Sun Journal sports writer/columnist Kalle Oakes received two awards Tuesday from the 2007 Associated Press Sports Editors writing contest.

Oakes, who began his career with the Sun Journal while a student at Monmouth Academy more than 20 years ago, was named the third best sports columnist in the country for newspapers with a circulation of less than 40,000.

Topics for his winning entry included the Maineiacs, high school football and basketball, and the death of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Mark Edwards of the Decatur Daily in Alabama took first place in the column category and Anthony Gimino of the Tuscon Citizen in Arizona placed second.

Oakes also received a fourth-place APSE award in the explanatory story category for his in-depth look at the debate on the use of metal and wood bats, published last June.

Oakes is the only sports writer in Maine to receive a 2007 APSE award.

Last month, the APSE named the Sun Journal sports section as one of the top 10 in the country for both daily and Sunday sections in the under-40,000 circulation category.