University of Maine baseball is celebrating two of the best teams in program history this weekend as it plays its final home series of the season.
The Black Bears will honor the College World Series teams from 1976 and 1986.
Many alumni were scheduled to attend the UMaine baseball team’s annual fundraising cocktail party, which was held Friday evening at Mahaney Diamond.
Both squads will be recognized a half-hour before Saturday’s 3 p.m. America East doubleheader against Stony Brook.
UMaine head coach Steve Trimper said former Black Bears pitcher and assistant coach Jay Kemble was the catalyst for the alumni gathering, concentrating on the 30th anniversary of the 1986 ballclub.
After further discussion with the Friends of Maine Baseball group, it was decided to also bring back the 1976 team 40 years after its College World Series appearance.
“Jay Kemble kind of was the chairperson for the ’86 group and Jack Leggett ended up being the chairperson of the ’76 group,” Trimper said. “Those two guys did 98 percent of the work.”
He also praised the efforts of Friends group mainstay Joe Ferris in bringing together the plans.
Both the ’76 and ’86 squads were coached by the late John Winkin.
The 1976 team posted a 29-9 record. It swept through the ECAC New England tourney in three games and won four straight in the NCAA Regional to earn a spot in the CWS.
The Black Bears lost the opener, then won twice before being shut out and eliminated 7-0 by Arizona State.
The 1976 team was the first UMaine contingent to reach the CWS since the 1964 team accomplished the feat.
The ’76 squad featured pitchers Bert Roberge, who still owns UMaine’s career earned run average record at 1.82, and Barry Lacasse, All-America outfielder Ed Flaherty, shortstop Russ Quetti and third baseman Leggett.
Other team members were Steve Conley, John Sawyer, Gary Smart, Mark Armstrong, Billy Hughes, Wayne Feigenbaum, Tony DiBiase, Dana Dresser, John Dumont, Phil Skillings, Fred Fasulo, Peter LaFlamme, Doug Carville, Mike Curry and Brian Butterfield. Carl “Stump” Merrill was an assistant coach.
The 1986 squad compiled a 41-23 record and holds program marks for road wins (28), runs (528), hits (729), doubles (131), total bases (1,117) and batting average (.337). It was the last UMaine team to reach the College World Series.
Catalysts included catcher Bill Reynolds, who still holds program single-game records for home runs (4), RBIs (9), total bases (16) and ranks fourth all-time with 36 home runs, outfielder Gary LaPierre and designated hitter Dan Kane. The pitching staff included Jeff Plympton, Dale Plummer, career saves leader Mike LeBlanc (19) and reliever Marc Powers.
Other members included Gary Dube, Kemble, Steve Loubier, Dave Gonyar and Mike Dutil, along with assistant coach Bob Whalen.
Courtney starts throwing
Trimper reports that sophomore pitcher Justin Courtney of Bangor has begun throwing again.
The right-hander has been out of action since April 9, dealing with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. Trimper hopes Courtney (2-3, 3.56 ERA) can work a few innings against Binghamton and be available during the America East tournament.