Zach Quintal of Marshwood High School of South Berwick, already named the Gatorade Maine Baseball Player of the Year, is among eight finalists for the state’s 2015 Mr. Baseball recognition.
The winner will be presented the Dr. John W. Winkin Award at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, just before the first pitch of the annual East-West Classes A-B senior all-star game at the Winkin Complex at Husson University in Bangor.
The East-West C-D senior all-star game will begin the day’s activities at Husson with a 3 p.m. first pitch.
Finalists for the 24th annual Mr. Baseball award are seniors selected by the Maine Baseball Coaches Association from among various conference players of the year recognized around the state in the spring.
Quintal, a pitcher-infielder, was named a first-team All-Southwestern Maine Activities Association honoree after leading Marshwood to the No. 1 seed in Western Maine Class A. He batted .440 during the regular season with 21 runs scored and 15 RBIs and compiled a 7-1 pitching record with a 0.85 earned run average over 41 innings.
Quintal will play at the University of Maine next season.
Other Mr. Baseball finalists are Eric Hoogterp of Old Town, Gage Feeney of Washington Academy of East Machias, John Parker of Brunswick, Henry Curran of South Portland, Will Bryant of Greely of Cumberland Center, Kyle Bourget of Lisbon and Cam Brochu of Maranacook of Readfield.
Hoogterp, a pitcher-shortstop who will attend the University of Southern Maine in Gorham this fall, was named the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B player and co-pitcher of the year after leading Old Town to an undefeated regular season and the No. 1 seed in Eastern Maine Class B.
He posted league bests in batting average (.611), hits (33), singles (21), doubles (12), runs scored (25) and stolen bases (18 of 19) while ranking third with 21 RBIs and not striking out in 61 plate appearances. Hoogterp compiled a 4-0 pitching record with a 0.67 earned run average, 39 strikeouts and 19 hits allowed in 31⅓ innings.
Feeney pitched Washington Academy to the 2014 Class C state championship. This spring, the right-hander was named the Penobscot Valley Conference Class C pitcher of the year. Feeney will play at the University of Maine next season.
Parker, a four-year starting pitcher for Brunswick, was selected as the KVAC Class A player of the year. He will continue his baseball career next season at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut.
Curran was named the SMAA pitcher of the year as well as a first-team all conference selection and will attend USM this fall.
Bryant, who scored the winning run as Greely defeated Caribou 1-0 to win the 2014 Class B state championship, is this year’s Western Maine Conference player of the year. He will attend Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, this fall.
Bourget, the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year, will attend Husson University this fall. Brochu, the KVAC Class B Inland Division player of the year, will attend Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.
Previous Mr. Baseball winners were Steve Coombs of Lee Academy (1992), Nick Caiazzo of Deering of Portland (1993), Andy Estabrook of Yarmouth (1994), Matt Kinney of Bangor (1995), Matt Truman of Oxford Hills of South Paris (1996), Brandon Brewer of Greely (1997), Pat Liddy of Mt. Blue of Farmington (1998), Stu Tisdale of Deering (1999) and Jason Harvey of Bucksport (2000).
Also, Greg Creek of Maranacook (2001), Greg Norton of South Portland (2002), Ross Cantara of Biddeford (2003), Mark Rogers of Mount Ararat of Topsham (2004), Ryan Flaherty of Deering (2005), Collin Henry of George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill (2006), Jarrett Lukas of Old Town (2007), Kyle Stilphen of Gardiner (2008), Chris Bernard of Scarborough (2009), Matt Verrier of Oxford Hills (2010), Sam Balzano of Deering (2011), Ben Wessel of Scarborough (2012), Ryan Rebar of Foxcroft Academy of Dover-Foxcroft (2013) and Ben Greenberg of Scarborough (2014).
