Even though the temperature is low and snow chunks might be more appropriate for bases outside, the spring sports season is officially in session. The high school varsity baseball teams may be doing their drills in a gym, but the season promises to be an exciting one for fans as soon as the diamonds are cleared off.
Presque Isle
In Presque Isle, coach Tim Olore, a veteran coach of 23 years, is optimistic about the season ahead, regardless of the weather conditions outside. Tim McCue will be joining him this year as the new assistant coach.
“After losing seven starters from the number one team in Eastern Maine Class B the year before, last year’s team really did very well,” Olore stated. “We won several key point games because our pitching and defense played well. Our pitching, led by Travis Brooker, Matt McGlinn and Tyler Lamoreau was solid throughout last season.”
The team finished with a record of 9-8 last season and placed fourth in the standings. The team had four graduating seniors last year, including Travis Brooker, pitcher, secondbaseman and outfielder. He pitched five winning games and had two losses. He had a 2.66 earned run average and was a Maine senior all-star, PVC first team pitcher and stole 19 bases. Matt McGlinn was an outfielder, pitcher, and first-baseman. McGlinn was named to the All-Aroostook team and had a .386 batting average, four homeruns, and 23 runners batted in.
Derrek Balanger was the team’s all-star catcher who also received the nod for the All-Aroostook team. Belanger had a .347 batting average, 26 RBI and stole five bases. Tyler Lamoreau was PI’s pitcher and second baseman. He had three wins and three losses as pitcher, with an ERA of 3.39 and was also named All-Aroostook.
Returning this year to play for the Wildcats is Logan York, one of the best players in the state, according to Olore. A senior, York will be a starting pitcher for the ‘Cats, and also plays shortstop. He has a batting average of .369, 28 stolen bases, and was named PVC Class B shortstop, second team and All-Aroostook.
Bennett Cassidy, a junior, will be in the field and playing from the mound this season; his batting average was .289. Luke Ireland, senior, plays in the outfield, second base, and also as a pitcher; Dan McCue, a senior, will be covering first base and outfield; Chris Beaulieu, a senior, third baseman and pitcher; Nic Gallant, a junior, outfielder, second baseman and pitcher; Warren Zubrick, a sophomore, outfield; Amos Dean and Brennan Shaw, both freshmen, will be covering second base and shortshop; and Dillon Kingsbury, Steven Ford and Matt Chasse, freshmen, will be catchers.
All of the ‘Cats pitchers will be pitching right-handed from the mound this year. Olore’s pitching lineup includes: Ireland, Beaulieu, Shaw, York, McCue, Cassidy, Kingsbury and Gallant, and Ethan Braley, a freshman.
Chasse will also be playing first base and outfield; Dean will be trying his hand as third baseman; and Trent Legassie, a senior, will be in the outfield.
The managers for the 2007 season are Kaitlin Lambert and Kristina Theriault.
“This year’s team has good senior leadership mixed in with a lot of new and young players. We have 14 players that like baseball, want to and are working extremely hard at improving and elevating their game; they all have great attitudes, are team players and are very coachable. These attributes will go a long way into making us successful now and in the future. We will get better each day and it will be fun to see this group compete and fight for a playoff spot,” Olore said.
Ashland
Ashland Community High School’s baseball team is coached by Danny Cote. Cote returns for the second year coaching the Hornets. Last year the team had a 9-7 record and placed fourth in the final standings.
“We over-achieved last season with one senior, four juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen,” Cote said. “[Our] key win early in the season over Katahdin gave us confidence. [We] defeated Van Buren twice, then made it to the Eastern Maine finals. We lost in the second round to Schenk.”
The Hornets lost Trevor Tompkins last year when he graduated. Tompkins played shortstop and pitcher, with 27 RBI and .350 average.
This year’s projected starting lineup includes: Tyler Cote, junior, playing third base and pitcher. He had a .339 batting average last year and 22 runs scored; Carl Nemer, sophomore, centerfielder, with a .308 average and he also led the team in steals last season; Jeremy Tarr, sophomore, in shortstop and pitcher, with a .468 average, and second on team in wins.
Also returning for the starting lineup this season: Kevin Baker, senior, outfielder and catcher, with a .434 average and he led his team in hits; Henry Milligan, sophomore, second base, third base, and shortstop, with a .354 average; Isaac Ward, senior, catcher, firstbaseman, and outfielder, with a .311 average; Nick Gimbel, junior, outfielder, with a .321 average; Tony Baker, sophomore, secondbaseman; and Justin Belanger, junior, firstbaseman, with a .323 average.
All of Ashland’s pitchers will be pitching right-handed, but Tarr and Tyler Cote are the second and third starters from 2006, with three and two wins, respectively.
Other players for the Hornets this year are Lucas Belanger, junior, as catcher and outfielder, and Lucas Hafford, freshman, at first base and outfield.
