Eastern Maine Sports Blog

Get hooked on the Maine Red Claws

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Maine Red Claws are bringing excitement for the whole family this season. The Red Claws are gearing up for a playoff run and need all the support that they can get. So instead of sitting at home watching the NFL sports channel head out to a Red Claws game! The team has been playing exciting basketball recently and Crusher has the team geared up for the playoff run. The Red Claws are a high scoring team providing exciting games nightly. High scoring rookie DeShawn Sims, who is averaging 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, has been recently added to the All-Star. With his powerful game he hopes to bring the Red Claws into the hunt for the championship this season.
With all of the exciting basketball being played it can be easy to overlook the incredible atmosphere of a Red Claws game. The large amount of lively theme nights means that there is always something fun to do at a Red Claws game. But don’t forget about Crusher mascot and the beautiful Lady Red Claws who always bring excitement and fun to the crowds. If you want to see the future of the Boston Celtics you should come see the Red Claws in action. But be careful it is very easy to get hooked on the Maine Red Claws!

The Best That Maine Sports Has To Offer

admin — Sun, 08 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

While there are no professional sports teams in the state of Maine, there are some minor league sports teams that fans can support. The Portland Pirates, an American Hockey League affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres, play there home games at the Cumberland County Civic Center. For basketball, the Portland Red Claws, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA Developmental League, play at the Portland Exposition Building. And finally, in the summer baseball takes over downtown Portland with the Portland Sea Dogs, a AA baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, playing home games at Hadlock field.

In addition to minor league sports, as well as a variety of different college and high school sports throughout the state, there are a variety of personal sporting opportunities that await Maine visitors. This includes some of the best skiing that you’ll find on the East Coast during the winter months; spectacular hiking during the warm spring and summer months, as well as swimming and boating in one of Maine’s many lakes and waterways. Go online to see all that Main has to offer the sportsman or woman out there, as well as how to get tickets to some professional events.

Top fishing spots in Maine

admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The State of Maine has one of the largest land areas in the continental United States. A trip from the southern border with New Hampshire to the Canadian border will take eight hours to complete. During that trip the roadways pass by many lakes and rivers that provide some of the best fishing in the country. From the southern Sebago Lakes region near Portland to the Central western region around Rangeley Lake and the northern reaches of the Allagash wilderness Maine lakes and rivers are full of a variety of fish.

In the southern parts of Maine the best fishing can be found in the Sebago region. Big Sebago, Little Sebago and Long Lake are known for the variety of fish that can be found there. Big Sebago is the home to a variety of fresh water salmon that can grow very large. The record landlocked salmon was caught in Lake Sebago. Other species of fish that can be found in Sebago include perch and a variety of largemouth and small mouth bass.

The Rangeley Lake region and Allagash regions are located farther north in the State of Maine and provide fishing for a variety of fish including bass, perch and pickerel. The Allagash waterway area also has rivers where fly fishing excursions are available.

The long history of the Portland Expo Building

admin — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In the City of Portland, Maine several teams call the Portland Exposition Hall home. This venerable city venue was constructed in 1914 and has seen many uses over the years. The Expo, as it is known to Portland residents, is adjacent to Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Seadogs a Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Expo is the current home of the Maine Red Claws, a developmental League basketball team that is affiliated with the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.

The Expo is also the home of Portland High School basketball and several track meets throughout the year. The Portland Expo in now under the management of the Portland Recreation and Facilities Management Department. It is home to several other events throughout the year. The Maine State Exposition was the first event held in the completed building in 1915 and since then the building has had a varied history.
Several sports team including the Maine Roller Derby have called the Expo home. The halls are available to rent for functions and events. To find out more about events at the Expo and in the Portland area a favorite information siite is Downtown Portland, www.portlandmaine.com/ A visit to the Expo brings back memories of events and life a century ago.

What’s new for the U. Maine Black Bears?

www.easternmainesportsblog.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:17:51 +0000

The Black Bears haven’t been hibernating this summer. Instead, there have been officer changes, new appointments, and special awards galore. First, Kelsey Wilson, women’s soccer midfielder, has been named captain of the 2010 team. She was a starter for all of the Bears’ games last seasons, scoring three goals and four assists. Off the field, Wilson made the America East Honor Roll for the past three years. The new season starts on the 18^th with an exhibition match against Burlington.Meanwhile, assistant swim coach Brad Smith is staying right where he is after serving as interim assistant coach under Susan Lizotte last season. The Bears’ swim team broke several records at the America East Championships last seasonhere’s hoping Smith can keep up his past success. Smith himself was a star swimmer at Vermont up through 2007. Since then he’s also worked at the YMCA, U. Vermont, and the Burlington Country Club.The swim team also made news when sophomore Brian Landry graduated from the U.S. Army‘s scuba school on July 1. As an ROTC cadet, Landry got the opportunity to attend the school, which caters to special ops forces as well as underwater disposal units. Landry was also a winner during the school season, raking in a 100 Breast victory against Boston U. in 1:01.31 as well as being a part of the 400 Free Relay.Finally, the women’s basketball team welcomed junior college guard Sheay Longstaff from Coffeyville Community College. Over her last season, Longstaff pulled in 71 3-pointers, and Bears head coach Cindy Blodgett is hoping that she’s got a lot more still left in here. Other additions this season include freshmen Jaymie Druding, Alison Nalivaika, and Ashleigh Roberts. Keep an eye on these ladies as they get ready to start off an exciting new season.

