PI Wildcats have depth, talent
Sports Editor
PRESQUE ISLE — Team chemistry is an important part of any sports team. It can mean the difference from a team being average or exceptional.
Presque Isle baseball coach Tim Olore feels that chemistry is one of the Wildcats strong suits this season. If that’s the case, Presque Isle could be on the verge of a breakout season.
PROPER TECHNIQUE
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
Keenan Eaton, a senior on the Presque Isle Wildcats’ varsity baseball team, participates in a sliding drill during a practice last Wednesday. Eaton is one of eight seniors playing on 25th-year coach Tim Olore’s team this season.
SAFE!
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
Diving to the floor during a recent drill inside the Presque Isle High School gymnasium are Amos Dean, left, and Steve Ford of the Wildcat varsity baseball team.
“Our team chemistry is second to none and that is extremely important in team unity,” said the veteran coach. “This entire team knows how to compete and have experienced playoffs and championships all the way to state finals. You do not get to that level without competing under pressure.”
Olore is embarking on his 25th season as baseball coach for Presque Isle. The Wildcats are looking to build upon last year’s 9-8 campaign that saw Presque Isle fall to Caribou 7-0 in the first round of the playoffs.
“My starting lineup is returning and of that starting lineup, six of the seniors have been starting since their freshmen year,” Olore said. “We have a very veteran squad who got a taste of the playoffs last season. Now we want to get back there again. We have a nice team that is very fun to be around.”
This year’s Wildcat squad is laden with eight seniors, five sophomores and one freshman. The roster includes seniors Brennen Shaw (pitcher/shortstop), Steven Ford (catcher), Matt Chasse (pitcher, centerfielder), Zac Campbell (third base, first base, designated hitter), Ethan Braley (pitcher, first base, DH), Amos Dean (second base, third base, pitcher), Keenan Eaton (right field) and Dillon Kingsbury (pitcher, left field, right field); sophomores Wilder York (shortstop, third base, second base, pitcher), Issac LaJoie (catcher, left field, right field), Ryley Norton (pitcher, center field), Jacob Player (second base, outfield) and Evan Waddell (pitcher, first base, outfield); and freshman Adam Flynn (pitcher, right field).
“Over the past few years, these Wildcats team members have been on many very successful teams,” Olore said. “The baseball team qualified for the playoffs last season and have always been perennial contenders in their storied history. The Wildcats have been extremely successful and we want to continue that run of success. Success breeds success and one of our goals is to be winners.”
To accomplish that goal, the Wildcats will rely heavily on their seniors to carry the load. Shaw, a team captain who is coming off a sensational hockey season, will be the Wildcats’ ace on the mound. An All-Aroostook all-star, Shaw is a four-year starter for the team.
“Brennen will be our No. 1 pitcher, end of game stopper, and our No. 1 offensive threat,” Olore said. “When not pitching he will be anchoring a fine shortstop.”
Braley, Kingsbury and Chasse (a co-captain) will follow Shaw in the pitching rotation. Having four quality arms is something most high school coaches can only dream about. Behind the plate, Ford (a co-captain) will call the shots as the team’s starting catcher. A four-year starter and All-Aroostook player, Ford is an exceptional defensive catcher.
Braley will also be called upon to knock in a fair share of runs with his big bat.
With so many quality athletes on the roster, Olore likes the flexibility of this year’s squad.
“Being able to move players around is one aspect I really like because it makes our team much more versatile,” Olore said.
Currently, there is a battle going on between LaJoie and York for the coveted leadoff spot in the lineup, the coach said.
“As a team we should be better in all phases of the game (pitching, defense, and offense),” the coach said. “If we can score more than five runs a game and cut down the unearned runs, then we can play with anyone. When Brennen is pitching we can beat any team we play. Now our offense has to support him as well as all our other pitchers.”
The beautiful spring weather has been a major plus for the Wildcats in terms of practicing. The team has spent a number of days outside on the artificial turf at Skyway Middle School.
“As always our goal is to be better than the year before and try for a state championship,” Olore said. “One significant change this year unlike in the previous years is that the number of times we have been outside on the turf soccer field working on our skills.”
Being able to practice fielding fly balls and groundballs, cutoffs and relays, rundowns, defensive backups and coverage assignments all at proper distances, something not possible inside the high school’s gymnasium has been an unexpected treat for the team, the coach said.
“If the weather cooperates so our pitching can stay spread out, and we play defense like we are capable of and score runs early in a game, then this team can play with anyone,” Olore said. “I like playing an ambitious preseason because you need to be tested to see where we are and what we need to do to get better. By playing good teams you only get better and being better is one of our goals.”
Assisting Olore on the diamond will be Tim McCue. The managers are senior Jordyn Kinney and freshmen Gabby McCrum and Michael Guerrette.
The Wildcats play York, Waterville, Erskine Academy, Noble, Sanford and Wells in exhibition games from April 16-21. Presque Isle opens its regular season Saturday, April 24 with a doubleheader at Old Town. Games start at noon and 2 p.m.