“With an experienced team, and returning eight starters, the outlook looks good. Playoffs are in sight [for our team],” Cote said. “Our biggest concern will be defense and pitching depth. If we play like we should, we will be OK. We would like to finish in the top eight, but if we don’t, we will play hard all season to prove we belong with the other teams in Class D.”
Central Aroostook
Brent York and Butch Richardson are coaching the Central Aroostook varsity baseball team for the third year in a row. The record last year was 12-4 and they placed fourth at the end of the season.
“We reached the playoffs beating Schneck and Bangor Christian before losing in the semifinals to eventual state champ, Lee Academy,” the coaches stated.
Last year, the team lost Erick Martinez, third baseman with a .365 batting average; R.J. Richardson, second baseman, with a .567 average; and Andrew York, pitcher and first baseman, with a .420 average and 1.22 ERA.
Returning for the starting lineup this season are Sam Clockedile, senior, as the catcher, pitcher, and infielder; James Richard, senior, pitcher and infielder; Logan McCarthy, junior, catcher and outfielder; Blake McCarthy, junior, first baseman, pitcher and outfielder; and Shaun Walling, junior, infielder and pitcher.
Also starting this season: Manny Martinez, sophomore, infielder and pitcher; Cameron York, junior, infielder and pitcher; Mitch Folsom, freshman, catcher and infielder; and Kasey Brewer, freshman, pitcher and infielder.
All of Central Aroostook’s pitchers will be pitching right-handed with the exception of Blake McCarthy. Other players on the team include Tyson White, junior and outfielder; Will Delong, freshman, outfielder and pitcher; Matt Shaw, freshman, outfielder; and Logan Thomas, freshman, outfielder and infielder.
“Although CA lost its top hitter, R.J. Richardson, and top pitcher, Andrew York, the team [seems] to have good potential with several pitchers looking strong in the preseason. [There are also] several freshmen who will contribute [to our success]. The team will be strong defensively, with good speed at all positions. The team has hit well in preseason and has benefited from the instruction of their hitting coach, Butch Richardson,” stated York.
Fort Fairfield
The Fort Fairfield varsity baseball team will be coached by John Ala for the fourth season in a row, with Mark Dillon and Shawn Rogers acting as assistant coaches. Last season they finished with a 6-8 record, and finished in tenth place overall.
“Last year we started off hitting the ball really well,” said Ala. “As the season went on, our bats cooled off. We had a couple of key wins [and] we beat Katahdin and Ashland. We ended the season by losing to a tough Van Buren team 5-3.”
The Tigers lost three seniors last year: Billy Scull, a catcher, who batted a .383 average; Rob McNamee, third baseman, with a .301 average; and Brad Dillon.
This year’s roster includes Jake Kenneson and Brian Andrews, seniors; and Cody Closson, Beau Everett, Ryan Noyes and Otis Edgecomb, juniors. Sophomores playing for the varsity team are Ian Towle, Austin Dufour, Matt Cresenzo, Patrick Kinsey, Josh Churchill and Erik Lundquist; freshmen playing this year are Josh Booth, Josh Churchill, Brian Bixler, Jeremy Dillon and Cameron Hazelton.
“Our starting lineup is wide open. We have Josh Booth and Ian Towle competing for the catcher’s position. Matt Cresenzo, Brian Andrews, Jake Kenneson, sophomore Josh Churchill, Ausitn Dufour and freshman Josh Churchill are all battling for an infield spot. We have a solid group of outfielders returning, including all three starters returning, but they are being pushed by a strong group of reserve players and a couple of incoming freshmen. The players working to earn a starting job in the outfield are Beau Everett, Ryan Noyes, Otis Edgecomb, Patrick Kinsey, Erik Lundquist, Cody Closson, Brian Bixler, Jeremy Dillon and Cameron Hazleton,” said Ala.
This year’s pitchers include Jake Kenneson, senior, pitching right-handed and has been named All-Aroostook for three years. Andrews, Towle, Dufour, Booth and sophomore Churchill will also be pitching right-handed. Cody Closson is the only left-handed pitcher for the varsity team.
“We look forward to having a very versatile group of players this season. Many of our players are able to play multiple positions. We have a number of pitchers who will be called on throughout the season. This is a big asset considering the number of games we play and the length of our season,” Ala stated.
Washburn
The Washburn Beavers varsity baseball team has started up their practices with new coach Ben Goodwin. Last year’s team finished with a record of 4-10. Steve Pesut was the leader on the mound, while Nolan Gagnon led the team hitting in 2006.
This year’s team roster includes Steve Pesut, Adam Thompson, Matt Connolly, Ben Goupille, Brandon Corey, Nolan Gagnon, Justin Howe, Nick Bull, Jacob Theriault, Sebastian Viola, Nolan Gagnon and Sal Viola.
The right-handed pitchers for the 2007 season are Thompson, Connolly, Goupille and Corey. Pitching left-handed this season is Pesut.
“We expect to be a very competitive team led by our strong group of seniors,” said Goodwin.
