacopoulos just finished his 8th season at Navy. His teams have won 233 games there—an average of almost 30 per year. Paul is married to the former Joan Powers, and they have two children, Annie, and Matthew. They live in Maryland, where they moved at the end of the 2006 Maine season, when Paul accepted the head coaching position at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Simon Williams recalls his days playing for Kosty fondly. “He was a great coach, and a strong leader. He knew what he wanted us to do, and helped us do it. I learned a lot from him about baseball, and also life skills.” Navy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk said Kosty has been an impressive coach at all colleges he has been with since 1990. “Paul has brought a wealth of experience to Navy as a Division 1 head coach. His success speaks for itself. His personality, work ethic, organizational skills, leadership, vision, and family values have made him a perfect fit for the U.S. Naval Academy.” Kosty said similar things about his days at UMaine. “I think I helped the program at Orono, and I think the University of Maine gave me a chance to learn and develop and grow as a coach. It was a great experience, and I am glad I was able to contribute to a lot of success there.” College roundup: Kostacopoulos earns 900th career coaching victory 8/4/18 https://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/navy/ac-cs-college-rdp0405-story.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kostacopoulos

Peter Linwood Ladd was born in Portland and lived there until he and his family relocated to Georgia when Peter was in the 9th grade. The right-handed pitcher, who eventually grew to six feet three inches tall, attended Henderson High School in Atlanta, and earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Mississippi. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 1977 June free agent draft. Pete garnered 15 wins and 27 saves in two years in the Red Sox farm system before being traded to the Houston Astros in a deal that brought big league standout Bob Watson to Boston on June 13, 1979. After a 13-game stint with Houston’s AA Southern League affiliate in Columbus, Georgia, Ladd made his major league debut with the Astros on August 17, 1979 in a home game against the Phillies. He finished with a 2.92 ERA, four saves, and a win (August 26th in Philadelphia) in ten big league contests….an impressive debut! Pete was relegated to the minor leagues for the next two years, but the Milwaukee Brewers took note of his 34 saves for the AAA Tucson Toros in 1981 and traded for him after the season. Ladd was called up to the big club in mid-1982 and responded with a win and three saves in 16 games. The Brewers won the American League Eastern Division title, earning a spot in the League Championship Series against the California Angels. Milwaukee lost the first two games in the best-of-5 series, but came roaring back to win the pennant thanks largely to Ladd’s two saves, the second of which came in the deciding game, which he entered with a 4-3 lead, a runner at first, and no one out. After a sacrifice bunt moved the tying run to second base Ladd clinched the series by inducing a pair of ground outs, the second of which came off the bat of future Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew. Ladd didn’t allow a run in his lone appearance in the World Series, which the Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. In 1983 Pete notched 25 saves for the Brewers. He pitched two more years for Milwaukee before going to Seattle in 1986, where he won eight games and saved six more for the Mariners. Pete retired from pro ball after earning four wins and four saves for the Pacific Coast League’s Albuquerque Dukes in 1987. Altogether Ladd notched 17 wins and 39 saves in a 205-game big league career. Along the way he was a teammate of Baseball Hall of Fame members Wade Boggs, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Rollie Fingers. From Wikipedia . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Ladd Pete Ladd Pitcher Full Name: Peter Linwood Ladd Nicknames: Bigfoot or Sasquatch Born: July 17, 1956 (age 62) Portland, Maine Batted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut August 17, 1979, for the Houston Astros Last MLB appearance October 3, 1986, for the Seattle Mariners MLB statistics Win–loss record 17–23 Earned run average 4.14 Strikeouts 209 From The Baseball Cube . http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=14026 https://alchetron.com/Pete-Ladd Interview and Video

