Portland, Maine - Long time Colby coach Tom Dexter was honored by the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday with his induction with the class of 2021.  The ceremony took place Sunday at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland.  The induction class of 11 members includes Ryan Flaherty of Deering (eight major league seasons for the Orioles, Braves, and Indians) and Mark Rodgers of Mt. Ararat (2004 first-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers).  

Dexter has been a member of the Colby Athletic Department since 1989, coming over from one year stints at Cornell University, and SUNY Cortland.  He began his tenure as an assistant for both the baseball and football teams.  In 1992, Dexter was named the Head Baseball Coach, and in 1994 he elevated to the Defensive Coordinator position for football.  

Over his 15 seasons as head coach of the Mules' baseball team, Dexter amassed 140 wins and his players accumulated many All-ECAC, All-NESCAC, and Academic ALL-NESCAC honors.  On top of his 15 seasons at the helm of the program, he spent an additional 13 years as an assistant, tallying 28 years of involvement with Colby Baseball.  Dexter was also instrumental in the development of youth baseball in the region, bringing Cal Ripken Baseball to the area (a division of Babe Ruth Baseball for children 4-12), and running youth baseball camps and clinics each summer on the Colby campus.  

With the induction, the company Dexter now keeps with others connected to Colby is incredibly impressive.  John Winkin coached at Colby for 20 years from 1954-73, winning over 300 games, earning the National Coach of the Year award in 1965, and propelling two Colby graduates to Major League Baseball.  "Colby Jack" Coombs graduated from Colby in 1906 and enjoyed a successful career winning over 150 games as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics.  His 31 wins in 1910 and 28 wins in 1911 led the American League.  The baseball field at on Mayflower Hill is named "Coombs Field"  in honor of "Colby Jack."  

"I am incredibly honored and humbled to be included in the fantastic group of coaches and players recognized by the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, this year and over the course of time," said Dexter.  "Being connected to Colby's past in this way is unreal, and I feel so fortunate to have done something I love for such a long time.  Baseball shaped me as a person and as a father, and sharing this with my children is incredibly special."  


Colby Players/Coaches in the MAINE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME 
  - Jack Coombs '1906
  - Tom Dexter (Coach)
  - Stan Doughty '1954
  - Ralph Good '1910
  - Ed Phillips '1966
  - Ron Staples '1954
  - Bob Vail '1906
  - Norman White '1950
  - John Winkin (Coach)