BRUNSWICK – The State of Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., has named four honorees for its Annual Awards Dinner on May 25 at Bowdoin College.

The 2003 Maine High School Football Coach of the Year Award will be presented to Dick Leavitt of Brunswick High School. Leavitt led his team to a 10-2 record this past fall and a spot in the Class A championship game. He has done an extraordinary job of restoring noteworthy service to the game of football throughout his career.

Frank Barclay of Leeds has been selected as the recipient of the Football Official Recognition Award. This award is given to a football official who has had remarkably noteworthy service to the game of football throughout his career.

Others honored included Tom Austin, longtime coach at Colby College and Bridgton Academy. He received the Contribution to Amateur Football Award.

Fairchild named player of week

GORHAM – University of Southern Maine sophomore Tip Fairchild has been named the Little East Conference Player of the Week. This is the USM utility man’s second LEC weekly award. He was named pitcher of the week in April.

Fairchild had five multiple-hit games last week and three multiple-RBI games. He went 2-for-5 in the Huskies’ win over Bates College. The next day he was 2-for-3, including a home run, with two runs scored and three RBIs in a 12-4 victory over St. Joseph’s College. In the Huskies only loss of the week at Wheaton, he was 3-for-4, with two runs scored and a double.

With the stellar week, Fairchild raised his season’s batting average up to .365. He has scored 26 runs, hit 10 doubles, one triple and three homers, and has 21 RBIs. He is 6-0 with two saves on the mound and has a staff-leading 1.49 ERA. He has allowed only 36 hits and eight earned runs in 48.1 innings of work this season.

USM pair earn LEC honors

GORHAM – Sophomore Dianna Thibaudeau and freshman Jillian Kovacevic of the University of Southern Maine women’s outdoor track team have been selected as the Little East Conference Track and Field Athletes of the Week.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Thibaudeau turned in a time of 1:04.23 to place third at the New England Division III Championships held last Saturday at Springfield College. Her time beat the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 1:04.30.

Kovacevic led three USM athletes that placed in the javelin at the New England Division III meet.

She was fourth with a personal-best throw of 38.10 meters.

Spann named rookie of week

GORHAM – Freshman Craig Spann of the University of Southern Maine men’s tennis team has been named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week.

Spann is the second USM player to receive the honors this spring. Classmate Justin Chaffee has received the honor on two previous occasions. In matches against powerhouse Bates College and conference rival, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Spann compiled a 3-1 record.

Against Bates, he combined with senior Boonthai Singcharen for an 8-5 win over the duo of Blake Wayman and Tristan Beach at No. 1 doubles.

In singles play, he dropped a three-set match to Greg Little, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Bates defeated the Huskies 7-0.

Henderson named LEC Co-Player of the Week

GORHAM – Junior right-handed pitcher Melissa Henderson of the University of Southern Maine softball team has been named the co-player of the week by the Little East Conference for her outstanding pitching.

The third-year pitcher was brilliant last week helping the Huskies reach the championship round of the Little East Conference tournament. Henderson made five appearances in the tournament, compiling a 3-2 record with a 1.18 ERA. She worked 41.2 innings, allowing 32 hits and seven walks while striking out 32.

For the season, Henderson has a 15-7 record with a 1.61 ERA. She has pitched 161.1 innings allowing 133 hits and 38 strikeouts while fanning 131.