SCARBOROUGH- Libby-Mitchell Post 76, based in Scarborough, has marked its first 10 years of resuming the name Libby-Mitchell Post 76 on its uniform fronts by naming its “Players of the Decade” team.
Libby-Mitchell has drawn from different high schools through the past 10 years. Scarborough kids and Cape Elizabeth kids now team up to make up the LM 76er teams. In 2000, the team makeup was Gorham and Scarborough. Bonny Eagle joined the mix for three years in the middle of the last decade. Windham players joined Libby Mitchell for two years at the same time.
“People love to talk baseball, and they love to pick all-time player teams–comparing play today to play 10 years ago or more,” General Manager Dan Warren said.
The starting nine is as follows: Matt Curran (left field), Dustin Spiller (center field), Joe Davis (right field), Andrew Portwine (third base), Brian Schools (shortstop), Joe Cronin (second base), Jacob Rutt (first base), Eric Tanguay (catcher), Ryan Mater (right-handed pitcher), Jon Virgilio (left-handed pitcher), and Ryan Mancini (relief pitcher).
Warren said the Post members also used “anecdotes and personal stories” to choose the all-time coaching staff, and utility infielders, outfielders, and designated hitters. There were also some honorable mention players, as well.
The remaining members of the team are: Steve Sott (outfielder), Jim Rouse (infielder), Lincoln Sanborn and Chris Bernard (DH), Head Coach Will Sanborn, Assistant Coach Rick Libby, and Bench Coach Jim Cronin.
Honorable Mention: Conor McCan (catcher), Andy Jenkins (pitcher), Joe Loscuito (outfielder) and Kevin Chamberlain (pitcher).
Warren cautioned against any one getting upset at being left off the team—or having been placed on the team in the “wrong” position.
“We have always had legion members go to games and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. They stay and watch the games. If a player has a good game, that will stick in that member’s memory for a long time,” he said. “It will also fix in that members’ mind whether the player is a hitter or pitcher or infielder, etc.
“One good example is Lincoln Sanborn. He had two triples one game when he was a sophomore or junior. Gene Gutter threw out the first pitch that game, and remembered Sanborn’s triples very well. He also was insistent that Lincoln was a hitter, and not a pitcher. This was despite Lincoln winning some awards in high school as a great pitcher.”
“This was a lot of fun,” Warren said. “We will probably update the team in a few years.”
Each member of the team is being notified of the selection, and shown a copy of the team 2012 booklet, which features the Players of the Decade choices.
For information on the Player of the Decade team, or Libby-Mitchell Legion baseball, contact Warren at 883 4167 or jonesandwarren@gmail.com.
Chris Bernard throws a pitch for the Libby-Mitchell American Legion team in 2009. Bernard was named to the all-decade team by post members. Send questions/comments to the editors.
