> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mainebasketballrankings.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Regional Finals Preview w/ Marc Calnan of Eastern Maine Sports - URL: https://www.mainebasketballrankings.com/regional-finals-preview-w-marc-calnan-of-eastern-maine-sports/ - Published: 2026-06-17T03:28:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-17T03:29:13.000Z - Author: Lucas McNelly - Tags: The Maine Basketball Rankings Podcast *Spring tournament season is hitting its peak so I brought in Marc Calnan from Eastern Maine Sports to break down the baseball and softball regional finals — with a distinctly northern Maine lens.* --- **Quick Hits** - Eastern Maine Sports has launched a new podcast: **Open Mic with Eastern Maine Sports** — subscribe wherever you listen - Marc covered a whirlwind Saturday: Corinth (9:30am!), then multiple other sites — including a 13-12, 8-inning Bangor Christian/Katahdin game he called "one of the wildest I've ever seen" - Eastern Maine Sports Card Show: **August 1st at Dexter High School cafeteria** — $1 admission, $30 vendor tables, all proceeds go to the Dexter Athletic Department (lights and eventual turf project). Organized by Colton Coro and his dad. --- **Show Notes** **Softball** The biggest surprises of the semifinals were the exits of Class C #2 Mattanawcook and #3 Washington Academy — both knocked out in the quarterfinals by Houlton and Central respectively. Meanwhile, #1 Bucksport had to survive an absolute barn burner against Winslow just to get through. Marc's pick to watch: **Bucksport** is the clear favorite, with the program's trademark depth and experience — "they don't rebuild, they reload." But he gave Central real credit, noting pitcher Spack has come into her own and the team is hitting well. A tossup, he said — though he wouldn't bet against Bucksport coach Rich. On Cheverus: DeRoche is something else. Marc described watching her pitch and then seeing the other team's pitcher by comparison feeling "like slow pitch softball." She took a pitch to the head in her first at bat, struck out seven straight batters afterward, then homered. Lucas's summary: "It ticked her off." Hampden's win over Oxford Hills was a highlight — 10-8 in 11 innings. They knocked off the team most people had penciled in to represent the North. **Baseball** Washington Academy baseball was Marc's pick as the most dominant team he's seen up north. Their only loss was to Isaac Richie of Mattanawcook — a junior who Marc said could compete with anyone in the state. Unfortunately for Mattanawcook, Richie isn't available for the regional final against Washington, and their #2 pitcher is on crutches. Washington Academy (17-1) should be a heavy favorite. Noble Baseball's run as a 10-seed — beating the 2, and presumably the 3, to reach the regional final — drew some incoming complaints that Lucas had them unranked. His response: the regular season did happen. The Gorham conversation: they're the #1 overall seed in A South, but needed a weather-shortened game to escape one opponent and then survived what looked like a controversial call against Thornton Academy in the semis. A dominant team that has twice barely survived tournament chaos. **The pitch count / rainout rule debate**: when a game is suspended and resumed the next day, pitch counts carry over but innings don't — so a pitcher who hit their limit in a game that gets wiped out loses their availability for no reason. Both Mark and Lucas noted the umpires they've talked to hate this rule too. **Football preview teasers** - Herman football is on Marc's radar — Kyle Gallant doing a good job - Winslow's got a young running back (freshman last year) that Marc thinks makes them a D contender - Dexter is getting lights in July — first night games ever, huge deal for the community - Lucas is determined to get to Fort Kent this winter to see Aiden Jeffers, who he considers a Mr. Basketball frontrunner --- *Open Mic with Eastern Maine Sports is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, iHeart Radio, and wherever else you listen. Recent episodes: Lana Cummings (new Penobscot Valley girls soccer coach), and Anna Lang (pitcher, Husson) coming this Sunday.* *Maine Basketball Rankings is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review, subscribe, and tell your enemies.*