ORONO – University of Maine men’s basketball coach Ted Woodward announced that he has received National Letters of Intent (NLI) from Junior Bernal and Tyson Hartnett. The duo will join the Black Bears in the fall of 2005 as freshmen.

Bernal is a 6-4 guard from Manhattan, N.Y. He played high school basketball at the Hyde School in Bath, and is currently playing for MCI Prep. In 2003, he led Hyde to the Western Maine Class C Championship game and earned tournament MVP honors.

Hartnett is a 6-5 guard from Medford, N.J. He holds the New Jersey record for consecutive free throws made at 53 and counting. He has been named a Burlington County All-Star and has also been named an Olympic Conference All-Star.

Pirates participate in Good Sport’ Program

PORTLAND – The Portland Pirates, along with the Cumberland County Civic Center and National Distributors, announced Thursday they will implement the “Good Sport” program at Cumberland County Civic Center designed to encourage fans to continue to act responsibly and respect the rights of others while attending Pirates games.

The program will kick off this weekend as the Pirates host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:05 p.m.

Brian Williams, the Pirates president, says Good Sport will help maintain a wholesome, family atmosphere at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The team will have a Designated Driver sign-up booth on Friday and Saturday night games. Under the designated driver program, one person from a group attending the game volunteers to refrain from drinking alcohol and is responsible for providing transportation to the rest of the group.