The University of Maine baseball team continues to build toward the future as it recently landed a pair of pitching recruits.
Righthanders Steve Perakslis and Jeff Gibb have verbally committed to attend UMaine beginning next fall.
Perakslis is a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder from Abington, Mass., while Gibbs (6-3, 185) hails from Ontario, Canada.
Black Bears head coach Steve Trimper is prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on recruits until UMaine has received each student-athlete’s signed Letter of Intent. Their participation at UMaine is contingent upon acceptance to the university and compliance with NCAA initial eligibility guidelines.
Perakslis is a standout pitcher and shortstop at Abington High School. His father, Steve, who is also the Abington coach, said Perakslis was 9-3 last spring with a 1.01 earned run average and batted .520 with five home runs while earning Boston Globe and Boston Herald all-scholastic honors and leading his team to the state tournament.
“He’s topped out at 91 [mph]. He has a slider and he’s just developing his changeup,” the elder Perakslis said of his son.
Perakslis also hopes to earn a spot in the lineup, in addition to his pitching contributions.
Gibbs said UMaine had the right combination of academics and baseball excellence.
“I heard about the excellent business program they have there, I feel real comfortable with the coaches and the baseball program there and they put together a great schedule.”
Gibbs plays for Team Ontario’s 18-and-under club and also was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. He likes to feature his fastball.
“I like to go right at the hitters. I don’t like to mess around,” said Gibbs, who explained he has been clocked mostly in the high 80s.
He throws a fastball, curveball and changeup.
“I know that they’ve got one of the best pitching staffs in their conference. Hopefully, I can go out there and try to learn a little bit from some of the other guys.”
Socoby, McNally nominated
University of Maine men’s basketball players Mark Socoby of Houlton and Sean McNally of Gardiner have been nominated as Maine’s candidates for America East Fans’ Choice Player of the Year.
The first round of voting, which is being conducted on the league Web site at www.americaeast.com, will take place through Friday at noon, when five finalists will be announced. Those five finalists will be voted on through Friday, March 3 and the overall winner will be announced Wednesday, March. 4.
Socoby, a junior guard, leads the Bears in scoring and is 12th the league with 12.9 points per game. He also is averaging 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.6 steals. McNally, a sophomore forward, leads Maine and is fourth among AE players with 7.5 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 9.3 points and 1.3 blocks.
UMFK women claim No. 1 seed
The University of Maine-Fort Kent women’s basketball team has locked up the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s Sunrise Conference Championships.
Coach Lucas Levesque’s Bengals go into postseason play, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, with a 20-5 record. The Bengals are 12-0 in league play, having racked up 17 consecutive victories.
UMFK plays Saturday at 1 p.m. against fourth-seeded Fisher College of Boston (8-16, 6-6 Sunrise).
The catalysts for the Bengals include senior center Ashley Ames of Dexter (16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.8 blocks per game), junior forward Kristen Violette of Fort Kent (16.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg), and sophomore guards Talisha Herring (14.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.8 apg) and Shir Fuchs (14.3 ppg).
Artesani shines for USM
Emily Artesani of the University of Southern Maine in Gorham recently bettered her school record in the 400 meters.
The junior from Orono was clocked in 59.32 seconds at Saturday’s New England Division III Championships held at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. That bettered her previous USM record, set a year ago, by 0.32 seconds.
Artesani also was accorded Division III All-New England honors by finishing eighth in the 200 meters (26.88 seconds).
Huskies teammate Gabby Cyr, a senior from Fort Kent, finished sixth in the mile with a season-best time of 5:19.60.
Morin ranked No. 2 in country
Mike Morin of the USM wrestling team has been ranked second in the nation among Division III wrestlers competing at 165 pounds.
The junior tri-captain from Fryeburg successfully defended his New England Wrestling Association title to earn a spot in the NCAA Division III National Championship. He boasts a 36-0 match record this season.
Morin will compete March 6-7 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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