The start of the high school baseball season seems long delayed this season, but not for the usual reason.
Typically it’s a matter of waiting out the lingering snow on the fields, and the “poor man’s fertilizer” storm that always hits about now.
This year it’s quite the opposite. Because of a lack of much snow since early February in much of Maine, not to mention an April without poor man’s fertilizer, many fields have been playable since preseason practices started, leaving plenty of opportunity for the season to start but no games on the schedule.
That changes Friday, with a very light schedule highlighted by a season-opening Down East rivalry game at East Machias between Washington Academy and Calais.
But before you know it, the playoffs will be here. Regional preliminary-round playoff games are less than two months away and by June 19 state champions will be crowned.
Who will be in those state finals representing Eastern Maine? Here’s one opinion.
Class A: Consider this the battle of the Rams, with defending EM champion Cony of Augusta and Bangor the top contenders.
Cony may have arrived a year early last season, winning the regional crown with a team heavy on sophomores. Now those sophomores are back as juniors under new head coach Don Plourde, the former Maranacook of Readfield leader.
Bangor, which went 14-4 last season while reaching the semifinals, boasts high-quality depth both on the mound and in its lineup, and coach Jeff Fahey’s Rams are determined to get back to the state game after a two-year absence.
The pick: Cony.
Class B: Gardiner has been this division’s dominant team for the last two years, winning the states in 2008 and a second straight regional title last year. The Tigers will contend again, but face stiff competition in a KVAC Class B field that also includes 2009 Eastern B finalist Waterville, Camden Hills of Rockport, Rockland and Western B’s Lincoln Academy of Newcastle.
Among the northern schools, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln may have the most returning talent, while Bucksport and Ellsworth are traditional contenders and John Bapst of Bangor should be well armed on the mound.
The pick: Waterville.
Class C: I’ve always been intrigued by teams in their first season of play after moving down a class.
That applies here with Foxcroft Academy, now in Class C after winning 10 games in Eastern B last spring. Coach Bill Kane’s club returns a deep pitching staff and seven of its nine starters.
Other contenders will include defending champ George Stevens of Blue Hill, Orono, Stearns of Millinocket, Calais and Washington Academy.
The pick: Foxcroft.
Class D: Deer Isle-Stonington has been the safest bet in recent years, having won the state title in each of the last three odd-numbered seasons, including last spring. The Mariners must replace graduated star Eben Powers, but just about everyone else is back for coach Darren Eaton’s club.
But last year’s title run proved just how close this division is, with Deer Isle-Stonington outlasting Shead of Eastport in 10 innings in the EM final after Shead edged Central Aroostook of Mars Hill 5-4 and DI-Stonington tipped Katahdin of Stacyville 3-1 in the semifinals.
Those teams all should be solid again this spring, along with Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook, Wisdom of Saint Agatha and Machias.
The pick: Central Aroostook.