The 70's were spectacular! Titles in State Little League, 1974, Senior Little League, 1976, and New England Senior Little league, 1976. Let's fast-forward to 1980 and Todd's senior year at Cape Elizabeth. Although ne was a three-sport letterman - baseball, soccer, and basketball - there was never a doubt he would specialize on the diamond. The word was out. Steve Blass, Pittsburgh Pirate ace, was an uncle by marriage, John Lamb, also a Pirate, was another uncle and Art Lamb, Todd's dad, was reported to have the best arm of all. Rarely did Cape play in 1980 without a scout or two in attendance. Rumors had it Todd was "bringing it" at 91 mph - with a sharp, nasty curve breaking down. Todd's line 1n 1980 read 9-1, ERA 1.05, 113 K’s in 60 innings. His final game - the State Final - was an unforgettable performance against the Foxcroft Academy Ponies. After retiring the first 20 batters, he nicked the to spoil a perfect game, finishing the day with a 2-0 no-hitter and 17 Ks. Attention turned to the major league free agent draft and Todd was a 17th round choice of the New York Yankees. But Duke University and the University of Maine were other courters. Ironically, John Winkin (HoEF '75), the stellar UMO mentor, was a Duke alumnus. Reportedly the Yankees offered $40,000 and the Duke Blue Devils a full scholarship. Mother, Susanne, and Dad supported Todd's decision to take college first. He was enticed by the Duke campus and the Carolina climate. But there was still another Maine season to remember - the American Legion season for the Griffin Cluk under Coach Al Bean (HoF ‘97). And what a season! 8-1, ERA 0.87, 91 SO 1n 56 innings and another State Title. At Duke, freshman Lamb posted a 6-2, 2.20 ERA and was an Atlantic Coast Conference All-Star choice. It was Duke’s best season in 20 years and Todd was labeled "the match that lit the Devils’ fire”. In 1981 he toured the Orient and Canada with a College All-Star squad, prepping for the 1984 Olympics. He went 6-1 for the National Baseball Team that won the World Games and the Intercontinental Cup at Edmonton, Canada. in 1962 he helped Chatham win the Cape Cod League. He signed with the Atlanta Braves organization in 1983 and played with the Single A Durham Bulls and the AA Greenville Braves. Among his memoirs are a hard luck loss to Kevin Brown in the Carolina League playoffs, after taking a no hitter into the 4th and an array of Durham teammates including Jeff Blauser, Kon Gant, Dave Justice and Paul Assenmacher. After 3 1/2 years of pro ball, Todd returned to Duke and got his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business in 1989. He works with Russell Athletics sports apparel and resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with wife, Laurie and two sons and two daughters. “He was a real gentleman, a real team player and a great competitor. - Al Bean From The Baseball Cube Positions P-115 Position when Drafted Player Listed Under Minors Leaguers Proper Name Todd Richard Lamb Height 5-11 Weight 185 Bats Right Throws Right Born Date July 4,1962 Place New York,New York High School Cape Elizabeth (Cape Elizabeth,ME) College Duke University (Durham,NC) Drafted Selected by the Atlanta Braves [Team Picks] in the 10th round (256th overall) of the 1983 Amateur Entry Draft [Signed] ... Selected by the New York Yankees [Team Picks] in the 18th round (464th overall) of the 1980 Amateur Entry Draft From LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-lamb-6027698/ Todd Lamb Senior Director of Sales at Under Armour

At least one sportswriter—and likely many others, as well—has written of Stephen Lancaster’s “thunderous left handed bat.” At age fifteen, Lancaster played first base, hit .460, and led the Augusta Babe Ruth team to the Maine state championship. He finished that summer at first base with the Chi-Liv Townies in the Pine Tree League and hit .385 there. Nearing age forty, after thirty-some years of worldwide baseball excellence, he hit a walk‑off grand slam home run for the Jay-Liv Townies to win the 1980 Pine Tree League championship. Such is the story of Steve Lancaster and his thunderous bat. Born in Pittston in 1943, he was first exposed to baseball by his father, who played for the Pittston Ramblers in 1950 and 1951. A veteran then of batting rocks into the woods in his backyard, Steve held a real bat for the first time at Rambler practices and sat in their dugout during games. From there he went on to become a baseball disciple and a hitting zealot. He entered organized baseball at nine years old with the Gardiner Little League. He later moved to Fayette and lettered four years for the Livermore Falls High School Andies; simultaneously his hitting led the revived Chi-Liv Townies to two league championships. Lancaster loved to hit a baseball. In 1959 he hit .460 for the Winthrop American Legion team and led them to the State Legion championship. He hit .612 for the same Legion team in 1960 and won the national American Legion batting title. After high school he moved to New Jersey to work in a steel mill. He hit .419 for the Burlington, New Jersey, Giants in the Rancocas League and attracted the attention of Philadelphia Phillies scout Jim Roderick. Roderick signed Lancaster to a Phillies contract and Lancaster’s career in the steel mills was over. At twenty years old, he was catching future baseball hall‑of‑famer Ferguson Jenkins at the Phillies spring training camp in Clearwater, Florida and showing off his thunderous bat to the Phillies coaching staff. 
