Greely Rangers Spring Athletes of the Year

MALE

BAILEY TRAIN, Junior-Baseball

WMC All-Conference, first-team, pitcher
Underclass all-star

The engine that powered the Rangers to another superb season, Train did the job with his bat and his dominant right arm.

Train came to the sport naturally as his father pitched at Bowdoin. He started playing at a young age and while also taking part in golf and basketball at Greely, he’s stood out on the diamond.

Train, a first-team conference all-star as a sophomore, after going 4-1 on the mound and hitting .400 with 17 RBI, improved on all of those statistics in 2013.

Train set the tone in the opener, a 10-0 win over Fryeburg, throwing a one-hit shutout, while rapping three hits, including a home run, and driving in three runs. His next time out, Train two-hit Poland in a 9-0 shutout. He also doubled, scored a run and had an RBI. Train threw another two-hitter at Wells, allowing one run (he also struck out seven) and hit a home run in a 9-1 triumph, had an RBI to help defeat defending state champion Falmouth, threw 5.2 shutout innings with two hits allowed and eight strikeouts, while delivering a pair of hits in a shutout win over York, crushed an extra inning game-winning home run at Yarmouth, threw a three-hit shutout with eight Ks and drove in the winning run in a 1-0 home triumph over Yarmouth, blasted a two-run double against Waynflete, a three-run dinger versus Wells and hit a two-run homer and earned the save in a 2-1 in at York.

In a quarterfinal round playoff victory over Fryeburg, Train had two hits and an RBI. He and his teammates were ultimately bested by eventual champion York in the semifinals.

For the season, Train went 5-2 with a 1.23 ERA and four shutouts. At the plate, Train, who played the outfield or served as the designated hitter when not pitching, batted .440 with 20 runs, 25 hits and 25 RBI. That included five doubles, five home runs and a pair of triples, power numbers that dwarfed some teams.

Train is playing baseball in Massachusetts and Florida this summer, enjoys lobstering in his down time and hopes to play in college. He figures to have many suitors.

First, he’ll likely put up some gaudy numbers as a senior. Bailey Train, Greely’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, not only had a lot of highlights this season, he came up big when it mattered most. Time and again.

Coach Derek Soule’s comment: “I thought Bailey was the difference in a lot of our big games. He did it with the bat and his arm. He had a really strong season. He’s very upbeat and positive. He’s got a good sense of humor. He seems to really enjoy competing and being on the diamond. He’s a competitor, but he keeps things even keeled. He really wants to play at the next level and is getting looked at by some big schools.”

Previous winners:

2012: Jonah Normandeau (baseball)

2011: Mike Leeman (baseball)

2010: Mark McCauley (track)

2009: Sam Stauber (baseball)

2008: Eric Thompson (lacrosse)

2007: Caleb Jordan (baseball)

2006: Sam Green (baseball)

2005: Chris Martin (baseball)

2004: Ben True (track)

2003: Ryan Copp (baseball)

2002: Brent Lemieux (baseball)

FEMALE

DANIELLE CIMINO, Senior-Softball

WMC All-Conference, first-team
Senior All-Star
Maine vs. New Hampshire All-Star
Captain

Cimino believed her team was worthy of playing for a state championship and she backed it up, leading her younger teammates to that level, capping her high school career with strong performance after strong performance.

Cimino grew up in Cumberland, started pitching in the fourth grade and made the varsity team as a freshman, playing the outfield. She took over on the hill as a sophomore and quickly emerged as one of the best in the conference, helping Greely make it to the regional final her junior campaign, for which she was named a first-team all-star.

This spring was even better, as Cimino excelled with the bat, as well as her powerful right arm.

Highlights included a four-hit shutout of Gray-New Gloucester (Cimino drove in one of Greely’s two runs), nine strikeouts in a three-hitter versus Poland, a no-hitter against Sacopee, a six strikeout performance in a narrow win over Wells, four hits, three runs scored and a pair of RBI versus Falmouth, two home runs and 11 strikeouts in a lopsided victory over Freeport, another home run and 11 more Ks versus York, 10 strikeouts against Lake Region and a two-hitter versus Yarmouth.

Then came the postseason.

In the quarterfinals, Cimino beat Yarmouth for the third time, allowing six hits, as she also helped the offense with a pair of hits. Then, Greely went to nemesis Fryeburg and finally vanquished the Raiders, 2-1, as Cimino allowed just one run on five hits, fanning nine. The Rangers then beat Gray-New Gloucester, 2-1, winning their first regional crown in 11 seasons, as Cimino allowed just one run on five hits, getting stronger with each passing inning. A fairy tale ending wasn’t to be, as Greely couldn’t hold a late lead and lost, 8-1, to Oceanside in the state final. Cimino allowed just one hit in five innings, but everything fell apart late.

“We didn’t enjoy losing last year and we wanted to get back and win this year,” said Cimino. “Our freshmen were spitfires.”

For the season Cimino threw 138 innings, had an ERA of 2.33, fanned 169 batters and walked just 45, holding the opposition to a .169 average. At the plate, she hit .403.

Cimino, who also played three seasons for Greely’s nonpareil volleyball team, is competing in ASA softball this summer and will attend and compete for Wheaton (Mass.) College next year.

She certainly produced a memorable final act. Danielle Cimino, Greely’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, willed her team deep into June as her arm and bat were close to unstoppable.

Coach Jess Gomez’s comment: “Danielle has been an absolute pleasure to coach and to watch develop as a player. She takes complete control of the game. She’s a tremendous leader and captain with so much talent. She’s been successful because she’s so dedicated to her team and the sport. She’s always working to be a better athlete, pitcher and hitter and she does so by example. The girls look up to her and follow her lead. Her dedication, drive and talent will carry her to the next level. She’ll be greatly missed in the Greely program and will never be replaced.”