Third-year Houlton coach Jim Castner is anticipating a solid season for his Shiretowners this year. The team lost two key players to graduation, Gage Hunt and Kole Buzzeo, but return a strong nucleus from last year’s 10-5 team.
The Shiretowners, ranked third a year ago in Class C, lost to No. 11 Calais in quarterfinal action. This year, Castner likes his team’s chances.
“I feel we are a very strong team that is well balanced, he said. “Our pitching and our hitting should be our strengths. As long as our defense can hold up we will be in every game.”
Assisting Castner again this year are Jamie Hunt and Eric Sucy. Playing for the team are: seniors, Jake Drew, Dan Howe, Noah Holmes, Ethan Bouchard, Cameron Clark and Nick Hagan; juniors, Connor Grant, Ryan Dee and Billy Phillips; sophomores, Thomas Prescott, Cameron Graham and Nick Botting; freshmen, Pat Howe and Morgan Phillips.
Dee, Howe and Graham will return to this year’s pitching rotation, with Drew once again behind the plate.
“In the scrimmages I will be working out all the pitchers and getting a more fixed rotation closer [to our starting date],” said Castner. “Also in high school baseball with inning limits and bad weather having a regular rotation is useless because of so much change.
“None of our pitchers throw exceptionally hard so the ball will be put in play,” he added. “Our defense needs to be solid to help out our pitchers.”
The Shiretowners’ opening game is set for today at 4 p.m., as they host Caribou.
Other teams to beat in Class C this season are Calais, Mattanawcook and Washington Academy.
“Calais beat us in the playoffs and Mattanawcook always plays us tough,” said Castner. “We do not face Washington Academy in the regular season, but they were the top seed in the playoffs last year.”
The Shires are scheduled to open their season today, weather premitting, as they host Caribou at 4 p.m. The boys travel to Calais on Thursday and will play Mattanawcook Academy at home on Monday at 4 p.m.