University of Vermont Athletics

Maynard R. Ducatte 1962 - Baseball, Football

A standout on the baseball diamond and a two-way performer on the gridiron, Maynard "Duke" Ducatte, who was inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame in 1984, earned three letters in each sport throughout his illustrious athletic career at UVM.

Ducatte operated as both an offensive and defensive halfback in football, a feat not totally uncommon at the time, but one rarely seen nowadays. If a player today can double on special teams, he's considered versatile. In his junior season of 1960, however, Ducatte played three complete games; 60 minutes without a breather. And he won All-State honors in both his junior and senior years.

In baseball, he was an All-New England catcher as a senior, the same year the Catamounts won the Yankee Conference Championship and missed the College World Series by one game. In his three seasons, Ducatte's cumulative batting average was over .300, and he proved to be nearly flawless on defense. During his career, 26 runners attempted to steal on Ducatte, and the man with the slingshot arm gunned down 24 of them. In 1960, Ducatte was awarded the Charles Stroh Trophy for being the Cats' RBI leader. As a senior, he also won the Semans Trophy, and he led the team wit 32 hits.

Ducatte was very active off the field as well, and he served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, was a member of the Boulder Society, a King Candidate for Kake Walk, and a Brigade Commander of ROTC. He went on to serve in the Army for three yeas, serving as player manager of the Fort Devens baseball team.