The University of Maine baseball team announced that it has signed six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for next year.
The class brought in by head coach Steve Trimper and his staff includes two local products in pitchers Alex McKenney of Hampden Academy and Peter Kemble of Bangor.
Rounding out the class are infielders Kyle Ball of Stratham, New Hampshire, Ben Terwilliger of Elmira, New York, Jackie Urbaez of Miami and catcher Nick Cardieri of Brooklyn, New York.
McKenney compiled a 3-3 record with a 2.50 earned run average in his junior year at Hampden. He struck out 42 batters and walked 12 in 35 innings of work while batting .436 for the Broncos.
“He will add depth not only on the mound as a power right-handed pitcher, but I feel he will also be able to eventually be a two-way player and utilize his bat,” Trimper said in a press release.
Kemble, the son of former UMaine pitcher Jay Kemble, features a fastball in the mid- to upper-80s along with a slider.
“Peter keeps our tradition going of quality ball players from Bangor High School,” Trimper said. “I am excited to see Peter grow and help our pitching staff.”
Ball is the top-ranked shortstop coming out of New Hampshire, according to Perfect Game. He was a first-team, all-state honoree in 2016, and he lettered in football at Exeter High School.
“Kyle is a special athlete, he has tremendous skills as a hitter and defensively in the infield,” Trimper said. “But what stands out to me above his skills is his competitive nature and desire to win.”
Terwilliger was ranked as the sixth-best third baseman in New York by Perfect Game, and the 30th-best overall player in the Empire State by Prep Baseball Report.
“Ben is a big, strong corner infielder that plays solid defense and adds some offensive power to our team,” said Trimper. “I like his athletic ability, making him a great candidate not only at third base but as an athletic first baseman.”
Cardieri was ranked by Perfect Game among the top 500 players in the country, and the ninth best coming out of New York.
“Nick is an outstanding player that will help our club behind the plate,” Trimper said.
Urbaez was a first-team, All-Dade County selection in high school and hit .321 with 14 stolen bases in 40 games at Miami Dade Community College last season.
“Jackie continues our streak of recruiting quality players from Columbus High School and Miami Dade Community College,” Trimper said.
Hockey, softball players added
The UMaine softball team has added another instate player to its list of future Black Bears.
Lily Volk, who committed to UMaine in September 2015, will pitch for coach Mike Coutts’ Black Bears starting in 2018.
In addition, the men’s hockey program inked a signing from Newfoundland native Adam Dawe, who will hit the ice for coach Red Gendron’s team in the fall of 2017, in addition to Swedish defenseman Alexis Binner.
Volk led the Scarborough Red Storm to the Class A state championship game as a sophomore in the spring of 2015.
She compiled a 10-1 record that season, with the lone defeat coming at the hands of Messalonskee of Oakland in the state championship game.
Volk pitched a one-hitter in that contest, with the lone hit being a home run, while striking out nine and walking nobody.
Volk plans to study nursing at UMaine, and features a fastball, changeup, curveball, drop, riseball and screwball in her arsenal of pitches.
Dawe, who hails from Gander, Newfoundland, verbally committed to attend UMaine on a hockey scholarship in the summer of 2015.
The 5-foot-8, 161-pound winger is playing for the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
In 14 games for the Hounds this season, Dawe has been productive and has recorded seven goals and dished out 17 assists.
Dawe’s head coach, Clint Mylymok, is a former professional teammate of former Black Bears standout Cal Ingraham. Ingraham was one of the key members of UMaine’s 1993 national championship team.
Binner plays for the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, and the 6-4, 209-pounder has one assist in 14 games so far this fall.
Maryland guard to play for men’s team
The UMaine men’s basketball program on Tuesday added 6-foot-5 guard Isaiah White.
The Maryland native plays for Harford Community College in Maryland, and he will join coach Bob Walsh’s Black Bears next season.
Before going to Harford Community College, White attended UNC-Asheville, where he redshirted as a freshman. He will have three years of eligibility at UMaine.
“Isaiah is a versatile, athletic wing with a natural ability to score from all three levels,” said Walsh.
“He can also guard multiple positions and has the ability to be a stopper for us on the defensive end. He’s a mature young man who fits in very well with our culture, and he’s really excited to be a Black Bear. We are really looking forward to having him with our program,” he added.
In five games this season, White is averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds for Harford Community College.