Anthony Capuano will be trading in one uniform for another this summer.
The former Bangor High School baseball standout, who played in 35 games as a redshirt freshman first baseman at the University of Southern Maine this spring, will be leaving USM to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
He will report on July 1.
Capuano had spent a year at the University of Maine before transferring to USM.
Capuano practiced with the team at Maine but didn’t get an opportunity to play in a game, so he transferred to USM in search of playing time.
Capuano decided to pursue the U.S. Naval Academy after Nichi Farnham, mother of one of his best friends and former Bangor teammate Carl Farnham, told him it wasn’t too late to pursue his dream of attending a service academy.
Nichi Farnham and her husband, Doug, both graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
So Capuano began the process necessary to attend a service academy, including securing a congressional nomination.
“It was a long process,” said Capuano, who added that Nichi Farnham was a big help in outlining the steps required to get accepted into the academy.
“I’m really excited,” said the 20-year-old Capuano. “It was tough to leave USM. I loved the coaching staff and the players. It was a great opportunity for me. But I’m looking forward to this.
“I love my country and really like the thought of serving my country,” said Capuano. “I hate being bored, and this will be a very active career in which I can do something I’m proud of.”
Capuano said the reason he applied to the Naval Academy rather than the Air Force Academy or the United States Military Academy was because “I can either go in the Marines or the Navy after I graduate. I like having options.”
USM coach Ed Flaherty said Capuano will be missed but that he’s really happy for him.
“He’s a tremendous kid,” said Flaherty.
Capuano hit .232 this spring for the 32-15 USM, which won the Little East Conference Tournament and played in the NCAA Regionals where it went 1-2. He had three doubles, a homer, 16 RBIs and committed just three errors in 226 total chances.
The left-handed-hitting Capuano had an impressive career at Bangor High. He hit .504 his sophomore year and, after attending Avon Old Farms in Avon, Connecticut, for one year, he returned to Bangor for his senior year and hit .365 with a team-leading 15 RBIs.
“He’s probably one of the best hitters we’ve had in recent years,” said Bangor coach Jeff Fahey. “He worked hard in the offseason on everything, and his arm improved tremendously between his sophomore and senior years.”
Fahey said Capuano was a very coachable player and an excellent student.
“There is no doubt that he has the discipline to do very well at the Naval Academy,” said Fahey.
Capuano also played football and hockey at Bangor High and was one of the key components behind Bangor’s berth in the championship game at the Senior League World Series in 2010.
Capuano said he may try out for varsity baseball at Navy, where former UMaine head coach Paul Kostacopoulos is the coach. He will have three years of eligibility remaining and noted that midshipmen are required to participate in athletics at the varsity or intramural level.
Capuano said spending a season at Maine and another at USM was beneficial.
“I feel like I’m more prepared now than I would have been coming out of high school,” said Capuano. “Living away from home was a big change.”
Capuano is the son of former University of Maine All-American defenseman and current New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano and his wife, Bangor native Donna (Stevenson).
“We’re very proud of him,” said Jack Capuano.
Anthony Capuano credited his parents with playing a major role in providing him with the work ethic needed to attain his goal.