His roster boasts a talented roster comprised of 18 new recruits, including 14 freshmen and four sophomore transfers. The Owls’ pitching staff has 16 candidates, including eight who will be used solely on the mound.
The Owls should be solid behind the plate as the team has three talented catchers on the roster. The Owls should also be a strong defensive team, according to Saucier, with two players at every fielding position willing and able to compete for the starting spot on any given day.
“I have 26 players who want to compete at the highest levels of Division III baseball,” Saucier said. “We are young and are going to make young-team mistakes, but we are also talented, which can overcome some of the mistakes we will make.
“In years past, we didn’t have enough talent to overcome the miscues.”
The UMPI veterans include captains Corey Harding, a pitcher/outfielder Plymouth, and Brian Andrews, a pitcher/second baseman from Fort Fairfield.
Junior Brandon Boulware, a pitcher from Columbus, Ga. who played in high school at Van Buren, will see action on the mound, while Chris Cosenze of Old Town will vie for the starting catcher’s job.
Jake Fillebrown, a pitcher/right fielder from Stoneham, and Stephen Thorne, a center fielder/pitcher from Dalhousie, New Brunswick, are sophomores who return to the Owls as strong contributors.
James Cirell, a right fielder/designated hitter from Bingham, and Ron Spencer, an outfielder from Chicago, are seniors who will contribute offense and experience to the UMPI team.
Newcomers include transfers Carlos Villoria, a first baseman from Caracas, Venezuela; Matt Nadeau, a shortstop/pitcher from Auburn; and Anthony Batchelder, a pitcher from Enfield.
The talented freshmen contingent includes Ted Walker, a first baseman from Caribou; Andrew Carter, a pitcher from Charlo, New Brunswick; Cam Morrell, a second baseman from Harpswell; Andy Brown, a pitcher from Princeton; Shane Smith, a right fielder/pitcher from Farmington; Josiah Brazier, a left fielder/third baseman from Searsport; Evan Kingsbury, a pitcher/shortstop from Frankfort; Lucas Molly, a left fielder/catcher from Lovell; Justine Bergeron, a second baseman from Tiverton, Rhode Island; Seth Cote, a third baseman/pitcher from Otis; Ryan Thompson, a pitcher from East Millinocket; Dylan Worster, a pitcher from Howland; Alex Csiernik, a catcher from Hamilton, Ontario; and Jordan Perry, a pitcher from Baileyville.
