Aaron Jackson

Aaron Jackson

Sports Director/Reporter
[email protected]

Aaron began his career at WVII in March of 2008. He attended Old Town High School, where he graduated in 2004. From there he moved on to the New England School of Communications, majoring in Sports Broadcasting and Journalism. Originally a sports radio major, Aaron co-hosted a weekly sports radio show on WHSN called This Week in Sports while also doing play by play and color commentary of Husson Eagle sporting events. He also spent a semester as the stations sports director. After his sophomore year he realized he had run out of radio classes to take, so he began taking TV courses while also working at Stephen King’s sports station WZON. Aaron graduated from NESCom in May of 2008 with a degree in communications, and was named the top broadcast journalist of his class. Since joining ABC-7 and Fox Bangor he has won multiple Maine Association of Broadcasting Awards.

In his free time Aaron likes, surprise, to watch sports and play sports. From mountain climbing to basketball, there are very few sports Aaron doesn’t enjoy. He also likes traveling when he gets the chance, and is happy he has been able to pursue his passion for sports while staying close to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @AaronRJackson, and you can catch him weeknights at 6, 10 and 11 on ABC-7 and Fox Bangor. He can also be reached via email at [email protected].

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Maine Baseball Wins First America East Tourney Game

Maine Baseball Wins First America East Tourney Game

LOWELL, Mass. -- The University of Maine baseball team (35-20) used a 14-hit performance, coupled with a complete-game shutout victory by Tommy Lawrence (West Haven, Conn.), to defeat Stony Brook 7-0 in the opening round of the America East Championships at LeLacheur Park on Wednesday evening. Eric White (Brewer, Maine) powered the offense with a three-run home run as five other Black Bear batters added a pair of hits.

Lawrence won his 10th game of the year, tying the school record for victories in a season. 

Maine jumped on Stony Brook starter Frankie Vanderka early as the Black Bears batted around in the bottom of the first, plating four runs to take an early 4-0 lead. Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) started the rally with a one out single to center. Black moved into scoring position after stealing second before moving up to third on a single into center from Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.). Fransoso was able to move up to second on the play before Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) lined a single into left, scoring Black and moving Fransoso to third. MaineÕs bats stayed alive as White floated a single into center, bringing Fransoso in from third and giving Maine runners on first and second with one out. Brian Doran (Ayr, Ontario) grounded out to second, allowing Calbick and White to advance to second and third. Scott HeathÕs (Westbrook, Maine) sharp single up the middle was knocked down but rolled into center, allowing Calbick and White to score.

White padded the Black Bear lead in the bottom of the fifth as he belted a three-run home run over the left field wall. Black againstarted the rally for Maine with a sharp single into right and advanced to second on a walk from Calbick. White then stepped in and blasted a home run off the scoreboard in left field, giving Maine a 7-0 advantage.

Lawrence and the Maine defense continued to shut down the Seawolves offense as the junior righthander moved to 10-3 on the year with the complete-game shutout victory. He surrendered just two hits. Lawrence, the first to toss a complete-game shutout in America East Championship play since May 27, 2010, added six strikeouts in the win.

Maine advances to the winning bracket of the 2013 America East Championships as it will Binghamton on Thursday, May 23 at 8 PM from LeLacheur Park. 

Maine Baseball Takes Major America East Awards

Maine Baseball Takes Major America East Awards

ORONO, Maine-- After winning the 2013 America East regular season title, the University of Maine baseball team picked up three of the major post-season honors on Tuesday evening. Senior Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) was named America East Player of the Year, while junior hurler Tommy Lawrence (West Haven, Conn.) was a unanimous selection for Pitcher of the Year. Head coach Steve Trimper earned Coach of the Year honors. In addition, junior Mike Connolly (Bridgewater, Mass.) became the first player in conference history to be selected to All-Conference teams at two different positions. 

Lawrence, Fransoso, Connolly (at catcher) and Eric White (Brewer, Maine) all earned a spot on the America East First Team. Connolly (at pitcher), Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario), Brian Doran (Ayr, Ontario) and Sam Balzano (Portland, Maine) were all named to the America East Second Team. In addition, Colin Gay (Franklin, Mass.) earned a spot on the All-Academic Team. 

