CAHS has returning talent
Sports Reporter
MARS HILL – The Central Aroostook Panthers are expected to be one of the top baseball teams in Eastern Maine Class D this spring and it’s easy to know why.
Sixth-year coach Brent York has all but one player, albeit a talented one in Manny Martinez, back from a team that went 14-2 during the regular season to finish in second place in the division, only to lose 5-4 to Shead in the semifinals.
CA returns six players who batted over .380 and a pitching staff that combined to go 13-1 with an earned run average of 3.41.
“With the benefit of an extra year of strength and experience, I expect to be strong in hitting, pitching and fielding,” York said.
Pitching depth could be tested early in the season as senior Kasey Brewer, who went 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA on the mound last year, injured his leg and might not be at full strength until mid-season, according to York.
The team’s pitching ace is junior Logan McLaughlin, who recorded a 6-1 mark in 2009 with a 1.63 ERA. He also had an impressive American Legion season last summer with the Presque Isle Patriots.
Brendan York (2-0), Dan Brewer (1-0) and Mitch Folsom are the other pitching veterans.
The batting order looks solid, anchored by shortstop McLaughlin (.500 batting average, 20 runs batted in last year), second baseman/shortstop Dan Brewer (.442), catcher Folsom (.458, 22 RBI), third baseman Kasey Brewer (.327, four home runs, 19 RBI), center fielder Garrett Stiles (.380, 16 stolen bases) and first baseman/second baseman York (.383).
Others expected to vie for starting jobs are left fielder Will DeLong, first baseman/right fielder Mike McClung and right fielders/second basemen Kyle Murray and Logan Thomas.
DeLong hit .500 in the Panthers’ final eight games last year, while Murray and McClung provide potential pop at the plate. Others on the team are Ross Grass, Matt Amnott, Matt Shaw, Caleb Kelly, Taylor Bradbury, Dylan Murray, Darrin Murray and Derek Rusby.
Butch Richardson begins his fifth season as the team’s assistant coach/hitting instructor. Tyler Rusby serves as the team’s manager.
The Panthers opened their season Friday with a home shutout victory over Hodgdon and next play Madawaska at home Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m.
