1976 Baseball Team (2026) - University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame

1976 Baseball Team

Induction:
2026

The 1976 Baseball team was the second UMaine team to reach the College World Series, finishing with a 29-9 record after winning two games in Omaha, 9-8 over Auburn and 6-3 over Washington State. During the run, the Black Bears pieced together a pair of 10-game win streaks. Led on the diamond by UMaine Sports Hall of Famers Ed Flaherty, Jack Leggett, Bert Roberge, who pitched six seasons in the major leagues, and shortstop Russ Quetti, who was named to the College World Series all-tournament team, it was the first of six teams that coach John Winkin led to Omaha. The 1976 Black Bears captured the ECAC championship, with wins over UConn and UMass, before sweeping their way through the NCAA Northeast Regional, with wins over Penn State, Temple, and Seton Hall, to earn their spot in the College World Series. Tony DiBiase (.339), John Dumont (.311), and Leggett (.307) led the way at the plate while Roberge finished the year 9-2 with a 2.06 earned run average and 60 strikeouts to pace Maine on the mound. Steve Conley (7-2) and Barry Lacasse (7-1) bolstered the Black Bears' pitching staff.