The Beacon Sports Staff

As the fall semester creeps ever so slowly forward (for some that is), and the summer fades over

the horizon like a stoutly hit 7 iron, here’s a chance to highlight some of what the SMCC Athletics

Department has accomplished over the summer.

On the personnel level, Sabrina Best returns to SMCC as the Lady’s Head Softball coach. In a

press release from July 7th Athletic Director Matt Richards writes, “I’m extremely pleased to have Sabrina

take over the softball program. She brings a wealth of experience coaching and understands the passion of

being a member of the Seawolves family.”

The press release further states that Sabrina “has been extensively involved with the athletic

department since graduating from SMCC. She currently serves as the Treasurer for the Seawolves Athletic

Club and she spent three seasons serving on the Lady Seawolves basketball coaching staff. She served as

an assistant coach for two seasons and the interim head coach for one. Best also has strong ties to both the

softball and South Portland communities, serving as the Maine Junior Olympic Commissioner for ASA

Softball and working full time as the Leisure Service Manager for South Portland Recreation.”

If your interest lies in following the action that happens on the soccer pitch, best be noted that the

home games for the Seawolves soccer teams are now scheduled at the Wainwright Recreation Complex

located at 125 Gary L. Maietta Parkway in South Portland.

According to Google Maps, Wainwright Recreation Complex is 4.5 miles and 12 minutes form the

South Portland campus. It is an easy drive for those with vehicles, Broadway to North Richland Street to

Highland. For those of you who bike it, The South Portland Greenbelt Walkway – which starts at Bug Light

– will take you right to the complex.

In a press release from August 21st, Athletic Director Matt Richards stated that, “We are

constantly searching for new ways to enhance the student-athletes’ experience here at SMCC and we felt

the move to Wainwright was the best way to fulfill this need for the soccer teams.”

The move opens up the scheduling for practice and increasing the exposure of the SMCC soccer

teams, as Wainwright has 5 soccer fields, 5 softball fields, 2 baseball diamonds, 3 football fields, 3 frisbee

fields and even a hurling field. For those of you who haven’t heard of hurling, this sports reporter wasn’t

introduced to it until he landed in Ireland. It is an Irish game resembling field hockey, played with a shorter

stick with a broader oval blade, is the national game of Ireland and may date back to the 2nd millennium

BC. Now there’s a sport with some history.

Speaking of a sport with history, the golf links were buzzing this summer as the SMCC Athletics

and Foundation Annual Golf Tournament hosted its annual golf outing at Prouts Neck Country Club in

Scarborough. Students, staff and members of the Athletics Club volunteered, making sure the 104 golfers

that participated had grand morning and not a good walk spoiled.

Highlights from the morning included sharing the 5th and 6th fairways with two bald eagles and

watching the younger golfers drive the ball into the bordering county. SMCC’s Greyson Waterman, who is

on the Seawolves golf and basketball team, won longest drive of the day. Greyson also was one of 132

golfers who qualified for the 96th Annual Maine State Amateur Golf Championship, which was held at the

Waterville Country Club. Waterman joins SMCC alumnus Tommy Stirling as the 2nd SMCC golfer to

participate in the amateur championship.

As you can see, the SMCC Athletics Department and the Seawolves Athletic Club keep the

programs lively and vibrant. See you at the upgraded baseball and softball diamonds, at the Wainwright

Sports Complex, in the new bleachers in the Hub, and of course on the links.