Y Arts wows crowd at Sea Dogs’ YMCA Day

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 2:30pm

Before the first pitch at YMCA Day at Hadlock Field on Sunday, Aug. 28, all eyes were on the field as Boothbay Region YMCA Y Arts performed three song and dance routines, member Ian Michaud threw out the first pitch, and member Imij Armstead sang the National Anthem. And to complete the local Y’s participation, member Scout Martin led the singing of “God Bless America” in the middle of the seventh inning.

Meagan Hamblett of East Boothbay, executive director of the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England, said over 1,300 YMCA staff, volunteers, members, program participants and families had signed up to represent the Y’s in Maine at the game. Before the game, red T-shirts, sponsored by Bangor Savings, were handed out to Y attendees.

“This day was coordinated by our Y Alliance of NNE on behalf of 25 YMCA Associations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,” said Hamblett. “We hope to make it an annual event and grow the number to include as many Y families as possible.”

About 45 minutes before game time, a parade of hundreds of Y representatives rounded the outfield warning track and held up their arms for the shape of a “Y.” BRYMCA Arts and Humanities Director Emily Mirabile led the local contingent onto the field.

As Y Arts members waited on the field for their performance, the group got to pose for photos with Portland Sea Dogs mascot Slugger, and a few of the Sea Dogs and Hartford Yard Goats players walked by and gave the young performers a high-five.

Y Arts’ performances included: “I Love Maine,” written by Joel Biron of Portland, sung by Sophia Mansfield and Jojo Shea who played those roles when Y Arts made the movie version of “I Love Maine” back in 2018; “Can't Stop This Feeling” and “I Like to Move It, Move It” performed by: Sofia Michaud, Evelyn Michaud, Lily Billings, Sophia Mansfield, Trey Tibbetts, Finn Sullivan, Allison Smart, Emily Smart, Jackie Branch, Oscar Mirabile, Fiona Bishop, Kayla Watts, Agatha Harris, Sarah Harris, Ford Harris, Skyler Hyson, Imij Armstead, Jojo Shea, Spencer Pottle, Jessie Ullo, Scout Martin, Hamilton Pierpan and Anderson Pierpan.

The Sea Dogs, first place in their division of the Eastern League, defeated Hartford, 4-1.