Gallagher leaves as league's winningest coach

Trivia time, who is the only coach to with the North Country Junior Babe Ruth League championship with two different teams -- make that from two different states as well? It's Todd Gallagher, the assistant recreation director for the Conway Recreation Department.Gallagher is retiring from the league that he helped organize and from Tee Enterprises, the team he has coached to four out of the last six championships. He leaves behind a host of league records."Todd started in 1983 coaching Fryeburg when he was in college at the University of Maine," John Eastman, recreation director for Conway, said. "He won it all in 1983 and '85 and was in the finals in 1984."Gallagher took over the coaching reigns from Eastman in Conway in 1996 and immediately tasted success, winning four straight championships with Conway I and later Tee Enterprise."Todd has won the championship six times and been in the finals eight out of nine years," Eastman said. "I think that's going to be pretty hard for anyone to duplicate or surpass. In that time he won 96 games, which is a lot for such a short baseball season. When he won four in a row in Conway he only last five games in four years."Gallagher's coaching record is 96-19 for a .837 winning percentage."He's the only coach I know of to win a championship with two different teams and no one has ever done it across state lines," Eastman said. "I know people are going to miss him coaching, but he's ready for a break. I can say for certain that any kid who played for Todd probably got some of the best coaching they'll ever get. He does a phenomenal job with the kids."... He's pretty much made sure this league has happened for the last three or four years," he continued. "He's done it all from scheduling to setting up umpires and even presenting the championship trophy. Todd's put a lot of work in behind the scenes to keep things afloat. He helped get Madison and Tamworth regrouped; brought Kezar Falls into the league; and got Lovell back in. He deserves a lot of credit and he often doesn't get it, but he's done a ton."