Young Wildcats competing
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — Count the Wildcat varsity baseball team among those adversely affected by the poor weather experienced this spring.
The Wildcats have had eight of their first 12 games moved from their original date because of inclement weather. Any momentum from a successful preseason trip during April vacation was squashed due to the rain, which also affected the practice schedule.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
FRESHMAN Tyler Seeley drops a bunt during Presque Isle’s recent game in Houlton. Seeley is part of a group of talented young Wildcat players.
“We have a very young and inexperienced team and we wanted to keep playing because we had a nice rhythm going,” explained 27th-year coach Tim Olore. “But, we have had a good opportunity to work on all phases of the game, first on the turf soccer field and now finally out on our baseball field.”
Presque Isle’s youth is evidenced by a roster that includes five freshmen, four sophomores, five juniors and no seniors. The inexperience comes because the ’Cats lost seven starters from the 2010 season due to graduation. Four of those players were Penobscot Valley Conference all-stars and five were Aroostook League all-stars.
The current lineup includes junior Wilder York as the team’s leadoff hitter and starting shortstop who also is one of the top pitchers and junior Isaac LaJoie, the starting catcher. York and LaJoie are the only holdovers from last year’s starting nine.
“They are our leaders and are very talented players,” Olore said. “We lean on Wilder in tough situations on the mound and he is a great defensive shortstop, while Isaac has been our top offensive threat and plays well behind the plate.”
Freshmen Tyler Seeley and Saul Nunez have made an immediate impact after playing at the middle school level last spring. Seeley bats third and can play first base and in the outfield, while Nunez has excellent offensive and defensive tools and is an infielder and pitching prospect.
Evan Waddell, a junior who anchors first base, has had a great start to the season. He’s also part of PI’s pitching rotation. Second baseman Jonah Stephenson, a sophomore, gives the team quickness and a defensive spark. Junior Ryley Norton is PI’s top pitcher and also plays third base or outfield. Jacob Player, a junior, is much improved in the outfield and can also catch and pitch. Sophomore Adam Flynn starts in the outfield.
The team’s substitutes are sophomore Corey Belanger, sophomore Cody Flannery, freshman Cody Lyford, freshman Karson Wilcox and freshman Josh Gordon.
James York, who had coached the JV team in previous years, is now Olore’s assistant, while Brad Boyles is now the head junior varsity coach. The team’s managers are freshmen Elena Ford, Paige Gagnon, Katelyn Michaud and Jeremy Shaw.
Presque Isle was 4-7 entering yesterday’s scheduled game in Lincoln against Mattanawcook and Olore is hoping the team can finish strong.
“Our inexperience has been a factor and that is expected, but we’re vastly improved from where we started,” Olore said. “This team has a nice attitude, a good work ethic and they all like baseball. These are qualities you need to have so you can build a team that wants to compete and be successful.”