Fransoso was named Player of the Year after earning a spot on the All-Rookie team as a freshman, the America East Second Team and All-Tournament Team as a sophomore and then the America East First Team last season. Fransoso became the fourth player in Maine history to earn the honor, joining Mark Sweeney (1991), Chad White (1993), Curt Smith (2008). Fransoso, a unanimous selection at shortstop, hit .356 on the season with 41 runs scored and 45 RBI. He has 16 doubles, a pair of triples and three home runs. He has stolen 19 bases on the season and earned America East Player of the Week honors on Feb. 25.  Fransoso is Maine's all-time leader in stolen bases with 73. He ranks second in runs scored (200) and doubles (64) and tied for fifth in hits (263). 

Lawrence becomes the sixth Black Bear to earn America East Pitcher of the Year honors, joining Larry Thomas (1991), Mark Ballard (1993), Garrett Quinn (1997), Rusty Tucker (2001) and Mike MacDonald (2002). Lawrence is 9-3 on the season, including posting an 8-1 mark in America East Conference play. His eight wins set an America East record for league wins. He posted a 2.59 earned run average and struck out 67 batters on the season. He earned America East Pitcher of the Week honors four times. He is one win shy of tying the school record for wins in a season of 10.

Trimper led the Black Bears to a mark of 34-20 and the America East regular season title. The 34 wins are one shy of tying his single season high of 35 victories set in 2006 in his first season at Maine. In addition, Trimper won his 400th career game when Maine beat Stony Brook earlier this season. The Black Bears won nine of the 10 America East weekend series this season. 

Connolly earned a spot on the America East First Team as a catcher. He hit .311 with 21 runs scored and 14 RBI. He has six doubles and a home run. Connolly, who was named to the America East All-Tournament Team a year ago, threw out 25 of the 49 base runners trying to steal against the Black Bears. In addition, he earned a spot on the America East Second Team as a pitcher. He finished 5-3 with a team-best and America East best 2.04 ERA. He struck out 41 batters in 61.2 innings. Opponents hit just .202 against Connolly on the season. In a game against Binghamton on April 7, Connolly caught the first 14 innings of a doubleheader, before pitching the final two innings in relief. He is one of 11 players in contention for the Olerud Award, given to the best two-way player in college baseball. 

White earned a spot on the America East First Team at third base as a unanimous selection. He was named America East Player of the Week a league high three times this season. White hit .329 for the Black Bears with 35 runs scored and 31 RBI. He had eight doubles and led the team in home runs with five. 

Black was named to the America East Second Team for the second time in his career after earning the honor as a freshman. He led Maine with a .368 batting average with 28 runs scored and 23 RBI. He had five doubles on the season to go along with a triple and a home run. Black, the reigning America East Player of the Week, stole 12 bases on the season for the Black Bears.

Balzano, an outfielder, hit .311 for the Black Bears with 40 runs scored and 21 RBI. He had four double and led the team in stolen bases with 21. His 21 steals led America East and his 40 runs scored were second in the conference to teammate and player of the year Fransoso. He drew a team-high 25 walks and committed just one error on the season. 

Doran, an outfielder, played in 50 games his sophomore season and hit .321 with 31 runs scored and 22 RBI. He belted 10 doubles on the season to go along with a triple and a home run. Earlier this season, he reached base in 24 straight games, a streak 10 games longer than anyone else. 

Gay earned a spot on the America East All-Academic team for the Black Bears.

A mass communication major, he played in 53 of the 54 games for the Black Bears and hit .272 with 37 runs scored and 25 RBI. He stole 18 bases on the season. 

Maine opens the 2013 America East Tournament when it plays Stony Brook on Wednesday, May 22 at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass. The tournament continues on Thursday and Friday. Links to audio, video and live stats can be found on www.goblackbears.com

VIA GoBlackBears.com

UMaine's Black Named America East Player of the Week

ORONO, Maine -- University of Maine second baseman Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) has been named this week's America East Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday morning.

