The Babes are back.
The Bangor Babes captured the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League championship in the team’s first year of existence last summer and is returning to defend its title beginning in June.
The team will host the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon at 4 p.m. June 1 the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex at Husson University in Bangor.
The wooden bat summer league for college baseball players was founded in 2017 and has six teams, split between two divisions. Joining the Babes in the North Division will be Augusta and the new Waterville Woodworkers. The Central Division will include Old Orchard Beach, the Sebago Slammin’ Salmon and the new South Portland Puffins.
Colton Albertson is returning as the general manager of the Babes and Trevor DeLaite will be back as Bangor team’s manager.
Last year, DeLaite was named the league’s Coach of the Year and the Babes were named the Organization of the Year.
The Babes had the league’s best record during the regular season at 14-4 and then won a playoff semifinal game against Augusta 13-4 before triumphing in a best-of-three series championship series over fellow newcomer Old Orchard Beach.
The Babes won the third and deciding game 4-2 at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach after winning the first game of the series 10-9 and losing the second game 7-3.
Bangor was one of three teams owned by Wasabi Ventures Sports Management a year ago, along with Old Orchard Beach and Augusta. Albertson said the three teams have been sold to the league’s governing body, the Players League, which is based in North Carolina.
The Players League helps out with the managing of team personnel like general managers and coaches and provides funding to the teams.
The Players League’s eventual goal is to have each team with separate ownership, Albertson said.
Players pay to play in the league, and Albertson said he will try to find host families or housing for players who aren’t from the area. He has also been in touch with local businesses to find jobs for the players if they want to work.
This season, teams will play 20 regular season games, followed by the playoffs.
Bangor will play Augusta and Waterville eight times apiece and will also play four games against South Portland. The Babes won’t play Old Orchard Beach and Sebago during the regular season but could face them in the playoffs.
Albertson said the schedule is designed to “reduce travel.”
There will be at least one food truck and a snack shack for game day.
The Bangor team’s manager, Delaite, is a former pitcher at Bangor High School, University of Maine and Liberty University and owns DeLaite Baseball Development at the Hillside Athletic facility in Bangor.
He’s currently compiling his roster, and Albertson said there will likely be 20 to 25 players on the team. They try to ensure that all the players get the playing time they need to develop their skill, Albertson said.
Albertson said it was rewarding to see some of last year’s Babes players improve in their college careers, and he feels their summer ball experience helped them.
Husson University third baseman Tanner Evans hit .174 for the Eagles last season and is currently hitting .286. Husson pitcher Alex Smith had a 3.11 earned-run average a year ago and currently has an ERA of 1.52.
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