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| Aroostook Republican file photo Caribou’s Anesha Hersey takes a lead off third base during a playoff game last year. Hersey is one of the veterans returning and hoping to help the Vikings back into the post-season again this year. |
by Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU — The Vikings are coming off two very strong seasons on the softball diamond. The 2011 team made a surprising run to the Eastern Maine finals, while last year’s team won 13 of 16 regular season games before falling to eventual state champion Old Town in the playoff quarterfinals.
Caribou has some talent back from those teams, but also had some key components who will be difficult to replace. Emily Staples proved to be one of the most dominating pitchers ever to come out of Caribou High School and Jamie Martin was a player of the year candidate in the Penobscot Valley Conference and excelled both offensively and defensively. They were lost to graduation, while two other starters on last year’s team will also not be returning. Rebecca McDougal, a three-year starter at first base, opted not to play, while Courtney Burby suffered a severe knee injury during ski season and will miss the season.
“We’ve been focusing on finding a couple of new corner outfielders, getting a pitcher who can consistently throw strikes and adjusting the infield a little bit,” said eighth-year coach Ryan Deprey.
The coach was pleasantly surprised following the team’s preseason game at Orono April 15.
“It was our first time on the field this year and we did not look good during warmups, but when the game started we hit much better than I expected and made only one error in the field,” Deprey said of the 14-2 win. “I was very happy with the performance to say the least.”
He expects his team to be able to generate offense both by playing “small ball” (using bunts and good baserunning) and hitting for power.
Deprey has a 12-player roster and envisions his starting lineup to consist of senior shortstop Anesha Hersey leading off, senior catcher Kristin Plante batting second and junior third baseman Amber Bonewicz batting third.
Senior pitcher Jordyn Doucette will bat cleanup, followed by senior first baseman Kelsie Espling and junior second baseman Cassidy Godin.
Nicole McHattie, a junior, will be the designated player. The outfield positions will consist of senior Victoria Bouchard in center, splitting junior right fielder Delaney Williams and sophomore left fielder Morgan Outing.
Freshman Jenna Boucher and senior Sara Huston are the other players on the squad.
Both Bonewicz and Godin are transfers, Bonewicz from Connecticut and Godin from Fort Fairfield. Deprey said Doucette, the most dangerous hitter on the Vikings, will also be the team’s new starting pitcher and is someone who can throw strikes, with Bonewicz also seeing time on the mound.
“With a solid defense, which is just as strong as it was last year, I think we will be able to make plays to keep us in games,” Deprey predicts.
Burby will serve as a manager this year along with Amber Peterson, Madison Doody and Mariesa Sarmiento. C.P. Harris is back as Deprey’s assistant coach.
