Afthim brothers cherish time spent playing together on same team again

By Andrew Wing

Less than 10 percent of all high school athletes go on to play a sport in college. From the workouts and time management to coping with the pressure to succeed, the demands of these athletes are tremendous but the Afthim brothers from Windham are taking it all in stride.

Brady Afthim, left, and 
his brother, Bryce Afthim,
represented the North
division in the 2022
NECBL All-Star Game
on Sunday, July 24 at
Martha's Vineyard in
Massachusetts. 
PHOTO BY PHIL AFTHIM

Bryce and Brady Afthim are the sons of Phil and Shelly Afthim, and the family has called Windham home for the past 15 years. Both Bryce and​​ Brady graduated from Windham High School where they both played varsity baseball all four years.

Bryce, 21, is about to begin his senior year at the University of Southern Maine where he has a major in Business Analytics. He was recruited by a number of NCAA Division III programs, but he chose to continue his baseball career at USM under coach Ed Flaherty.

In his three years at USM, Bryce has been at the top of the rotation and some of the awards he’s garnered include being named to the NEIBA All-New England team, and this past season he was named a Second Team LEC Starting Pitcher.

Brady, 19, just completed his first year at the University of Connecticut where he appeared in 22 games out of the bullpen for the Huskies. He was the first baseball player from Maine to be recruited by UConn and coach Jim Penders, and he certainly showed why during his senior season at Windham High, which saw him garner awards such as Maine Gatorade Player of the Year and also the prestigious Winkin Award.

Although the two brothers haven’t shared the field since 2019, this summer they’ve had the chance to be back on the diamond together in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. They both played in the league last year on different teams, but this year they’ve been playing for the Sanford Mainers where they’ve both had incredibly successful seasons.

And while the two have been playing together their whole lives, both of them know at this stage in their baseball careers just how special it is to be back on the same team.

“It’s very special, it isn’t seen very often, and our teammates have enjoyed it just as much as us because of how rare it is,” said Bryce. “This summer’s been even more enjoyable because of how dominant we’ve been and it’s nice watching both of us succeed against high-level competition.”

“I think I got used to it growing up and I think it’s just something I took for granted at the time,” said Brady. “When he graduated high school, I thought that would be the last time we were teammates, so it’s cool to be able to play with him now not only on the same team but playing the same position too.”

There’s no denying that to be a successful athlete you must be extremely competitive and there’s also no denying that siblings can be highly competitive with one another, and that’s just the case for Bryce and Brady.

“I’d say growing up we were competing against each other in almost anything and everything,” said

Bryce. “But since we’ve both gone to college, it’s turning into more of a desire to watch the other succeed against other competition, rather than against each other.”

“We are both competitive, but the competitor in me thinks that I’m more competitive than he is,” said Brady. “I like to give him a hard time because my stats are a little bit better than his are this summer.”

Despite the two being highly competitive with one another, they are still both proud of the other’s success.

“I am very proud of Brady’s success,” said Bryce. “He set goals for himself in high school that a select few knew of and he worked harder than most to get there.”

His brother echoed that sentiment.

“I am proud of the progress he has made and his willingness to compete and battle on the mound,” said 

Brady. “I’m always going to push him and keep the compliments to a minimum, but if we had a must-win game tomorrow and I was the coach, he’d be starting that game.”

As of right now, the brothers are still in the midst of their season with the Sanford Mainers, and after that, they will turn their focus to their college teams, but both brothers definitely hope to be playing long after college.

“My main goal this past year was to get into better shape and I did that by losing 35 pounds, so my main goal for this upcoming year is to build more muscle and get my velocity higher,” said Bryce. “If I can do that, I might be able to keep playing after college which is my current long-term goal.”

Brady has a goal too.

“I try to stay in the present and not look too far into the future,” said Brady. “For now, though, I just want to keep getting better, have success at UConn, and hopefully be fortunate enough to make this game a job one day.” <

Windham native Cody Dube drafted by Baltimore Orioles - By David Field

Windham High School 2012 graduate Cody Dube was drafted #301 by Baltimore Orioles last week. Dube just graduated from Keene State College (D3) with a Bachelor’s of Science in safety and occupational health with a 3.28 GPA. 
 

For Keene, Dube earned several awards: Little East Conference First Team, Little East Pitcher of the Year, All Region First Team for New England, All American Third Team, Strength and Conditioning All American, New England Senior All Star. During his senior year he had an ERA of 1.2, with a career at Keene of 2.68.