Black batted .692 (9-for-13) in three games for the Black Bears with three runs scored, five RBI and five stolen bases. Black slugged .923 to go along with a .733 on-base percentage in Maine's weekend series with UMBC.

In game one, Black went a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while also stealing a pair of bases. In game two against UMBC, the second baseman went 3-for-5, with a double and a triple, while scoring two runs and driving in four. Black swiped two more bases in game two before going 3-for-5 in the finale with the Retrievers. In the finale, Black scored a run and stole his fifth base of the weekend.

The Black Bears will now travel to Lowell, Mass. as the number one seed in the America East Championships. Maine will face the number four seeded Stony Brook Seawolves on Wednesday at 4 PM from LeLacheur Park. 

VIA GoBlackBears.com

Owens Released by Jaguars

Owens Released by Jaguars
Jacksonville - Two time pro bowler and former Maine Black Bear Montell Owens was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars today.
The running back made a name for himself on special teams over the course of seven years in the league.
He was the third longest tenured Jaguar before the move.

Foxcroft Academy Ponies Looking to Finish the Job in 2013

Foxcroft Academy Ponies Looking to Finish the Job in 2013
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Led by their pitching staff, the Foxcroft Academy Ponies are well on their way to the post-season. Currently the only undefeated squad in Class B as of mid-May, our Brittany Devane caught up with the team to talk about their accomplishments so far, and their expectations for the remainder of the year.

Living With Concussions Part 2

Concussion. It's become one of the most feared words in the sports world, and the effects can be devastating.
In a two part series, we talk with Zach Cayer, an athlete at Lawrence high school whose career was cut short because of the traumatic injury. During the pieces, we discuss the trials he faced initially, as well as how he was able to overcome the odds and play football again after doctors told him it wouldn't happen.

Living With Concussions Part 1

Concussion. It's become one of the most feared words in the sports world, and the effects can be devastating.
In a two part series, we talk with Zach Cayer, an athlete at Lawrence high school whose career was cut short because of the traumatic injury. During the pieces, we discuss the trials he faced initially, as well as how he was able to overcome the odds and play football again after doctors told him it wouldn't happen.

Black Bears Name 2013 Hall of Fame Class

Black Bears Name 2013 Hall of Fame Class

ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine announced today that it has selected six former student-athletes for induction into the 2013 University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Former men’s basketball standout Francois Bouchard (1994), hockey star Jack Capuano (1989), track and field record holder Gerard LaFlamme, swimming standout Susan Herrick Lizzotte (1999), football player Carleton “Speed” Merritt (1924) and baseball All-American Chad White (1993) are the newest selections.

Bouchard was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s basketball team. He was one of two players in Maine history to earn Rookie of the Year honors in 1990-91 and also earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Bouchard was a North Atlantic Conference Second Team selection in 1993-94 and also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team that same season. After finishing second on the team in scoring in 1990-91, he went on to lead the team in points the next three seasons. He ranks fifth on Maine’s all-time scoring list with 1,541 career points. He led the team in rebounding in each of his four season and ranks fifth on Maine’s all-time rebounding list with 792. Following graduation, Bouchard played professionally in France. 

Capuano was captain of the 1987-88 men’s ice hockey team. He scored 32 goals and added 89 assists for 121 points in 124 career games as a defenseman. His 121 career points rank third all-time among Maine defensemen. In 1987-88, he was named a first team All-American. He was a First Team Hockey East selection in 1987-88 and also earned a spot on the All-New England team and the Hockey East All-Tournament Team. He holds Maine records for career goals by a defenseman (32) and single season goals by a defenseman (13). He played three years in the National Hockey League for Toronto, Vancouver and Boston. He is currently the head coach of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. 