Portland Sea Dogs triumph over New Britain Rock Cats

www.easternmainesportsblog.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:09:57 +0000

The competition was fierce at Hadlock Field Sunday, July 11, especially for the Portland Sea Dogs’ Casey Kelly, playing his second game at the field. The main concern was New Britain’s Kyle Gibson, who is currently the top pitching prospect for the major-league Twins. Even though Gibson had only allowed four runs in his last 3 games against the Sea Dogs, Portland was able to make 7 hits over Gibson this time around. Both Anthony Rizzo and Ray Chang brought in home runs.The Sea Dog’s last game in the series against the Rock Cats took place July 12 at noon at Hadlock Field. Two days later, three team members headed to the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game at Metro Bank park in Harrisburg, PA. The three players are infielders Ray Chang and Nate Spears and pitcher Stephen Fife. These teams are made up by fan voting and media personnel, club personnel, and Eastern League administrators.Other Sea Dogs making the news recently include pitcher Jason Rice. On the day before a game, he was out working with children from the community, teaching them the ins and outs of the perfect throw, as well as how to work together to execute double plays. Rice has been involved with the community since his move here at the beginning of the 2010 Eastern League season. In addition to these clinics, he makes visits to schools, birthday parties, camps and hospitals.On the field, Jason Rice is part of the Rule 5 Draft, meaning he is primarily headed to the Red Sox, but other teams still have a chance to snap him up first. Rice is realistic about his chances of making it to the big leagues, and chooses to spend his time spreading goodwill to the children without the opportunities he has had.

Maine golf courses that stand out above the rest

www.easternmainesportsblog.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:51:42 +0000

If you want to get off the sidelines and enjoy some of Maine’s beautiful scenery at the same time, there’s no better pastime than golf. Each putt is a journey through a landscape full of tradition and natural beauty. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local looking to see what you’ve missed, these are the spots to check out when playing the gentleman’s sport in the Pine Tree State.

The Falmouth Country Club Falmouth Course is a 72-par course spread out over 6,879 yards. The course opened in 1986, and is located on Maine’s coast. The terrain varies from rocky mountains to flowing grass fields, and there’s also a 40,000 square foot bent grass driving range to test your skills on. Notable amateur tournaments have been held on the course, including the New England Amateur, the Maine Amateur, and the Tri-State Amateur.
At the Ledges Golf Club Ledges Course, you can see architect William Bradley Booth’s handiwork which catapulted him to stardom in 1999. Golf Digest ranked the Ledges Course 4 stars. Its signature hole is No. 8, often featured in photos, where an innocent-looking pond stands in the way of you and golf glory.
The York Par 3 Golf Course is a family-friendly course that often hosts events for new players, including summer programs for kids. It’s a solid 9-hole course with enough challenges to keep you coming back for more, and design by Mungeam Cornish.
For a slice of history, check out the Kebo Valley Golf Course, opened in 1888. This majestic course is located in between Cadillac and Dorr Mountains, and shares borders with Acadia National Park. Don’t be surprised if you see a deer or fox watching your game, and make sure to take a deep breath and enjoy the sight of Maine spread out beneath your feet.

Jared Turcotte’s best summer ever

www.easternmainesportsblog.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:45:53 +0000

Last season, University of Maine running back Jared Turcotte was forced to stay on the sidelines thanks to a couple of abdominal surgeries, recovery for which took longer than anyone could expect. Before that, though, Turcotte was the one to watch as he led the team to the NCAA playoffs in 2008. It was the first time the team reached the playoffs in six seasons. This next season could be even better, though, thanks to two reasons: first, Turcotte is returning to football, and second, he’s getting marriedand he’s going to be a father.Turcotte and fianc Allysha Jones were married Saturday, July 17, and their daughter is expected September 19. Turcotte hopes that’ll be a big day for two reasonsit could be the day after Maine beats Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.Turcotte was raised by his mother Nadine with his two brothers in Lewiston, Maine, but got a father figure from his cousins’ dad. In addition to training over the summer, Turcotte’s been working a 25 to 30 hour job and reading books on fatherhood so he’ll be prepared when these next few months fly by. He is already looking forward to fatherhood based on fond memories of taking care of a friend’s baby when he was younger.It’ll be a tough act to balance married life and college football, but Turcotte and his coach both think he’s ready. The real test, of course, will be on the field, and University of Maine fans will have to wait to see how that plays out. Can Turcotte come through again and bring his team to the playoffs, or will those sleepless nights of child-raising at home be an insurmountable obstacle? One thing’s for sure, and that’s that Turcotte will give it his all when the season starts next month.

5th annual fishing tournament in Maine last weekend

www.easternmainesportsblog.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:41:18 +0000

On July 16, fishing fanatics from all over gathered for the Saltwater Kayak Fishing Tournament in West Bath, Maine. The three-day event is now in its fifth year, and was hosted by Seaspray Kayaking, with sponsorship by a number of other fishing retailers and organizations, including Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Ocean Kayak, and Wilderness Systems.It may be a tournament, but don’t let the honest spirit of competition scare you away. All were welcome, especially when the festivities started off with Free Kayak Fishing Friday. Fans got a chance to try out equipment offered by the tournament’s sponsors, including new kayaks. Representatives were on hand to demonstrate the goods.The actual fishing began as soon as teams were registered that night, and it continued until 11 in the morning on Sunday, July 18. On Saturday, early birds took advantage of the delicious free breakfast sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, which started on the dot at 5 a.m.In fact, there was no charge for anything in the tournament, unless you wanted to rent one of Seaspray Kayaking’s fine boats for 20 a day, or 10 per half day. A partner was required to ensure safety and fair play, but those without one of their own were matched up by the tournament leaders.If you’re a kayaking and fishing fan, or if you’re just looking for a way to enjoy the beautiful fishing sites of the New Meadows, Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Sheepscot rivers, the Kayak Fishing Tournament is well-worth checking out next year. Just make sure to bring a friend with you.