Dube has always wanted to play professional baseball. He has wanted to go to the next level after stepping up. In 2015, Dube played for Sanford Mainers which is part of the NECBL. In the first month of the season, Dube was seen by several scouts. His success earned him a spot on the NECBL All-Star team and the pro scouts also saw his performance there. 

Dube received an email from Atlanta Braves and did a workout/showcase in the fall of 2015. He then started getting emails from other teams and was asked to complete questionnaires. In total, Dube heard from 25 teams. Although he was excited, Dube took things one step at a time and that meant finishing college at Keene State.

In the last few weeks, Dube received several calls from scouts inquiring about his interest in the Major League draft. He also did three workouts before the draft for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. 

The Orioles first saw Cody play in his first game for Keene State in March while the team was in Florida.

Cody left for Maryland this past Monday. He will be subjected to a team physical exam and then expects to be playing for the Single A Aberdeen Ironbirds. Cody’s opportunity to hit the big fields will occur during spring training 2017. 

Some other interesting facts about Cody Dube:

Best baseball memory: Senior year of high school a 12-4 loss to Scarborough in semi-finals and a great group of kids to play with.

Piece of advice to kids that want to play pro: Work hard and take each step one at a time. Never take anything for granted. Keep the goals small and achievable and success will come.

Growing up favorite professional baseball team? Red Sox. He may have to change his alliances later on, but feels that you don’t lose who your favorite childhood team was.

Cody’s parents, Randy and Andrea are obviously excited and taking a page from Cody’s book, taking each day one at a time. 

“It’s been a whirlwind since last week,” said Randy.

Barry Jordan takes his love of little league to the top - By Michelle Libby

When Barry Jordan posed for a picture for the 1967 Windham Little League team, he didn’t realize that he was starting something that would keep him involved with baseball long into the future. The first baseman, catcher and pitcher, hasn’t played for 30 plus years, but now he has been elected to serve as the New England Regional Commissioner and a member of the International Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc. 

Baseball has been part of many boys’ lives over the years. Jordan has an impressive resume when it comes to the league. 

Jordan has umpired four World Series for teams in the Cal Ripkin Babe Ruth league and has been umpire chief for two 13-year-old series, he said. He will be the tournament director for 16-year-old softball World Series at the end of July in Florida. He has also been the press box coordinator for softball tournaments, which includes working with the media, coordinating schedules, stats, trophies and coordinating the choosing of player of the tournament. When the details are for a 15-team tournament, it takes skill to be in charge and Jordan has it. 

In 1999, Jordan was named the State Commissioner of Maine for the Cal Ripkin Division for 5-to 12-year-olds. In 2005, he added on becoming the State Commissioner for all of softball and in 2010 he pulled a hat trick and became the assistant regional commissioner for Babe Ruth softball for all ages. He did all of these jobs at once. 

He also was a volunteer. He did not get paid for any of the work he did. They did help him cover his expenses when traveling. 

“It’s my fulltime volunteer job,” he said with a chuckle. 

His new position is the New England Regional Commissioner for all of Babe Ruth, boys and girls. He was voted in by the 17 member International Board of Directors, which he is now a part of. He is also on the National Rules Committee, he said. 

The road to the new position has been a big adventure. Getting to know others and networking has helped him grow from umpiring regional and state tournaments to being asked to move up.

“Of all the guys in Maine, he asked me,” he said, describing himself as a big advocate for the kids. “We’ve grown every year since we’ve been doing it.” 

He doesn’t have to do all of the work alone. He has three assistant regional commissioners and 20 state commissioners all across New England. 

“I use the chain of command very appropriately and 90 percent is taken care of before it gets to me. It’s not a job you can do by yourself,” Jordan said. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of an organization. You have to listen to them,” he added. 

Recently Jordan helped to run a coaches clinic at Fenway Park in Boston. “I was standing on the first base dugout addressing the coaches at a clinic,” he said. That was one of the perks of being in his position. 

July will be the busiest month for him with five regional softball, six Cal Ripkin regional and four Babe Ruth regional tournaments. Maine will host the 14-year-old regional softball tournament in Harrison and the boys 14-year-old Babe Ruth New England tournament will be in Skowhegan.

Baseball builds teamwork and an overall positive attitude like all sports do. Players learn respect and knowledge of the game, said Jordan. He added that “coaches have a lot of do with a good experience.”

“You’ve got to love the kid when he’s successful and love the kid when he fails. Batting .400 you’re failing 60 percent of the time,” he said. 

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Jordan’s fulltime job is as a mortgage loan officer for a bank. He travels to Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but calls Sebago home. 

