Stearns High School in Millinocket has enjoyed its share of sports success.
There were the boys basketball teams that captured state Class A championships in 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1970. The girls teams claimed an Eastern Maine A basketball title in 1986 and an Eastern Maine B title in 1995.
And Stearns had football state championship teams in 1987 (Class B) and 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1998, an Eastern Maine C title in 2010 and a regional Class C baseball crown in 2013.
But championships have been few and far between in recent years. The town itself has had to endure the closing of its primary industry: the Great Northern Paper Company.
Stearns now competes in Class D, the state’s smallest division, as a result of its dwindling enrollment. But this spring is reviving memories of yesteryear’s successes.
For the first time ever on Tuesday, both the baseball and softball teams are playing in Eastern Maine championship games.
The softball team hasn’t played in a regional final since 1988.
The softball game between third seed Stearns (13-6) and top seed and defending Eastern Maine champ Limestone Community School/Maine School of Science and Mathematics will be held at 3 p.m. at Coffin Field in Brewer. The second-seeded Stearns baseball team (15-3) takes on top seed Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook (16-2) at 6:30 p.m. at Bangor’s Mansfield Stadium.
Five other schools — Bangor (Class A), Bucksport (Class C) and Western Maine Class D schools Richmond and Searsport, which play each other — also have both teams in a regional final this week.
“The community is ecstatic right now,” said former Stearns High School three-sports star John Montgomery, the athletic director at Schenck High School in East Millinocket. “We had a big dance recital up here this weekend, and everybody I ran into was talking about the baseball and softball teams.
“With the mill shutting down, we’ve had some hard times. But the community is rallying behind these teams. They are very supportive. It’s good to see the teams being successful and, hopefully, they’ll continue on [after Tuesday],” added Montgomery, a 1997 Stearns graduate.
Stearns baseball coach Don Boyington, a 1984 Stearns graduate, said the players on the baseball and softball teams are lifting the spirits of the community.
“People have been down in the community, but these kids are still fighting for pride in their town, and I think some people in town could learn from these kids,” said Boyington.
Fredy Lazo, Stearns athletic director, said they are going to have a fan bus for the occasion.
“It will be for kids and senior citizens because a lot of them didn’t have a way to get there,” said Lazo.
“This means a lot to the older generation,” said Boyington. “There has been a lot of pride in the school from way back.”
Junior Jessica Girsa, the ace of the softball team’s pitching staff, said the two teams have shown that “good things can come out of small communities. I don’t think a lot of people thought either one of us was going to make it.’”
Girsa and teammates Audrey Dunstan and Lauren Jamo said the turnouts and enthusiasm at their playoff games have been tremendous.
“We have been getting so many people to our games, and they’ve been bringing cowbells and posters,” said sophomore shortstop Audrey Dunstan. “It has been amazing.”
“The parking lot has been packed with cars and people and the fans have been going crazy,” said junior first baseman Jamo. “They have really supported us.”
“It’s amazing to see how much baseball and softball have excited a town so much,” said softball coach Nick Cullen.
“There were more people at our game than any other sports team’s game that I have ever seen,” said Girsa.