Scott’s bat ringing for Bears

While University of Maine sophomore shortstop Brian Seguin rolls along with a 27-game hitting streak, his double play partner, second baseman Tim Scott, has put together a nice little hitting streak of his own.

Ellsworth’s Scott, also a sophomore, has hit in 10 consecutive games at a .450 clip (18-for-40) to raise his average to .293.

In 34 games, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Scott has already eclipsed virtually every offensive statistic he compiled a year ago when he hit .239 over 50 games.

Scott has more hits (34 to 33), doubles (6 to 4), homers (3 to 0), total bases (51 to 39), runs batted in (26 to 19) and runs scored (30 to 22) in 22 fewer at-bats.

“I really think that during his senior year at Ellsworth (High), nobody pitched to him,” said Maine Coach John Winkin. “They pitched around him. It was like a blank year for him.”

“So, last year, he had to adjust from seeing poor pitching to seeing good pitching all the time,” said Winkin. “It took him a while to make the adjustment.”

Scott said, “I’d have to agree with that to some extent. A lot of it had to do with it being a new experience for me. I started in a deep slump and I wasn’t used to being in a slump. I put more pressure on myself and that didn’t help much.”

In addition, Scott was learning a new position, second base. He had been a third baseman and catcher throughout his career.

He eventually improved his average and was one of the few bright spots for Maine in the ECAC Tournament as he hit .364 with four runs batted in.

“That tournament helped my confidence a lot,” said Scott. “I went in there saying it was a new season for me.”

Scott is a different hitter this season.

“I’m swinging harder and keeping my head in,” said Scott. “I’m more aggressive. I’m trying to drive the ball instead of just getting a base hit. I’ve been sitting on fastballs. You get at least one good pitch to hit (in every at-bat), two if you’re lucky.”

He also said, “I’ve been seeing the ball better this year and have stayed back longer. I’ve been hitting the ball where it’s been pitched and been trying to drive it to the gaps.”

Scott has been hitting in the sixth spot in the order and he has often found himself stepping to the plate with men on base. Maine is hitting .323 as a team.

“I like the sixth spot so far,” said Scott, who hit in the eighth or ninth spots most of last year. “I’ve been lucky because everybody has been getting on base in front of me so the pitchers have had to pitch to me.”

Scott’s father, Jack, the Ellsworth High School baseball coach, said his son seems “more relaxed, mature and confident” this season.

“The adjustment from high school to college baseball had a lot to do with last season,” said Jack. “In addition to baseball, he still had to adjust to school and being on the road. And he had never played that position before.”

“Timmy is such a good athlete,” said Winkin. “I figured if he picked up any of his father’s toughness and aggressiveness, he’d explode at the plate.”

Scott has also had an excellent year defensively.

He has made just six errors in 152 chances and has contributed to several of Maine’s 36 double plays.

“He’s got the quickest hands of any second baseman I’ve ever seen,” said first baseman Mike DeLucia. “And he can get to balls hit to either side of him.”

“I’m more confident at second now,” said Scott. “It was new to me last year. I’m reading pitches better now and am cheating (on positioning) either way. Now that I have a year under my belt, I feel better out there.”