New England Firebirds Baseball & Softball Club: Firebird Directors

New England Firebirds Directors
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The New England Firebirds baseball program is directed by Dave Bettencourt and David Blank.

Dave Bettencourt enjoyed a distinguished athletic career during his three years at Peabody High School, earning multi-sport honors. The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, the Salem Evening News, Essex County Newspapers, and the Lynn Item each honored Dave by including him on their All-Scholastic teams from 1969-1972. As a senior in high school, Dave had the opportunity to play in various All-Star games at the Boston Garden, in Fenway Park, and as a participant in the Harry Agganis Football game. He was a team captain for the Tanners in both baseball and football and was a defensive demon on the basketball team. While attending college on an athletic scholarship at the University of New Hampshire, Dave earned varsity letters in both baseball and football. He was an NCAA All-American, an All New England, and All-Yankee Conference selection. Dave was elected captain of the UNH baseball team for two years. He also played in the highly competitive Cape Cod Baseball League during the summers of his college career.

After college graduation, Dave embarked on a very successful teaching and coaching career and has been recognized for his achievements on both the state and national level. At Andover High School, his teams were usually nationally ranked, won two State Championships, and numerous league titles. Because of his team's success, he won league Coach of the Year in Division 1. Dave also coached for one year at the University of New Hampshire and was selected as the North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year after UNH had its highest finish in the school's history.

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Dave became a science teacher in the Andover School System, and took up residence in Salem, New Hampshire with his wife Sandy, son David, and daughter Katie. Dave was enshrined in the Tanner Hall of Fame in 1998.


David Blank has been active in New England baseball for some time.  He first garnered local attention with his baseball career at Andover High School under Coach Dave Bettencourt.  David led the Warriors to their first ever state baseball championship in 1991 as the left-handed anchor of the team’s pitching staff and gathered many top awards during the three years that he played for Coach Bettencourt. 

After being recruited nationally by several of the nation’s top baseball schools, David went off to play his college ball at the University of South Florida.  His summers were split between coaching at Coach Bettencourt’s baseball camps and playing baseball in the prestigious Cape Cod League. David was selected to represent the United States as a member of the Junior Olympic Baseball Team.  While in college, David suffered an injury to his left elbow, and as a result underwent “Tommy John” surgery to reconstruct his elbow, thus ending any hopes at a professional baseball career.  David still holds several records at both Andover High School and the University of South Florida.

David remains active in baseball through coaching, instructing and his involvement with the New England Firebirds program.  His students will attest than when he gets the arm warmed up he can still “bring the heat.”

Among Coach Blank’s awards are:


 


Ø      2 time Eagle Tribune All-Star


Ø      Eagle Tribune Player of the Year


Ø      Merrimack Valley Conference Player of the Year


Ø      New England Player of the Year


Ø      2 time Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic


Ø      Massachusetts State Tournament MVP


Ø      Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week


Ø      2 team All-Conference Team selection