 The Phillies assigned him to the Class A Spartanburg Phillies in the Western Carolinas League. At Spartanburg he continued his lusty hitting. He batted against left handers Jerry Koosman, Grant Jackson—“best curve ball I ever saw”—and future hall‑of‑famer Steve Carleton, who couldn’t get him out either. In a game against rival Greenville, he hit a home run they still talk about there, far over the right field fence where the ball plugged in a railroad embankment 512 feet from home plate, earning Lancaster and his thunderous bat a headline in The Sporting News. Following the 1964 season, Lancaster was promoted to the Miami Marlins. Unfortunately, his local draft board intervened. In the army, he played baseball in Germany. In 1968 Lancaster caught for the 8th Infantry Division Support Command Saints and also was one of two Americans in Germany selected to play for the Darmstadt Colt 45’s. The Colt 45’s won the German national championship that year and went on to play for the European Cup. In the quarterfinal game, Lancaster’s thunderous bat produced three runs in the first inning, enough to eliminate the British from Cup competition. The Colt 45’s finished third in the chase for the European Cup behind two teams from Spain. Back in Maine, Lancaster concluded his baseball career in 1983, thirty-some years after his first at-bat in the Gardiner Little League, hitting.427 for the Jay‑Liv Townies in the Pine Tree League. An all-around athlete, Lancaster also played fullback for the Kents Hill School and the Saint Mary’s University Huskies in his school days, and won the U.S. Army and German national weightlifting championships in Zirndorf, Germany in 1969. As another sportswriter put it once, “Known in all of Maine for his competitive spirit, Steve Lancaster … has the stuff of which champions are made.” Stephen Lancaster lives in Farmington now with his wife Julie, his dented and splintered thunderous bat retired to a trophy room. From Wiles Remembrance Centers AUBURN-- Stephen L. Lancaster, 72, of Farmington, passed away on Monday Sept. 7 at the Hospice House in Auburn after a strong battle with liver cancer. His devoted wife Julie, daughter Bethany and nephew Jerry were by his side. He is now in the comfort of the Lord. He was born in Gardner, Maine to Leo and Irene Lancaster. He graduated from Livermore Falls HS in 1960 and went to St. Mary's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia on a football scholarship. His true love for baseball followed him through adulthood breaking many records along the way while playing in the Pine Tree League. In 1964 he was spotted by a Philadelphia Phillies scout and signed with their single A minor league organization in Spartanburg, SC. After one season with the Phillies he was drafted in the Army leaving his minor league career behind to proudly serve his country. His talent was once again made known to an Army general in Germany so he continued playing baseball for the Army National Team. In 2008 Steve was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

He was equally at home with a bat in his hand or a football tucked under his arm. Andy Lano was considered one of the more versatile and competitive athletes to have graced the Maine sportscene at Portland High and Bowdoin College. Nicknamed “Handy Andy,” he captured back-to-back Telegram batting titles in his junior (.448) and senior (.508) years. He could play shortstop, third base and pitcher. And at Bowdoin he even caught in a pinch. On the gridiron his versatility continued. He was a triple-threat quarterback for the Bulldogs and at Bowdoin. Defenses would cringe at the thought of playing against him. After graduating from Bowdoin, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians. He played for Fargo, N.D., In the Northern League and had a .309 average in 40 odd games there. That wasn’t good enough, however, for the league batting title since someone named Hank Aaron walked away with it. Traded to the Washington Senators in the