ROCKLAND — A familiar face among the Oceanside High School community has been appointed as the Mariners’ new varsity softball coach, according to a Feb. 27 email from athletic director Molly Bishop. 

Wes Drinkwater, the school’s head football coach, will be taking over the softball program from Rusty Worcester, who stepped down at the conclusion of last season. 

Drinkwater, a South Thomaston native, is a 2004 alumnus of Rockland District High School and played collegiate football at Husson University. 

He has been at the helm of the Oceanside varsity football program since being hired in 2013. 

In addition to his time atop the Mariners football program, Drinkwater has also served as a middle school baseball coach for Oceanside Middle School. 

Worcester’s resignation came after the fifth-seeded Mariners were eliminated from the 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 said at the time. 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.