Hodgdon ballfields to be named for Drake

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HODGDON — SAD 70 will hold a dedication ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 4-6 p.m. for its newly renamed baseball and softball fields for longtime district employee Graydon Drake. Hot dogs and beverages will be served during the ceremony, which will also feature guest speakers.
    For the past 17 years, Drake has served as a custodian at Hodgdon High School and been the driving force behind maintaining and upgrading the fields. According to SAD 70 Superintendent Bob McDaniel, Drake has put a tremendous amount of time fixing up the baseball and softball fields for the district.
    “He really has been a one-man crew up there,” McDaniel said. “Graydon has done an outstanding job, and I thought this would be a good way to show our appreciation.”
    Drake was a stellar high school baseball player for Houlton High School from 1970-74. In fact, he tried out for the Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies in his younger days, as he dreamed of being a professional baseball player. He also attended a tryout camp in Natick, Mass. for the Boston Red Sox.
    Unfortunately, while playing baseball in Florida, Drake “threw out his arm” trying to keep up with players from New Mexico and Texas.