spring of 1953, Lano seemed to have a good future as a third baseman with the organization after he trained with them in spring training. However, Eddie Yost held the position a few years and then someone named Harmon Killebrew took it over. A severe ankle injury made it all academic, however, and ended Lano’s baseball career. Instead Lano took up golf and developed into a single-digit handicapper. He worked for the E.E. Taylor Shoe Co.for 17 years before going into Home Improvement. He was the youngest player, 15, to ever play in the Western Maine League, a fast-paced circuit comprised of former major leaguers and veteran semi-pro players. From OOTP Out of the Park forums http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showpost.php?s=8225d9184458c1cec81e20af8081b677&p=4269652&postcount=2079 Andy Lano The pride of Portland, Maine, "Handy" Andy Lano is considered among the greatest athletes to graduate from Portland High School. He captained the school's baseball, basketball, and football teams in his senior year, was part of the championship basketball squad in 1943 and hit .508 for the baseball team in 1946. Primarily a shortstop and pitcher, then, he earned the nickname "Handy" because he was equally adept at any position on the diamond. After high school, Andy served in the military and played semi-pro ball until he was picked up by the Washington Senators in 1953. A knee injury ended his pro baseball aspirations a few years later. Lano did make his mark in sports. Working for the E.E. Taylor shoe company, he invented a golf shoe that became a favorite of, and won the endorsements of, golfers Sam Snead and Byron Nelson. Andy was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He passed away in 2011. A Memorial Scholarship was established in his name in 2013. From Baseball Reference https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lano--001and From Bowdoin Magazine ANDREW G. LANO ’52 Andrew G. Lano ’52 died November 1, 2011, in Portland. He was born on January 6, 1928, in Portland, and graduated from Portland High School, where he was a storied athlete, captaining the football, baseball, and basketball teams his senior year and winning the Vinall Trophy in 1945 as the state’s top Class A basketball player. He also attended Portland Junior College and served to corporal in the Army before heading to Bowdoin, where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity. He went on to play two years in the Cleveland Indians farm system and one year with the Washington Senators farm team, followed by Maine semi-pro action before a knee injury ended his professional baseball dream. He took up golf with the same passion and won three straight Val Halla club championships in the mid 1960s. In 1969, he won an MSGA father-son title with Andy II. He was a longtime supporter of the MSGA weekly tournaments and was a regular at Riverside Municipal Golf Course, where he played and volunteered his time. He was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 followed by induction into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He worked 19 years as a salesman for E. E. Taylor Shoe Company in Freeport. In 1973, he opened his own shoe store, Andy Lano Shoes for Men, in the Eastland Hotel in Portland. At the time he retired, he was operating a successful siding, insulation, and roofing business. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Arlene Meader Lano; two daughters, Melody Amell and Maureen E. Lano; two sons, John A. and Andrew G. Lano II; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by four brothers, George, James, Lumbe, and Spiro Lano. From The Lano Family Foundation https://thelanofamilyfoundation.org/ Beginning in 2013, the “Handy Andy” Lano Scholarship Grant in the amount of $10,000 has been awarded each year to a Portland High School (PHS) senior student- athlete who best emulates Andrew G. Lano, one of PHS’s greatest 3-sport athletes. Funds are to be directly applied towards post secondary education.

