At the heart of any community’s successful youth sports programs are the volunteers who spend countless hours out of the limelight working on fields, raising funds and coaching kids to help them reach their athletic potential and grow up a bit at the same time.
Sterling Harriman of Stockton Springs, who died Tuesday at age 68, was one of those guys.
While the name may not conjure up immediate thoughts of memorable moments in the Maine high school sports world, his work behind the scenes for more than a quarter-century helped a generation of baseball players advance their careers in Waldo County.
After spending his immediate post-military years in England, Harriman moved back to his hometown in the mid-1970s and went to work at what then was known as the St. Regis paper mill in Bucksport.
Later, he spent 14 years employed by SAD 34 in Belfast in a variety of capacities, including bus driver and custodian.
But beyond family, work and participation in a number of organizations, there were sports — particularly baseball.
And through that love of sports and his membership in the American Legion, he founded the Waldo County Legion team 25 years ago for players from Searsport, Belfast, Mount View of Thorndike and Camden Hills of Rockport to test their skills against the best from the rest of the state each summer.
Harriman became the team’s first head coach, guiding the program for several summers until turning over those duties to Emery Shute 13 years ago.
But he remained active in the program through his involvement in fundraising efforts as well as making personal donations to the team, and, of course, as a fan.
“He’s always loved baseball, and he’s always especially loved American Legion baseball,” said Shute.
He also would attend state Legion baseball meetings with Shute, adding an additional voice to advocate for his team’s interests.
“Sterling could be verbal,” said Shute with a laugh. “He was always looking out for what was best for the boys.”
In recent times Harriman endured a battle with cancer, but his team — now known as the Steamboat Petroleum Wildcatters — didn’t forget him.
Shute, current Steamboat Petroleum head coach Bain Pollard and this year’s players honored Harriman before a game in July.
It was a modest ceremony, with the players presenting him with an autographed baseball and a team hat, but it was just the sort of understated presentation Harriman could appreciate.
Because to those who worked with him in sustaining the Legion team over the years, they understood it was never about him.
Indeed, it was about the players.
“Sterling just cared for kids,” said Shute. “He loved baseball, and he’d do anything for the kids. He was still donating to the program even this year.”
And he’s not done yet — his obituary suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to benefit the Steamboat Petroleum American Legion Baseball Team, care of Chuck Berube, director of Maine American Legion Baseball, 123 Second St., Auburn, ME 04210.
Sterling Harriman is not unique to small-town athletics in Maine, but his dedication to the Waldo County American Legion program probably stands as the primary reason the team still exists.
And to anyone who as a kid was positively influenced by someone like him, they should make sure to say thanks one more time before it’s too late.
990-8045