Babe Ruth President/CEO Steve Tellefsen said in an interview in February, “Babe Ruth volunteer board members serve countless hours working to make sure our participants are provided with the very best educational, sports experience possible. They develop policies and ensure that all decisions made help our youth develop into successful and productive adults. We are proud to have Barry Jordan join our board. His actions alone have taught many people, young and old the value and importance of hard work, community pride, honor and integrity.”

The boys of summer are back in town - By Walter Lunt

Ciccarone Field in East Windham bustled with activity as over 200 residents gathered for the opening day games of Windham Little League. Four games were played, but the day’s highlight was the visit of 26 special guests, members of the six 1967 inaugural teams: Bears, Lakers, Tigers, Seals, Hawks and Cubs. The veteran players returned to celebrate, rekindle memories and cheer on this season’s young players.

Perhaps it wasn’t surprising that the Bears outnumbered visitors from the five other teams. The Bears were the league champions of that inaugural year. Sporting a record of 14-1 with three undefeated pitchers under coach Art Stevenson, the memories had not faded as several of the Bears engaged in good-natured ribbing with members of other teams.

“If those (baseball) experiences weren’t special, you wouldn’t see (all these guys) come back for a reunion,” said Gary Smart, who pitched 5-0 in 1967 including a no-hitter, and remembers a different time.

“Back then we found a field and played. We played just because it was fun – no trainers, no clinics or seminars – it was simple. Coaches wanted kids involved. Winning was not a priority. It was competitive but not too serious,” he said.

During the ceremony Little League Board member Shaun Morrison acknowledged the 50-year history of the league and introduced each veteran player, which was followed by enthusiastic applause from Little League players, parents and visitors. 

Singled out for outstanding dedication to the league was Bill Ciccerone, field caretaker of the Lowell Farm field that now bears his name. Perfectly manicured base lines and a pitcher’s mound framed healthy, thick grass. “It’s our own Fenway Park,” observed league vice-president Jason Farley.

After the call to “Play Ball,” shouted out by the 26 guests of honor, the first season game began: Dairy Queen vs. State Farm. The ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Dick Southard, a founding member and coach of Windham Little League.

“This is a nice set-up” he said later, referring to league work on behalf of the kids. “It’s (youth baseball) not going to die,” and then lamented the shorter season of modern times. “We used play all summer,” he said.

Seals player John Worrey remembers Southard as a “…good guy! He gave everyone a chance to play. No pressure – just go out and have a good time.”

In addition to handshakes and endless reminiscing, Bears utility player Alan Hodgton handed out photographs he had reproduced from their winning season. “(Baseball) played a key role in our lives,” Hodgton said.

Former Seals player Barry Jordan, who declared the games had forged “…a lifetime of friends,” has since served with Babe Ruth League baseball for 35 years, and is now a New England regional commissioner.

Lakers teammates Mike Bridges and Bob Smith said they enjoyed reconnecting with old friends. “We haven’t seen some of these guys in 50 years,” they said, “That was a fun time and (it developed) a love of baseball forever.”

Oddly, the most memorable game of that ’67 season did not involve official Little League play. It occurred after the season had ended. Because it was Windham’s first year of league play, charter regulations prevented the league from participating in All-Star play. South Portland had qualified to participate in the state championship game and needed a challenging team for a practice scrimmage. Windham’s Bears stepped up, and won 5-3.

In the category of most unusual memories, Bear player Hodgton remembers a game at Field Allen School. Play had to be stopped with the arrival of an unusual visitor. A goat, named Nanny, had wandered over from a nearby farm. Players chased Nanny around the field until it was finally corralled and escorted home.

Looking ahead to the 2016 season, league board member Morrison said, “It’s going to an exciting year, competitive for the Majors and field improvements for the Minors.”

While the veteran players were exchanging memories, the 2016 teams were making them. Winning teams for the day included State Farm, MPM Sealcoating and Camp Care. Ice Cream Dugout and C.R. Tanberg played to a 7-7 tie.

Drew Mathieu, age 12, playing for C.R. Tanberg said, “On the 50^th anniversary of Windham Little League I hit my very first home run…I hope to be back for the 100^th anniversary.”

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On his first day in Windham Little League, Kyle McCleese, age 11 (MPM Sealcoating), hit an inside the park home run, a triple and pitched three shut-out innings. “It was amazing. Coach said he didn’t care if we won or lost, just give it our all. I gave 100 percent,” said Kyle.

Sam Foley, with C.R. Tanberg, was impressed with the officiating: “Hey,” he said, “did you see the ump – he was in the Little League World Series.”

The day’s games and festivities were summed up by a Windham Little League Facebook visitor posting: “So proud to be part of this community. Amazing job everyone. Success!”