Gary Paul LaPierre was born in Portland and grew up with his three sisters and two brothers in the North Deering area. Gary is the son of Bernadette and Donald LaPierre and currently resides in Westbrook with his wife, Shawna and two children, Allyson -5 and Camryn-8. Gary is an Account Executive with The Rowley Agency in Portland, ME. Gary’s first significant baseball accomplishment was being a member of the 1981 Portland Babe Ruth team that advanced to the Babe Ruth World Series. The team finished fourth and Gary was selected to the All Tournament team. At Deering High School, Gary was named to the All-Telegram League and the All-State baseball team during his sophomore, junior and senior years. In addition, Gary was a key player for the 1983 Deering team that went on to win the State Championship. During the summer, he played on the Caldwell Post American Legion team helping his team to win the state championship in 1983. A three-sport athlete, Gary was also named to the All State indoor Track team and was a member of two State Championship Golf teams. As a natural born leader, Gary was named captain of the baseball, track and golf teams during his senior year. Most impressive of all was Gary’s Academics accomplishments as he graduated with honors despite all of his time commitments to playing sports. Gary enrolled in the University of Maine in the fall of 1984. As a freshman, he started every game and ended up batting .340 for the year. During his sophomore year, he set Umaine and New England records for the most at bats, most hits and most games played in a season. As the leadoff hitter, Gary hit .325 and had 40 RBI’s. As a junior, he helped his team advance to the 1986 College World Series where he hit .333 for the tournament. The summer after his junior year, Gary played for the Yarmouth-Dennis baseball team in the prestigious Cape Cod League. As a senior, Gary was elected the sole captain of the Maine baseball team and set the Maine and New England records for most doubles in a season with twenty. He was also an excellent defensive outfielder and base runner. Above all, Gary represented his team with class on and off the field and was also a Dean’s List student. When his career ended in 1988, he held the following University of Maine and New England career records: 263 hits, 50 doubles, 184 runs scored, 843 At Bats and 208 consecutive games played. These records prove that Gary had one of the greatest college careers in the history of New England division one baseball. As a player, Gary earned the respect of his coaches Ed Flaherty of Deering & Dr. John Winkin of The University of Maine. Gary has named Coach Flaherty as the most influential baseball person in his life. Gary credits Coach Flaherty for instilling a very strong work ethic, teaching sound fundamentals and sharing his advanced knowledge of the game. According to Gary, “This resulted in an easy transition to playing college ball”. During the 1987 season, Coach John Winkin said of Gary: “We haven’t had too many guys with greater class than Gary in our program. He’s a fine leader, great gentleman, with character on and off the field.” https://rowleyagency.com/staff/gary-p-lapierre/

Tenacity at the plate, on the mound and in the coach’s box has marked the stellar playing and coaching career of Steve Lapointe. A Pine Tree League veteran, high school coaching fixture for 28 years and a tireless advocate for fashioning baseball passion into organized teams at all levels, Steve Lapointe has been the pre-eminent influence in promoting baseball in the Rumford area for nearly three decades. Growing up in the Strathglass Park neighborhood in Rumford, Steve daily honed his nascent baseball skills in the sandlot near the park or “The Pines”, even then demonstrating his “GM” skills by ensuring that pick-up games were always ongoing. Lapointe had a solid playing career at Rumford High School, graduating in 1974, and went on to play at the University of Maine at Farmington while earning his teaching degree. Steve first played for Rumford Pirates, the town’s entry in the storied Pine Tree League in 1976, the first of a 22-year association playing for, coaching and managing the team. Steve stepped up to fill a coaching vacancy when he was still quite young and became the bedrock of the Rumford town team, performing in All-Star fashion on the field while assuming the daunting responsibilities of fielding a competitive team each year. Although not blessed with eye-popping baseball tools, Steve was a top defensive catcher who taught himself to switch-hit and became a top-flight “spray” hitter with an uncanny ability to drive in runs. Not content to simply call a ballgame from behind the plate, Steve became a crafty pitcher as well, using his intuitive knowledge to keep hitters off-balance with an assortment of pitches. In 1981 Lapointe became head baseball coach at Rumford High School, later Mountain Valley High School and just concluded his 18th year as the Falcons’ skipper, winning over 250 games and a class B state title in 1993. For Steve, the responsibilities of coaching have been a labor of love. Few coaches can combine the instillation of values and life lessons that come with discipline and team play with the paramount goal of playing a