Mike Tanguay prides himself on playing the game the right way. He believes in putting in the hard work to get the job done. Tanguay is the catcher for a young Westbrook Blue Blazes baseball team. He is not just their catcher but a natural leader who takes the initiative and leads by example.

“He’s very smart in the game,” says teammate Shane Kelly. “He’s definitely a leader on this team.”

His leadership skills spill over onto the bench as well. In the Blazes’ final game of the season against South Portland, Tanguay was the loudest voice in the Westbrook dugout. He could be heard yelling encouraging words to lift his teammates as well as barking out instructions when needed.

His coach John Eisenhart says, “he is a high quality kid, he’s the hardest worker on the team.”

The hard work is evident when you watch him work behind the plate. He is always on his toes and always moving. He uses his body to block balls in the dirt and does everything a catcher should do. He handles his pitchers well and throws out potential base stealers with his rocket arm.

But Tanguay knows those skills don’t just happen, they have to be honed.

“I just try to work hard,” he says. “I spent a lot of time at Frozen Ropes this winter to work on quickness with my feet.”

Battery mate Kelly feels more comfortable with his friend behind the plate. “I’ve been throwing to him since I was 10,” he says. “We were on the same team in Little League and Babe Ruth.”

On game day Tanguay is all business. He doesn’t stand still; he is either chatting up a teammate who is at the plate or playing a solid backstop. One way or the other he makes sure his team is doing all they can to win the game.

“He the type of kid a coach dreams about coaching,” says Eisenhart. “He’s a good player but he’s a better kid.”