LaFlamme was a multi-time captain and record-setter in track and field and cross country during the mid 1970’s. For indoor track and field,  LaFlamme was the individual Maine State Champion in the mile and the two mile during the 1973-74 season. In 1974-75, LaFlamme was the Maine State Champion in the mile, setting a meet record. He was also a member of the two mile relay team that won the Maine State Championship. LaFlamme was the Maine State Champion in the mile and three mile runs for both the 1974 and 1976 seasons. In 1976, he won the Alan Hillman Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding track athlete in the state at the MIAA meet. He held the University of Maine record in the mile until 2010 and still holds the University of Maine record in the two mile. A two year cross country captain, he was the Maine State Champion in 1973 and 1974. He finished in the top-10 in the Yankee Conference in both 1974 and 1975 and placed 11th in the IC4A Championships in 1974. Since graduating from the University of Maine, he has been a generous supporter of Maine athletics. 

Herrick Lizzotte was a two-year captain of the women’s swimming team. She was the America East champion in 1995-96 in the 200 butterfly, the 200 individual medley and the 400 individual medley, setting a meet record with a time of 4:31:97. In 1996-97, she was the America East champion in the 200 butterfly. She was named Most Valuable Swimmer at Maine from 1996-1999. She previously held Maine records in the 200 butterfly and the 400 individual medley. She is currently the head men’s and women’s swimming coach at the University of Maine, after serving as an assistant coach from 2000-2010. 

Merritt was an All-Maine quarterback and regarded as one of the “All-Time State Series Greatest Players.” In the 1932 Spaulding College Football record book, he is listed as having the longest pass and run play at 68 yards. He was UMaine’s first professional  football player in 1924. He was a three-sport coach at Cranston High School in Rhode Island. Merritt won 10 State Championships as a high school coach. He was a top New England collegiate basketball official from the 1940’s through the 1950’s. He also officiated major college football games. Merritt was a past president of the “M-Club” and received the Black Bear Award from the Alumni Association. He is a UMaine Black Bear Hall of Fame - lifetime member and a member of the Providence, R.I. Gridiron Hall of Fame. He founded the Marion Farrington Merritt Fund that provides scholarships for UMaine student-athletes. 

White was captain of Maine’s 1993 baseball team and went on to earn North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors in that season. He was named a Second Team All-American, named to the NAC All-Conference Team and also named to the NAC All-Tournament Team in 1993. He was a 1992 NAC Second Team selection and earned a spot on the 1991 NCAA All-Regional Team. During the 1992 season, he led Maine in home runs and RBI. White was drafted by the Houston Astros in 1993. 

The six will be inducted on Friday, September 13, 2013. There will be a reception in the Hall of Fame lobby in the Memorial Gym beginning at 6 PM. Dinner will follow at Wells Conference Center at 7 PM followed by the induction. The honorees will be recognized at halftime of the Maine football game against Bryant the following day. 

 

VIA GOBLACKBEARS.COM

White Named America East Player of the Week For 3rd Time

White Named America East Player of the Week For 3rd Time

ORONO, Maine -- Baseball third baseman Eric White (Brewer, Maine) was named the America East Player of the Week on Monday, May 13. He led the Black Bears to a pair of wins and the 2013 America East Regular Season Title over the weekend. It is the third time this season the White has garnered America East Player of the Week honors. 

White hit .538 on the week with seven hits in 13 at-bats. He scored two runs and drove in four. He had two doubles on the week and hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season. White finished the weekend with a .923 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage. He was 2-for-2 in stolen bases and finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. 

White went 3-for-5 in Maine's lone game on Saturday afternoon. In the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, White went 4-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. He hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season in the second inning on Sunday. He had a RBI single in the top of the third inning. He doubled to right field in the top of the fifth inning and had a two-run double in Maine's eight-run 10th inning.

White and the Black Bears play a pair of non-conference games when they travel to Boston College on Tuesday, May 14 and then host Holy Cross in Sanford, Maine on Wednesday, May 15. The game against the Crusaders starts at 6 PM at Goodall Park. Maine closes out the 2013 regular season when it hosts UMBC for a three-game series on May 17 and 18. They two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 4 PM and a single game on Saturday at 1 PM.


VIA goblackbears.com

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