BY SCOTT MARTIN

Sports Editor

Maranacook Community School graduate Jared Lemieux has another chance in professional baseball.

In a phone interview Saturday evening, Lemieux said he had signed a contract with Ottawa Rapids of Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball.

Lemieux, who graduated from Bowdoin College in 2006, said he will report May 9 to the team, an expansion franchise in the Can-Am League.

"It's been a little stressful," Lemieux said of waiting to sign a deal. "This was the No. 1 team I was trying to get with. It was just a matter of me waiting it out."

Lemieux said he signed his deal and faxed it Friday to Ottawa. This is Lemieux third stop in the Can-Am League. He signed with the Worcester Tornados in 2006 but lasted just two weeks with the team. In the fall of 2006, he signed to play with Sussex for the 2007 season.

Lemieux has played in parts of two seasons in the Can-Am League. A center fielder, Lemieux played in 45 games with the Sussex Skyhawks last summer. As the Skyhawks fourth outfield, Lemieux played in 45 games, batting .269 with 16 runs and nine RBIs.

Lemieux expects to be the starting center fielder for the Rapids this season. He feels the move to Ottawa is another step toward his goal of signing with a major league franchise.

"This is the next step," Lemieux said. "Instead of being a fourth outfielder, I'll be a starter and I'm playing the position I'm most comfortable at. I feel like I'm a guy that plays the game the right way, competes and is a clutch performer and that is the type of stuff that I can show off in a game atmosphere, not running a straight line. This is a great step for me."

While awaiting to report to the Rapids, Lemieux is working as an assistant coach at Bowdoin College. He said he'll report this season in better shape than he did a year ago.

"I focused on slimming down," Lemieux said, "and getting into athletic shape. I got my body ready for the wear and tear of playing every day."

Ottawa is an expansion franchise in the Can-Am League. They will play their home games at Ottawa Stadium the former home of the Ottawa Lynx. The Lynx were the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The stadium seats 10,332.

The six-team Can-Am League features two teams from Canada, three from Massachusetts, one from New Hampshire and two from New Jersey.

"We'll play a lot of weekend series in New England, which will be exciting," Lemieux said.

Scott Martin -- 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com