News

Written by Joe Skinner
Director of Broadcasting & Media

SANFORD, Maine – Three pitchers from the 2019 Mainers team will be returning to Sanford for the 2021 season. Jake Noviello (Fairfield U.), Trevor LaBonte (U. of Maryland) and Brandon Backman (St. John’s U.) will take the field at Goodall Park this summer.

Noviello is a junior right-handed pitcher at Fairfield University. In 2019 with the Mainers, Noviello started seven games on the mound, compiling 26 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.

“Sanford is a great community that takes a ton of pride in the Mainers, and I can’t wait to return to that environment again,” Noviello said. “Playing baseball is one of the few things that seem normal to me these days, so I am excited that I will get to continue that at Goodall Park.”

A native of Franklin, Mass., the former Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year did not appear in a game for Stags in the shortened 2020 college season. Fairfield opens the 2021 season on March 20 vs. Canisius.

LaBonte is a junior right-handed pitcher at the University of Maryland, whose season just began on March 5 and has not appeared in a game yet in 2021.

“I am extremely excited to be back in Sanford this summer to play for the best organization in the NECBL with the best fan base,” LaBonte said. “Being able to play for Coach Suarez and now being able to play for Coach Lops is an incredible experience.”

LaBonte will be returning to his home-state of Maine, as his hometown of York is just over 30 minutes from Goodall Park. In 2019, LaBonte appeared in five games, and turned in the best start of the season in his last against Upper Valley. In a 4-0 win, LaBonte went 7.1 shutout innings, allowing two hits and walking one, with seven strikeouts.

Backman is a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher at St. John’s University. In 2019, the Danbury, Conn. native appeared in five games for the Mainers, racking up 31 strikeouts over 24 innings.

“Everyone’s excited to be playing again after getting shutdown last year and I know the Mainers are ready for a great summer,” Backman said. “The 2019 season showed me how great the fans and support here is in Maine.”

Backman has not yet appeared in the 2021 season for St. John’s, as the Red Storm have gotten off to a scorching 7-0 start with series sweeps against UMass Lowell and Sacred Heart. St. John’s begins their Big East schedule on April 9.

About the Sanford Mainers:
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 13 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.

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