MECHANIC FALLS — Organizing year-round baseball and softball teams is not a money-making endeavor for the civic-minded Rick Cummings and Ashley Farrell.

The pair’s goal is to make those sports affordable to any kid who wants to pick up bat and wear a glove and not turn them away if they don’t have the cash. For Cummings and Farrell, who will never be mistaken as venture capitalists, it is their small-town, positive attitude that makes them tick and be a difference in their community.

Northern Storm Baseball and Softball is thriving thanks to the pair’s efforts and a handful of dedicated volunteers. The softball league was created three years ago and the baseball portion has been up and running for the past two years. Cummings and Farrell work in tandem.

Ashley Farrell, right, and Nick Giguere coach the Northern Storm softball team. From left are: Jordan Labbe of Sabattus, Izzy Whitaker of Sabattus, Olivia Rioux of Minot, Mallory Clark of Jay, Madisyn McLean of Rumford, Taylor Farrell of Minot, Lauren Bolduc of Auburn, Emma Martin of Auburn and Emily Giguere of Wales. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

“Honestly, for what it’s worth, there is a lot of really expensive programs out there for softball,” Farrell said. “We are just from a wicked-small town.”

She pointed out that families who have more than one child could find it difficult to pay for any pricey, year-round sports program.

“Same thing here with baseball last year,” Cummings said. “I wanted to start something for the same exact reasons that Ashley started softball. I wanted to give kids an opportunity for kids to play baseball (and make it) affordable.

“We try not to even charging some kids. If they can’t afford it, we fundraise the heck out of it. We bust our butts fundraising. I needed some guidance when (starting the team). I couldn’t have found anybody better than Ashley. We talk every day.”

Farrell said they are both passionate about coaching and providing opportunities for children — and their dedication explains why the two coaches make a solid duo.

“I am really strong on softball; he’s really big on baseball,” Farrell said. “He kind of just does his thing and I do my thing, and we kind of coordinate together.” 

The teams use fields in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland for the games.

“Anybody that wants to come — you to want to make the trip here — we are here for you,” Cummings said. 

Desnond Martel of the Northern Storm baseball team bats during practice Monday in Mechanic Falls. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

“I am a year-round program,” Farrell said. “So we play our tournaments in the spring and summer. We actually do winter workouts. We rent Ingersoll Arena in Auburn and we work once a week year-round.”

“Same here,” Cummings chimed in. “We start in December, January. We train all winter through March. Our season runs the end of March through June, and we offer a fall program, which is what you see here. So we are playing baseball year-round.”

BEND AND STRETCH

Cummings said their baseball and softball programs offer flexibility for athletes who are also playing school sports.

“A lot of baseball and softball organizations want you to commit all your time to what they are doing and they don’t give you any flexibility to do anything else,” he explained. “I know from the baseball side, we kind of try to work with families to play soccer, play football, play basketball and still play for the Storm. They are 18 before you know it.”

Farrell said that what sets the Northern Storm apart from other sports organizations is: “We are willing to take kids on that might not be the best-ever and can’t afford every opportunity … and take on the challenge of turning a kid into an all-star because we are that small-town program.”

Farrell’s softball league consists of close to 60 athletes who play at three age levels.

“This is just the second year of baseball and we are going to have three programs,” Cummings said.

But it is those helping hands from volunteers who keep the Northern Storm at full strength — along with some sponsors.

“Everyone is a volunteer. Nobody is paid here,” Cummings said. “Every dime we bring in, we put out. We spend everything we’ve got on these kids. We are a big family here.”

“It takes every nickel and dime we can come up with,” Farrell added.

Farrell said some organizations charge over $1,500, and that doesn’t include their uniform packet.

To play for the Northern Storm’s softball or baseball team, it costs $450 to cover registrations, insurance and gear.

“We’ve upgraded with jerseys … to make them look like the other teams,” Farrell said. “That’s a lot of the difference between us, too, is that we just don’t profit on it. (Rick) works full-time; I work full-time. We just juggle our time.”

Baseball coach Rick Cummings, left, Lauren Bolduc, Ricky Cummings, Noah Coleman, Taylor Farrell and softball coach Ashley Farrell stand on Jerry Coleman Field in Mechanic Falls. The field is named after Noah Coleman’s grandfather. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

RINGING TESTIMONIALS

Emma Martin is the quintessential utility player for the Northern Storm softball team.

“I play wherever (Farrell) needs me to play,” Martin, 15, said. “I think it is a very challenging league and I think it is something everybody should be able to do. I think (the Northern Storm) is more of a family thing — like you still get to play with your friends. You still get to get better at softball, but it is all about building a family and team.”

Pitcher Emily Giguere, 14, has been with the Northern Storm for the past three years. 

“It is like everybody acts like family and you are welcomed on their team,” Giguere said. 

Taylor Farrell is a well-rounded second baseman who also has experience in a variety of other positions on the diamond.

“I like being here because it is like everybody is family, and I love playing and I love being together,” she said.

Lauren Bolduc, 12, who also rotates at a variety of positions for the Northern Storm, said the team has improved her game. “Just playing with the older girls is more challenging and having better expectations and standards,” she added.

Infielder Curtis Chamberlain said baseball is his favorite sport for two reasons — “You can hit balls and you can throw them.”

Infielder/pitcher Brody Stanley, 10, of Durham, is now playing in his second year for the Northern Storm.

“I like it a lot. Other sports, you don’t do much,” Stanley said. “In baseball, You can hit, field and catch. That’s what I like about it. It is competitive and stuff. I am really competitive.”

Stanley said he has shown improvement in the sport since joining the Northern Storm.

“At first, I was not a very good pitcher,” he said. “I could hit, but I wasn’t very accurate (as a pitcher). I came (here) and started pitching and I’ve been pretty accurate.”

Rob Chamberlain, a volunteer and father of young Curtis, said it is prudent that the teams rotate players at all the positions.

“(It is) giving (players) abilities to play multiple positions instead of sticking in that one spot,” Rob Chamberlain said. “Most of (the programs) like to keep (players) at one position and get them as good as possible. It makes them good, but if they move (players) to another team they are going to have to learn all over again.”

Rob Chamberlain not only enjoys coaching, but the camaraderie of other parents and players is a pleasure.

“It is about friendship. It is about the growth of my son,” Chamberlain said. “He may not play Major League Baseball, but right now as a parent, you want your kids to grow up right, learn good principles and play a good game of sports.”

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