baseball game just because it’s fun. Steve Lapointe has done it effectively and naturally for three decades because, for him, it’s simply an extension of who he is and what he became as a ballplayer. Two examples of the Lapointe philosophy in action: Tough financial circumstances forced cancellation of the Mountain Valley JV team in 2003. As varsity coach Steve offered any and all players who would have made the JV team that year the chance to practice with the varsity and suit up for games as well as a promise that he should get each of them into a varsity game during the season. The promise was kept. The demise of American Legion ball in the Rumford area created a void in playing opportunities and prompted Steve to form the River Valley League in 2005. Lapointe was instrumental in organizing the teams, ordering equipment, maintaining fields, umpiring and guiding the fledgling organization to stability. Transforming an unquenchable love for baseball into a tireless crusade to play, coach, manage and promote the game for all ages has been the hallmark of Steve Lapointe’s career. “I have played ball for many years and come into contact with thousands of ball players,” says Maine Baseball Hall of Famer Bitsy Ionta, himself a legendary figure in the Rumford area. “None of them loves the game any more that Steve Lapointe, and none has done more to help others share that love than Steve.” A richly deserved honor for this true ambassador for Maine baseball. The Hall of Fame welcomes you, Steve Lapointe. https://www.sunjournal.com/2018/05/21/h-s-baseball-mountain-valley-dismisses-spruce-mountain/ Posted May 21, 2018 Updated December 21, 2018 H.S. baseball: Mountain Valley dismisses Spruce Mountain

Roger Laprise may be the only 2007 inductee into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame who played a lot of childhood baseball on the same diamond that Babe Ruth’s barnstorming team visited many decades ago. Legend has it in Sanford that the Babe took one local hurler deep that day - much to the delight, no doubt, of local fans. How would tall and lanky right hander Laprise have pitched to George Herman Ruth, had he ever had the chance to so at Goodall Park? If you read the yellowed clipping in the family scrapbook, and talk to friends who watched and played ball with the 1964 ST. Ignatius High School grad, you are left with only one conclusion: high and hard; inside corner; letter high; reminding the Babe who owned the inside corner! “They didn’t ever clock me,” Laprise chuckles. “They weren’t doing that back then.” But, yes, he allowed, he had good velocity. Good stats too. And good clips documenting a strong career in Sanford youth leagues and high school ball, all leading to an impressive three-year run with the Pittsburgh Pirates in their minor league system. “PIRATES SIGN ROGER LAPRISE,” the headline in the Portland Press Herald screamed on the morning Thursday June 4, 1964. Laprise had starred at St. Ignatius in both basketball and baseball. His baseball resume had included dominating years in the Sanford-Springvale Little League, topped off by membership in their all star team in 1959 that won the Maine state title. He went on the next year to pitch for the Sanford winner of the Maine Babe Ruth championship team. Press Herald archives record that he pitched three years in high school for the Cole Post in the “Junior Legion” league. He had four no-hitters in his youth baseball career. He wowed area high school coaches during his junior year when he struck out 145 batters during the season. 6'1" and 180 lbs., he was a great guard on the high school basketball teams. His sophomore year, he played for the Western Maine Class L title team that got nosed out by Orono for the state crown. Senior year, his team got beaten in the finals of the Western Maine Class tourney by Freeport. Many regarded him as the tourney MVP. Friends often considered his senior year attempt at a perfect game against Old Orchard on May 3, 1963 as his best individual achievement. He had a perfect game going with two outs in the ninth. A teammate booted an infield grounder, and the perfecto was gone; he still got a no hitter though. Laprise signed his pro contract only hours after graduating as a member of the St. Ignatius Class of 1964. Signed with help from his high school coach, George “Choc” Doiron, who had recently become a Pirate “bird dog” scout, Laprise reported immediately to Salem Rebels of the Rookie League in Salem, Virginia. He was used mainly as a relief pitcher, a new role for him, the first part of the season. That changed a bit midway through the season, however, recalls his wife, Cynthia, “when he caught the attention of the front office with his ability and very smooth motion,” she says. A highlight of that first season in minor league ball was hitting a grand slam home run during one pitching stint. August of that first season brought bad news, however. “I had a weak muscle in my eye,” Roger recalled years later for the (Biddeford) Journal Tribune. “It caused problems with my motion.” He was sent home with two weeks left in the season. He went back the next year wearing eye glasses. Laprise, who already had one positive brush with baseball trivia and history by being the first Sanford resident signed to a