Sports Reporter
CARIBOU – When the Vikings’ baseball team heads downstate for its preseason exhibition season, coach Jimmie Thibodeau is hoping many of the question marks surrounding this year’s team will be answered.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Senior Ted Walker of the Caribou Vikings connects with a pitch during a practice last week. Walker is a power-hitting threat for coach Jimmie Thibodeau’s squad.
The Vikings have several scrimmages lined up during their southern Maine swing next week, which immediately precedes the team’s regular-season opening doubleheader against Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln on Saturday, April 24. There are a number of starting jobs still up for grabs after seven of last year’s top players graduated.
“We lost five pitchers and our entire infield,” Thibodeau said. “It was the strongest team that I have ever coached.”
Caribou ended up with a 12-4 record and placed fourth in the Eastern Maine Class B standings. The Vikes beat Presque Isle in a preliminary playoff game, but saw their season come to an end in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs against Gardiner.
Among the players to be replaced are Patrick Thibodeau, who has taken his talents to the Division I level as a member of the University of Maine Black Bears. Other solid contibutors were Chad McCarthy, Philip St. Peter, Seth Sager, Eric Brown, Matt Kinney and Brandon Caverhill.
“This year is going to be a building year,” said the coach. “It’s really hard to predict what will happen as there are a lot of big shoes to fill.”
The competition for starting positions has led to a spirited preseason, with several players still in the mix for key roles.
Chad Caverhill and Evan Susee are outfielders who are vying for the leadoff spot in the order. Caverhill is also one of the team’s pitching candidates.
Ethan McDuffie, who Thibodeau feels could have a big year, will start at shortstop and be near the top of the batting order. Center fielder Cameron Anderson and catcher Ted Walker will be important hitters in the middle of the lineup. Anderson is a left-handed pitcher with experience from last year, while Walker is regarded as one of the top power hitters in Eastern Maine.
Royce Landeen will get the start at third base and is also one of the team’s pitchers. Steven St. Peter will play first base and is backed up by Cody Thibodeau. Nathaniel Kamm starts in left field, while Lance LaMothe and Adam Chartier are competing for the starting job at second base.
Garrett Jordan will primarily be a designated hitter, with Caleb Chapman and Levi Bither expected to be in the mix as outfielders.
Thibodeau, Kamm, Chartier, Chapman and Bither will be among the players who could see action on the mound for the Caribou squad.
The team’s managers are Elizabeth Keaton and Hannah Saucier, with long-time assistant coach Tom Hale and first-year assistant Dan Umphrey also helping out coach Thibodeau.
“The keys for us are working hard, keeping good attitudes and doing their best at all times,” said coach Thibodeau. “If we can do those things and play good fundamental baseball, we will win a lot of games.”
