The University of Maine baseball team is gearing up for the 2015 season, which opens against Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Feb. 13 at Winter Haven, Florida.
In the meantime, it’s time to catch up on some other news involving the Black Bears.
Two freshman pitchers for UMaine have announced their intention to play next summer in the Pacific Northwest.
Justin Courtney and Jonah Normandeau have been added to the 2015 roster of the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League.
The pair will join Black Bears sophomore outfielder Lou Della Fera, who played for Bellingham last season in the collegiate wooden-bat league.
“We are thankful to continue our relationship with Maine by adding two pitchers in Jonah and Justin,” Bells manager Jeff James said in a news release. “They come highly regarded, and we expect them to be big contributors for us on the mound this summer.”
Courtney, a right-hander from Bangor, led the Rams to the 2014 Class A state championship, posting a 7-1 record with a 1.20 earned run average and 77 strikeouts.
Normandeau, a freshman from Cumberland, pitched for Greely High School in 2013 and finished his career with a 14-1 record and a 0.82 ERA. He pitched two no-hitters, including a perfect game, before spending last year at Bridgton Academy under former UMaine star and assistant coach Aaron Izaryk.
“Over the years, Maine players have created a great reputation in the Bells’ organization,” James said. “We are thrilled to have these two young players join us.”
Della Fera, who appeared in 19 games in a limited role last year, played 42 games for Bellingham, where he batted .229 with 14 RBIs, 29 runs scored and five stolen bases.
Scott Heath of Westbrook, who is a senior this season for UMaine, also was on the 2014 Bellingham squad. He earned all-league honorable mention after hitting .306 with four home runs and 36 RBIs.
The left-handed Heath went 1-0 with a 1.28 ERA in seven innings on the mound for the Bells.
Heath, Noviello recognized
Heath and UMaine commit Andrew Noviello were recognized in the January issue of the New England Baseball Journal as being among the top professional prospects in the region for 2015.
Noviello, a left-handed hitting infielder and right-handed pitcher at Bridgewater-Raynham High School in Massachusetts, was ranked the sixth best pro prospect in New England. Heath came in at No. 17.
Noviello also is the No. 1 high school prospect in Massachusetts, according to Perfect Game.
Trimper gains ABCA post
Trimper, who for many years has been an active member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, has been named the Northeast regional chair of the organization’s NCAA Division I Divisional Organization Committee.
UM plans football NLI event
UMaine football will celebrate its 2015 National Letter of Intent signing class with a special “Maine Football Signing Day” event 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Seasons Grille and Sports Lounge in Bangor.
All Friends of Maine Football and Black Bears fans are invited to join coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff as Cosgrove and host Brian Sullivan break down this season’s recruiting class, talk about the 2015 schedule and give a preview of the season.
Guests will get a chance to chat with UMaine coaches in a casual environment focused on Black Bears football.
UMaine opens its 2015 season Sept. 5 at Boston College.