pro contract since Freddie Parent (1906), got another via his trip to the DL - a document entitled Notice To Player of Transfer From Active List, dated August 18, 1964, is signed by the team’s then-business manager, Branch B. Rickey. To this day, Roger that the trip to the DL got in the way of his big league dreams. “I was told later Pittsburgh had intended to move me up to the International League . . . and the big time the next year,” he told the Journal Tribune. Eye muscle problems plagued him in the 1965 season. He was placed on the DL again. He underwent corrective eye surgery. He came back in 1966 for third year, but the eye problem got in the way again. He was released in June. Laprise admits that Opening Day each year can be a tough time for him. He thinks what might have been. “I get a little upset about it, “ he admits, “I was THAT close.” Coming back from baseball, however, Laprise threw himself into family life, and police work. He ended up with an outstanding career with the Sanford Police Department, an approximately 30 year career culminating in promotion to sergeant. He and his wife, Cynthia, have been married more than 40 years. Roger, age 61, and his wife, raised three sons - Roger David, Daniel and Robert. Roger’s baseball resume added a second page - this one for youth coaching, baseball and other sports for the three very active and accomplished sons. Grandfather Roger and Cynthia do some traveling nowadays, doting on several grandchildren, who are scattered through the Northeast. Cynthia says Roger is most proud of former players contacting him years later when they have gone on to accomplish things in life. He had an impact on them on the field and off, they tell him. “They recognize that Roger instilled in them a sense of pride in their team, and in themselves,” Cynthia says of the phone calls and visits. “He showed them by example what good sportsmanship is all about.” http://sanfordmainers.pointstreaksites.com/view/sanfordmainers/history-of-the-park-1 https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lapris001rog From Portland Press Herald Posted April 2, 2014 Roger Laprise, 68, Sanford police sergeant, baseball standout https://www.pressherald.com/2014/04/02/feature_obituary__roger_laprise__68__sanford_police_sergeant_and_baseball_standout/ Roger Joseph Laprise, 68 SPRINGVALE - After facing small cell lung cancer with his usual courage, determination and humor for more than two years, Roger died peacefully at Gosnell Hospice House on March 31, 2014. Roger was born Dec. 8, 1945, in Sanford to Edgar and Monique (Jacques) Laprise. He attended parochial schools and was a stellar baseball and basketball player at Saint Ignatius High School. Roger signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on his graduation night in 1964. He enjoyed three seasons with the Salem Rebels in Salem, Va. and also trained in Daytona, Fla. He was both honored and humbled to be inducted in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Roger remained involved in the sports he loved through coaching. This involvement included Little League, Babe Ruth, SJHS baseball, St. Thomas girls' basketball, and SSYAA youth basketball. Robert Laprise, the youngest of his three sons, reflected on his father’s years as a coach and the life lessons he taught players through sports. “He looked at the game the way he looked at life … to (play) with pride and to represent yourself well,”

Jason Lariviere was born in 1973 and grew up in the blue-collar town of Biddeford, Maine. Jason is the son of Cindy and Robert Lariviere who grew up playing baseball with his older brother Shawn and his younger sister Stacy. From a young age, Jason’s parents instilled a strong work ethic by example as his dad worked endless hours to support his family. Jason has lived in Buxton since 2003 with his wife Danielle, their sons Noah & Drew and their daughter Chloe. Professionally, Mr. Lariviere is employed by Progressive Insurance where he is a Regional Manager. In addition, Jason is a co-owner of the Southern Maine River Rats Baseball Organization that was established in 2013. As a youngster, Jason played Little League for East Biddeford making the all-star team in both 1985 and 1986. When he was twelve, Jason led his East Biddeford team to the District four championship and came within one game of winning the State Title and a trip to the Eastern Regionals. A team of great young Biddeford athletes lost a heartbreaker to Old Town 4-2 in the final game. In high school, Jason played football, basketball and of course, baseball for the Biddeford Tigers. As a sophomore, Jason was named to the All-telegram team, a rare feat for a high school sophomore. As a junior, Jason also made the Telegram League first team, but more importantly, he and his teammates won the Telegram League championship. As a senior, Jason went 6-1 on the mound and was named All-state as a pitcher. In addition, Jason was the starting quarterback for the Tigers who won the state championship in football and the point guard for the Biddeford basketball team who were runners-up for the state title. Jason will be forever grateful for the tutelage he received from Coach Ron Cote and Coach Mike Laundry. In college, Jason was a three-year starter at the