ROCKLAND — With the high school softball season concluded for all local teams, a second longtime area softball coach has announced his departure from the game.

Following the recent resignation of Belfast softball coach Chris Bartlett, who spent 15 seasons coaching the Lions, Rusty Worcester, Jr. has resigned from his post atop the Oceanside softball program.

The resignation comes after the fifth-seeded Mariners were eliminated from this year’s playoffs by rival fourth-seeded Medomak Valley 2-0 in the regional quarterfinals. Oceanside concluded the 2019 campaign with a 14-4 record. 

Worcester spent 19 years as a head coach between Oceanside and Georges Valley and three as an assistant at Georges Valley.

“It was a very difficult decision to make, I actually never thought I would write my resignation letter,” Worcester stated.

Worcester noted he will miss his “softball daughters,” a nickname he has given to all his players — including former players Rachel Burns and Kennadi Grover who have recently spent time as assistant coaches with Worcester.

“I’m sure I will miss the girls and the game situations but in life you have to make decisions and family must come first,” Worcester said.

Speaking of family, a highlight Worcester said he frequently revisits is winning a pair of state championships with his daughter, Brittany, in 2007 and 2008 at Georges Valley.

“There isn’t a day go by that we don’t think about it or talk about it,” he said.

A long-time staple to the Midcoast softball scene, Worcester coached high school softball teams that have dominated through his nearly two decade coaching career. 

With both the Mariners and Buccaneers, Worcester coached his teams to essentially always be in state championship contention. 

As head coach, his Buccaneer and Mariner teams qualified for the playoffs each season. 

With Georges Valley, Worcester’s teams made five appearances in the conference championship games winning two and tying in one. 

Georges Valley finished as Class C Western runner-ups four times and maintained a 46 game winning streak from 2007 to 2009. 

For his coaching accomplishments, Worcester has been recognized by high school athletic conferences four times as Coach of the Year — thrice by the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and once by the Mountain Valley Conference. 

Worcester concluded his head coaching career with a 276-63 record. His teams averaged 14.52 wins per season and 3.31 losses per season. 

Speaking of his resignation and looking back on his time coaching, Worcester noted he extends his thanks to the parents for their continuous support over the years, as well as to the athletic directors he has worked under including Ben Vail, Ed Hastings, Jim Leonard and Molly Bishop for their help and support. 

Head Coaching Resume

2001 — Georges Valley — 9-6 — Playoff Appearance
2002 — Georges Valley — 10-6 — Playoff Appearance
2003 — Georges Valley — 12-4 — Playoff Appearance
2004 — Georges Valley — 14-3 — Western Maine runner-up
2005 — Georges Valley — 9-7 — Playoff Appearance 
2006 — Georges Valley — 10-6 — Playoff Appearance
2007 — Georges Valley — 17-2 — Western Maine and state champions
2008 — Georges Valley — 19-0 — Western Maine and state champions
2009 — Georges Valley — 16-1 — Western Maine runner-up
2010 — Georges Valley — 17-1 — Western Maine runner-up
2011 — Georges Valley — 16-1 — Western Maine runner-up
2012 — Oceanside — 16-2 — Playoff Appearance
2013 — Oceanside — 20-1 — Eastern Maine and state champions
2014 — Oceanside — 12-6 — Playoff Appearance 
2015 — Oceanside — 15-4 — Playoff Appearance
2016 — Oceanside — 16-2 — Playoff Appearance
2017 — Oceanside — 17-3 — Northern Maine runner-up
2018 — Oceanside — 17-4 — Northern Maine runner-up
2019 — Oceanside — 14-4 — Playoff Appearance 

This story was originally published June 11 at 11 p.m.

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.