SANFORD — Aaron Izaryk made a lasting impression on Trevor LaBonte during the right-handed pitchers post-graduate year at Bridgton Academy in 2014.

So much that when Izaryk, the current general manager of the Sanford Mainers, offered LaBonte a spot on the 2019 roster, LaBonte jumped at the opportunity. 

“I couldn’t turn down the chance to play for (Izaryk) again,” LaBonte said. “The way he connected with everyone was something that really stood out.”

LaBonte, a York native who is entering his sophomore season at the University of Maryland, started five games for Sanford this summer. He took home the NECBL Pitcher of the Week award on July 16 after he took a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Upper Valley Nighthawks a week prior.

LaBonte pitched 7 ⅓ scoreless innings and allowed just two hits while striking out seven batters, leading Sanford to a 4-0 win, in what would be his final start of the season. 

The 6-foot-6 right-hander said that as the season went on, and he grew more accustomed to the collegiate level, the less stressed he felt each time he took the mound. Having a more calm approach, he said, helped produce better results.

“I felt like when I was more relaxed on the mound I pitched better,” LaBonte said. “Hopefully, next year as I get into the spring I’ll just be able to relax and just pitch.”

LaBonte said that each moment he spent with his teammates during the summer was memorable, but he pointed to Sanford’s walk-off 10-9 win over the New Bedford Bay Sox on June 28 as a moment he’ll never forget.

“We were down in the ninth, and Reece (Armitage) hit a two-run home run to tie it, then we ended up winning,” LaBonte said. “That game was pretty cool.” 

For Reece and Robbie Armitage, the chance to hone their skills against some of the top players in the country in a city less than an hour away from their hometown was a picture-perfect destination. There was no hesitation from either of them when the opportunity to play in Sanford arose.

“In terms of development, this league is one of the best, so you’re really facing some good competition,” Reece Armitage said. “For me, I feel like I developed a lot because of the kids I played against. Not only that, but I learned a lot from the kids I played with.” 

Reece Armitage said playing with athletes who were at or above his level helped create a competitive culture within the team. Surrounding himself with aspiring baseball players allowed him to “grow and get better” this summer, he said. 

The Armitage brothers grew up in Falmouth, and they are both heading into their sophomore seasons at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. 

The two flashed some power at the plate this season. Reece Armitage, a left-handed hitter who spent time in center and right field, finished with three home runs, which ranked fourth on the team. Robbie Armitage, a right-handed hitting infielder, hit a pair of homer. 

The brothers built a special bond with their Mainer teammates, and they hope to get a chance to take the diamond again with their teammates next summer. A few players have aspirations of getting selected in next year’s MLB draft, and others might have the opportunity to try out for the Cape Cod League. Regardless, this season was a summer Robbie Armitage will remember for a long time.  

“I honestly wish I could spend four years with all of them,” Robbie Armitage said. “I absolutely loved staying in Sanford and getting on the bus with all those guys. It was an unforgettable summer.”

Reece Armitage hopes the relationships he made with his teammates last throughout the years – even if he doesn’t get the opportunity to play with many of his new friends again. 

“I played with some great kids who made this summer so special,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that I won’t really be able to see most of them again, but I made some amazing friends. 

Relief pitcher Matthew Pushard of Brewer made his presence felt in Sanford this summer, too. The junior right-hander from the University of Maine was one of the Mainers’ most reliable options out of the bullpen, appearing in 13 games while striking out 25 batters in 18 ⅔ innings with a 3.37 ERA. He led the team in WHIP (1.18) and was fourth in ERA.

Other Maine natives who spent time with the Mainers the season were pitchers Gavin Bates of Auburn, Gage Feeney of Cutler and Ryan Twitchell of Cumberland.

 

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.