University of Southern Maine. Playing center field, he made third team All-American as a junior and the first team as a senior. Jason batted 435 as a senior and finished with a career average of 399 which is the 4th best in Husky history. In addition Jason was blessed with speed and stole thirty-five bases, which is the 2nd most in the history of the USM program. Jason credits Coach Ed Flaherty and his USM staff with transforming him from an athlete into a baseball player. Professionally, Jason was drafted in 1995 by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 44th round and had an outstanding minor league career. Jason Played six years in the organization from 1995 to 2000. In 1998, Jason was named to the Texas League all-star team while playing for the Arkansas Travelers. In 1999, Jason was named the defensive player of the year for the AAA Memphis Redbirds. In addition, he put up great numbers batting 286 with 142 hits including nine home runs. Jason also had thirty-five doubles and stole eighteen bases for the Redbirds. His greatest major league moments were in Spring Training for the Cardinals in 1997 & 1998. Jason’s first Spring training hit was off Scott Rudinsky knocking in the great Willie McGee from 2nd base. Just being on the same team with stars like Mark McGwire, Ron Gant, Ray Lankford and Manager Tony LaRussa made it a wonderful career. Jason Lariviere continues to give back to the local communities today as he is considered one of the premier youth coaches in Southern Maine. Jason has earned a well-deserved place in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. The Southern Maine River Rats https://www.riverratsbaseball.com/page/show/936217-the-river-rats-staff

The course of Wilfred "Fo Fo" Laverdiere’s career in baseball weaves together several significant threads in the rich fabric of Maine baseball history: A promising high school career at John Bapst in Bangor and Livermore Falls, a sparkling All-State collegiate tenure for John Winkin at Colby when the State Series meant statewide bragging rights, town team stints with several of the best nines of that golden era, and an influential coaching career at four different Maine high schools. Wil parlayed a sparkling senior year in 1953 at Livermore Falls High School, where he developed a reputation as a consistent line drive hitter and fleet-footed outfielder, into a starring role for the Colby Mules. Coach Winkin has been quoted that “Wilfred was at the top of his list as one of the best he had ever coached.” Teammate and fellow Maine Baseball Hall of Famer Neil Stinneford described the Laverdiere skill set: “He was an excellent ballplayer. He covered left field as well as anybody I ever saw. As a batter, he was a dead pull hitter and I never saw anyone who could throw a fastball by him. And, he was exceptionally fast!” Colby won the State Series twice during Laverdiere’s four-year career and Wil earned All-Maine honors his sophomore year with an eye-popping .471 average. Wil honed his baseball skills in the summer during his career at Colby, and for several years beyond, playing for a variety of town team and semi-pro teams throughout Western Maine. He played for Dixfield and Farmington in the heyday of the fabled Down East League, a fast semi-pro circuit that attracted top-flight collegiate talent. Additional campaigns were added for town ball stalwarts Wilton Loggers in the Western Maine League, Livermore Falls – Chisholm Merchants in the Andy County League, and the Madison Merchants. A check of the newspaper clippings that chronicled the high water mark of the town team baseball in the decade from the mid 1950’s to the mid 1960’s show Laverdiere to be consistently among the top five hitters in the league, year in and year out. Laverdiere became a high school teacher and baseball coach shortly after his graduation from Colby. His coaching career included stops at Winterport, Anson Academy, Skowhegan and Livermore Falls. Drawing on his unmatched baseball experience, Wil was a natural mentor and inspirational role model for scores of youth. Typical of his influence on his players is this comment from John Bubar, Brigadier General, USAF (retired) who played for Laverdiere at Anson Academy: “I don’t remember specifically what he said to me. What I do remember though, fifty years later, is how his professionalism set an expectation for me that demanded I keep my head in the game, no matter my raging teenage angst. It was leadership by example. And what I do recall with great clarity is my coach: calm, composed and always in control. Coach Wil Laverdiere provided me with one of my first models of command presence; a model that has helped to shape my path these past five decades.” Baseball will always be with him as he recalls his performing in the game, developing youth to succeed, and cherishing all those memories of hundreds of hits in dozens of ball fields across Central and Western Maine, and fly balls chased down and bases swiped; the camaraderie of teammates from high school and college; and all the students he coached, developing their ability to succeed both in baseball and in life. It is fitting and deserving that Wilfred “Fo-Fo” Laverdiere take his place with the greats of the game – a Maine Baseball Hall of Famer!