ORONO, Maine —- Kennebunk’s Janelle Bouchard said she is in a “better place mentally this season.”
The University of Maine softball program has benefited.
Bouchard enjoyed two impressive seasons at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where she was a two-time Horizon League All-Tournament team selection and had a league-high 53 runs batted in as a freshman.
She had her ups and downs in her first season at Maine in 2015, when she hit .230 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in.
But Bouchard hit a robust .433 on Maine’s recent spring trip to Florida with a homer and 15 RBIs. She and the freshman trio of Alyssa Derrick, Meghan Royle and Maddie Decker were among the bright spots for the Black Bears, who went 8-10 under first-year head coach Mike Coutts.
Coutts, a former assistant under his wife, Lynn Coutts, said he was pleased with the trip because the team played better the second week and the hitters did a nice job working long counts.
Derrick, the America East Rookie of the Week, belted five homers and drove in 18 runs, both team highs, and hit .293. Royle (1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 doubles) batted .385 and Decker (1 HR, 4 doubles, 11 RBI) posted a .378 average.
Mike Coutts told Bouchard “not to try to do too much” this season and not to focus on hitting homers.
“I told her her to put the ball in play and get people home. She had a great trip,” said Coutts, who pointed out that she sprayed the ball to all fields.
“I tried too hard last year. I tried to do more than I needed to,” said Bouchard, the catcher and the team’s lone senior. “But I know what I’m capable of. The biggest difference this season is mentally, not so much physically. And (Coutts) has been very patient with me. He has confidence in me. That has been big, too.”
“Janelle has been absolutely killing the ball,” said Derrick, who plays right field, third base and second base.
Bouchard said Derrick, Royle and Decker have been, “great additions to the team. They’ve added depth to the lineup and positive attitudes.”
“It’s really exciting. We didn’t know what to expect as freshmen but the three of us have done what we’ve needed to do,” said Decker.
Royle and Derrick didn’t expect to hit this well and Decker said she didn’t know what would happen because she was coming off knee surgery.
“But I’m back to where I wanted to be coming off the knee surgery and that’s been a big key,” said Decker, who plays third and is the designated player.
“I didn’t expect anything like this to happen. I’ve just tried to stay in the moment and not get off track,” said the 6-foot-3 Derrick.
“We’ve prepared well,” said second baseman-third baseman Royle. “I’ve been really determined to go the extra mile to do what the team needs.”
Veteran junior shortstop Felicia Lennon was an All-America East second-teamer a year ago. Royle and sophomore Sarah Coyne play second, sophomores Kristen Niland and Faythe Goins and junior Maddie Moore rotate at first, and the outfield consists of junior Rachel Harvey in left, sophomore Rachel Carlson in center and sophomore Erika Leonard in right.
Harvey (.358-1-8), Carlson (.316) and Leonard (.268), an America East All-Rookie pick last year, all had good trips.
In the circle, sophomores Annie Kennedy (3-3, 2.41 earned run average) and Molly Flowers (5-4, 2.58) had productive trips as they try to compensate for the graduation of AE Pitcher of the Year Alexis Bogdanovich. Junior Erin Bogdanovich, Alexis’ sister, will also be counted upon.
“They all bring something different to the table and they can all relieve as well as start and that’s going to be huge for us,” said Bouchard, who feels the team has a lot more depth offensively than a year ago and should contend for the conference title.