With the University of Southern Maine's loss to Trinity in the New England Division III Regional on Sunday, and the University of Maine's win against Binghamton in the Black Bears' regular season finale, the brief college baseball season in Maine is done.

From trips to Florida or Arizona in February and March, to this past weekend, it never felt right. Something important was missing.

John Winkin was missing.

Winkin suffered a stroke last December, and the recovery process made it impossible for the face of Maine baseball to take his place in the Husson College dugout. A couple of years ago, Jason Harvey was playing for Winkin at Husson, earning all-North Atlantic Conference honors. A former star at Bucksport High School, Harvey left Husson as a career .400 hitter and with a .980 career fielding percentage.

This spring, Harvey drew the daunting task of replacing Winkin as the Eagles' head coach. His biography on the Husson Web page sums up Harvey's playing days as a model of consistency. That's a good trait to have when you're tapped to replace one of the best baseball coaches to ever fill out a lineup card.

"It's really tough. Those are big shoes to fill," Harvey said. "You hope you can bring some of the knowledge he has."

Some of Winkin's baseball knowledge is all any coach can hope for. This was going to be the year Harvey served under Winkin as an assistant coach. Harvey was going to learn from his mentor, with the goal to someday have a baseball program of his own.

Then Winkin fell ill. Plans changed. Husson athletic director Gabby Price asked Harvey to coach the Eagles this season.

You have to go back 54 years to find a college baseball season in Maine that didn't include Winkin. He coached at Colby from 1954 to 1974. Winkin was at Maine from 1975 to 1996, then joined the coaching staff at Husson in 1997 before becoming the school's coach in 2004.

Winkin has a career record of 1,043-706-8 and is a member of seven Halls of Fame. He led Maine to six NCAA College World Series appearances.

Harvey took the Eagles to the North Atlantic Conference championship game. He now has a career record of 16-23. He's just getting started. Harvey will win more than he loses soon.

"I tried to use a little bit of what Coach Winkin did, but you try to do things your own way, too," Harvey said.

Winkin was able to attend when Husson played Thomas in Waterville in late April. Baseball aside, Harvey was just glad to see his mentor.

"I got to talk with him a little bit. It was good," Harvey said.

It's unlikely Winkin will be able to attend the East/West Senior All Star Game, on June 27 at the Husson College ballfield that bears his name. The Dr. John Winkin Award is awarded annually at the game to the top senior player in the state. As if it could be named after anyone else.

Harvey said he heard from Winkin's family that his coach's recovery is moving forward. According to Winkin's son David, his father is still using a wheelchair.

"He's doing better," Harvey said. "He's heading in the right direction."

Winkin is baseball in Maine. While we celebrate his accomplishments, we lament his illness and hope his recovery continues. The college baseball season in Maine is over before the weather really warms up. A season without Winkin is that much colder.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com