ORONO, Maine — There is no substitute for experience on the baseball diamond, especially on the mound.
That key element was missing last season for the University of Maine, which finished 20-28 including 10 one-run losses and four by two runs.
Coach Steve Trimper is confident the club he puts on the field this year will be better equipped to get the clutch hit, make the key pitch or turn the needed double plays that will have the Bears back in the hunt for an America East title.
“My sense of the team right now is, it’s a 180-degree turn,” Trimper said. “Everybody’s calm, everybody knows what to expect. It’s maturity.”
UMaine opens the season Friday with the first of four games at Nevada-Las Vegas. The Bears were picked to finish third in America East behind ’08 regular-season champion Binghamton and tourney winner Stony Brook.
UMaine’s only departed full-time starter is first baseman Curt Smith, the America East Player of the Year. The mound staff returns mostly intact.
Sophomore righthander Kyle Benoit will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery recently on his right elbow, but the Bears have most of their key performers back.
Trimper has seen improvement among the pitchers, including sophomore lefthander Kevin Scanlan (2-5, 3.74 earned run average, 72 strikeouts in 67¤ innings), an AE All-Rookie pick, along with junior righthander Joe Miller (5-2, 3.39, 46K, 55IP) and sophomore righty Matt Jebb (2-5, 4.57, 64K, 65 IP).
“Last year a lot of our pitchers were young guys, didn’t have the experience of being Division I baseball players,” said junior catcher Myckie Lugbauer. “Now they have that experience and I think they’re ready to step up and really prove what they can do.”
Sophomore lefty Jonathan Balentina (0-2, 8.40) has shown growth and is among the projected starters, while versatile senior Alejandro Balsinde (2-7, 6.26, 1 save) has moved back to a setup/closer role. He’ll be joined in the bullpen by sophomore righty Jimmy Cox of Bangor (1-1, 4.37, 2 saves), the closer, and junior RH Justin Latta (2-1, 9.45).
“First off, they’re physically a year older, bigger,” Trimper said. “Mentally they’re much more in check with what they do. I’ve got guys who know how to think the game a little bit.”
Newcomers expected to be in the mix, possibly as starters, are righthanders Keith Bilodeau and A.J. Bazdanes. Classmates Pat Quinn and Matt Klaczkiewicz, along with redshirt freshman Carson Pillar (2007 elbow surgery) and junior Ryan Forrest will contribute.
UMaine is anchored by the junior catching tandem of Lugbauer (.343, 5 HR, 43 RBI) and Joe Mercurio (.222, 2 HR, 15 RBI). Lugbauer is a Collegiate Baseball preseason All-American and AE first-teamer.
“Both very good defensive catchers. Mickey brings a great offensive bat,” Trimper said.
Senior Danny Menendez (.253, 20 RBI, 10 stolen bases) has been a fixture at second base, while slick-fielding junior Tony Patane (.287, 3 HR, 33 RBI) returns at shortstop. Completing the core is senior center fielder Billy Cather (.328, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 15 SB), who did a brief stint last summer in the Cape Cod League before a shoulder injury ended his season.
“We were so close last year and we’ve got more pitching depth,” Menendez said. “We got a little bit better in every area.”
The Bears will feature a fast, deep, versatile outfield that also includes senior Kevin McAvoy of Brewer (.301, 2HR, 25 RBI). Vying for the left field spot are freshman Taylor Lewis, the team’s speedster, and junior college transfer George Tager.
Sophomore Matt Howard and freshman Jesse Hamilton also join the talented group.
“That’s how you know when the team’s strong, when everybody’s fighting for a position,” McAvoy said. “I think the lineup’s going to be made in Fla., not in Vegas. Everybody has to earn their position.”
Sophomore Jarrett Lukas of Old Town (.319, 4 HR, 28 RBI), an All-Rookie choice last year, holds down third base. However, freshman Kyle Stilphen of Pittston, Mr. Maine Baseball, also will be in the infield mix.
“There are really four guys playing the three spots,” Trimper said. “I’m extremely high on Stilphen.”
UMaine is hoping to replace Smith at first base with a left-right hitting combination. Sophomore Joey Martin of Portland (.286, 14 RBI) and redshirt freshman Justin Leisenheimer, a converted catcher.
“I’m excited to get going. This team is mature and so fun to work with,” Trimper said. “I can’t wait to see these guys play.”
UMaine’s spring break trip will include 14 games in 15 days, all against northern teams. The Bears are scheduled to open on the FieldTurf of refurbished Mahaney Diamond March 21 against Sacred Heart.
“I think it’s the single most important thing for the program in terms of practice time, home games and recruiting,” Trimper said of the facelift.
America East athletic directors also voted, for cost savings, to return to weekend doubleheaders for league play rather than the Friday-Saturday-Sunday format used in recent years. Teams will play a nine-inning game and a seven-inning game Saturday, then a seven and a nine Sunday.