A World Series champion was behind the visiting team's bench at the Kennebec Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Matt Stairs, a reserve outfielder, helped the Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series title in 28 years when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games last October.

Stairs hit his first career postseason home run during the Phillies' ride, and it was one he won't soon forget.

Stairs, who resides in Bangor in the baseball offseason and is an assistant hockey coach for John Bapst Memorial High School, hit a pinch-hit, two-run drive off Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

The eighth inning home run snapped a 2-2 game and helped the Phillies go on to win the series.

Stairs coaches the forwards for the Crusaders (6-0-0), who were in Hallowell on Saturday night to face Gardiner (5-1-0). John Bapst won 3-0.

"It hasn't really sunk in," said Stairs on winning the World Series.

For more on Stairs' Hallowell visit, check out the high school hockey notebook in the Tuesday editions of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.