LOWELL, Massachusetts — The University of Maine baseball team was trying to maintain its collective confidence Thursday evening in the wake of its 4-1 loss to Stony Brook in the first round of the America East Baseball Championship.
The Black Bears were trying to remain focused and take the game-at-a-time approach heading into Friday’s 2 p.m. elimination game at LeLacheur Park.
When asked whether this UMaine team was a resilient one, junior Scott Heath of Westbrook had a curt response.
“We’ll find out tomorrow,” he said.
UMaine may not have the same positive karma it had hoped, especially after the Bears dropped the opener with No.1 starter Tommy Lawrence on the mound. The All-America East first-team pitcher had won his previous six starts, including four complete games.
Lawrence, who will try to provide inspiration from the bench on Friday, is optimistic.
“We’ve got a lot of old guys,” he said of the Bears’ eight seniors. “This is our last chance to make it [to the NCAA tournament], so hopefully we come ready to play. I know everybody will. Hopefully, we can make a run at this.”
The senior right-hander (8-5) drew high praise from Stony Brook head coach Matt Senk, whose team had lost to Lawrence the previous three times it had faced him.
“Tommy Lawrence, one of the greatest competitors I think we’ve ever come across in our time in America East,” Senk said after the game.
“The kid’s an absolute bulldog and the only way you beat people like Tommy Lawrence is with the Frankie Vanderkas of the world. It was a great pitching matchup,” he added.
Lawrence’s performance helped him continue his climb on a couple of UMaine’s single-season leader lists.
His seven strikeouts against Stony Brook pushed his 2014 total to 97, good for third place at UMaine. Only Larry Thomas (108 in 1991) and Mike Collar (98, 2003) have struck out more batters in a season.
With the complete game, his fifth in the last six appearances, Lawrence also pushed his innings pitched total to 105 ⅔. That is the second most in a single season, eclipsing his 2013 total of 104 2/3.
Lester Mitchell worked 107 innings back in 1902 to establish the school record.
Rain delays tournament
UMaine and Stony Brook had to wait longer than expected to get the America East tournament rolling on Thursday.
That’s because the threat of a thunderstorm in the area of LeLacheur Park, and a steady rain, forced America East officials to delay the start of the game for 2 hours, 23 minutes.
The second game between No. 2 Harford and No. 3 Binghamton, the defending champion, was pushed back almost 2 1/2 hours.
Rain plagued the 2013 tournament, which was the first held at the home of Boston Red Sox Class A short-season affiliate, the Lowell Spinners. It also is the home field of conference newcomer UMass Lowell.
The first day was held as scheduled, but rain and wet conditions altered play on Day 2. The winners’ bracket game between UMaine and Binghamton got a late start, was delayed for 37 minutes, then was suspended at 11:40 p.m. after a 28-minute rain delay.
It was completed the next day, when the Bears won twice to force a winner-take-all final against the Bearcats.
LeLacheur was subsequently deemed unplayable and, because the facility was not available Sunday, America East moved the championship game to the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.
Down and dirty
The America East tourney presents competitors with a different set of challenges than those to which they are most accustomed.
LeLacheur Park features a grass surface and dirt infield. As it turns out, three of the postseason teams — UMaine, Stony Brook and Hartford — all play on artificial surfaces. Only Binghamton has a natural grass facility.
UMaine senior shortstop Troy Black said he doesn’t anticipate any significant issues playing on the grass and dirt.
“We’ve just got to remember to stay down on the ball and not take the fielding for granted,” said Black, who explained that the ball rolls and bounces truer on artificial grass.
“Balls are going to take hops and stuff, but we’ve been playing on grass and dirt all our lives, so it’s not as big of an adjustment as you might think,” he added.
Maine coach Steve Trimper made an effort to get his team on grass, although UMaine’s planned Monday practice at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor was not held there because of rain.
Instead, the Black Bears made a stop Tuesday, during their trip to Lowell, at Nashua, New Hampshire.
“We ended up practicing at Holman Stadium in Nashua. I wanted to make sure we got in some ground balls,” Trimper said.
UMaine and the other tournament teams also each had a practice session at LeLacheur Park on Wednesday.
Maine players gain New England honors
Maine junior Scott Heath and seniors Lawrence and Black were named to the 2014 New England College Baseball Association Division I All-New England Teams Thursday.
Heath, a utility player, who started at first base for the Bears in their league playoff opener, was selected to the first team while Lawrence gained a second-team honor and Black was named to third team.
Entering Thursday’s game, Heath had a .348 average with four home runs and 27 RBIs while Black was hitting .324 with two homers and 25 RBIs. Lawrence had an 8-4 record with a 3.17 ERA in 96 ⅔ innings that included 90 strikeouts and 29 walks.
Calbick leaving his mark
UMaine infielder Alex Calbick also has placed himself among some of the most productive hitters in school history.
The senior, who has spent much of this season at second base, ranks among the most durable players UMaine has produced. Calbick’s start on Thursday marked his 219th game in a Black Bears uniform. That is only two games fewer than Gary LaPierre, who played in 221 contests from 1985-88.
Calbick also has continued to ascend UMaine’s career doubles list. His 55 two-baggers are just three shy of former slugger Joe Drapeau, who hit 58 doubles from 2000-03.