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August 13, 2011 Queen City celebrates 10th year as Senior League Baseball World Series host By Chris DeBeck Communications
Games in the 2011 series begin Sunday at noon, when Brewer, the host team and Maine District 3 champion, faces Canada champion Notre-Dame-de-Grace Little League of Montreal, Quebec. The full schedule for Sunday, as well as the entire series, can be found by clicking “The Schedule” link on the left side of the page. As has been past custom, each of the teams were marched onto the field by the Anah Temple Shrine bagpipe band, with the Maine State Honor Guard presenting the colors. Additionally, the Bangor Band played the national anthems of all five nations (U.S. Canada, Aruba, Italy and the Philippines) involved. Brewer Mayor Joe Ferris, named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1964 College World Series while pitching for the University of Maine, lauded the teams for reaching Bangor. “You have accomplished a lot on your journey here and you should be proud of what you’ve done,” he said. He also urged visitors to take advantage of area attractions. “This is the best time of the year,” Ferris said. “We do not expect any snow.” This is the 10th year that Bangor has hosted the event, bringing together the top 14- to 16-year-old baseball players from around the world, a milestone that was noted a few times during the ceremony, held at Mansfield Stadium, where the 10 teams will compete for the championship this week. Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch was Josh Young, a member of the 2002 Bangor Senior League all-stars who allowed no earned runs during two outstanding pitching performances for the first team to represent District 3 in a Bangor-based World Series. “It’s a record that can be tied, but not equaled,” Tournament Director Mike Brooker said.
Many people have contributed to the tournament’s success, Brooker noted. “I like to think this... Senior League organizing committee puts on the best series possible outside of Williamsport,” he said. “They do it because they have a passion for the game,” Brooker added. “They do it because they have a passion for kids.” Bangor City Council Chair Susan Hawes presented Brooker with a proclamation honoring the series. “We eagerly await the umpire’s call of ‘Play ball.’” Hawes said. Two longtime Mansfield Stadium figures were also remembered during the opening ceremony. Ken Parker, District 3’s longtime umpire in chief, died in September 2010. In addition to his long umpiring service, he also served as a youth baseball coach in his native Lincoln. Bernard “Doc” Mann was a Mansfield Stadium fixture since the stadium opened in 1992, watching games there on his step stool in a spot just behind home plate. Black flags in memory of Parker and Mann have been hoisted along the first-base line. |
A 10- to 15-minute fireworks display capped off the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Senior
League Baseball World Series.
Young was joined by teammates P.J. Dowe, Anthony Derosa, Brian Hackett and Ryan Willette,
as well as manager David Utterback and coach Travis Brooker.