“If hard work and desire is any indication of success, then this unit is going to have a wonderful year.” – University of Maine softball coach Janet Anderson.

Coach Janet Anderson believes, if everyone stays healthy, maintains the competitive attitude they possessed during preseason, and stays focused on the team goal, 1992 could be one of the best softball seasons ever for the University of Maine Black Bears.

The Bears open their season Monday in Ocoee, Fla., at the Rebel Spring Games.

“Our goal right now,” Anderson said, “is to host the North Atlantic Conference tournament on our campus. To do that, we must end the season as the highest seed.”

“I think that would be a wonderful way to begin the inaugural year for NAC softball. This is our first year in an actual conference; we’ve been independent for 12 years,” she added. “NAC will provide us with home exposure, and that is what we need on this campus. We’ll have Boston University, Drexel and Delaware here this year. Without a conference, that would never have happened. We are looking forward to the type of exposure and competition NAC will bring us.”

Maine plays 18 Division I schools in Florida, including Iowa, which is ranked among the Top 10. That is a bit different from years past, when many opponents were in NCAA Division III. On its 50-game schedule, Maine plays only eight non-Division I teams.

Most of the members of last year’s 22-24 team return. Senior co-captains Kim Reed (catcher) and Nikki Lovell (first baseman) return along with sophomores Angel Gamache (second baseman) and Kristin Steele (third baseman).

The outfield returns, with seniors Tenley Libby in left, Dorothy MacMichael in right, and sophomore Jenna Bowie in center. Cindy Champney lettered as an outfielder last year.

For the first time ever, Maine has the luxury of depth in the pitching staff with four in the circle. Junior Mary Campbell and sophomore Deb Smith provide experience while freshmen Cindy Harrington and Kris Gorman will also see time. Gorman can also play shortstop.

The only position open is shortstop and Anderson believes that will be filled after Maine’s first two or three games. Vying for that spot with Gorman will be freshman Vicki Berry and Raegan Jenkins.

Deb Smith tops the list of 1991 statistical leaders in both pitching and hitting. She was 14-12 overall with a 2.33 ERA in 210 2/3 innings pitched, a school record. She led the team at the plate, hitting .343. Reed was second at .263.

SPRING SCHEDULE Rebel Spring Games (Ocoee, Fla.) March 2 – Loyola, 10 a.m.; Lasalle, 1:30 p.m. March 3 – Missouri/St. Louis, 10 a.m.; Saginaw Valley, 11:45 a.m. March 4 – Loyola, 11:45 a.m.; Valparaiso, 1:15 p.m. March 5 – Valparaiso, 11:45 a.m.; Lake Superior, 3:15 p.m. March 7 – Illinois-Chicago, 11:15 a.m.; Temple, 1 p.m. March 8 – Valparaiso, 8:30 a.m.; Robert Morris, 10:15 a.m. March 10 – Southeast Missouri, 8 a.m.; Evansville, 9:45 a.m. March 11 – Illinois-Chicago, 1:15 p.m.; Temple, 4:45 p.m. March 12 – St. Francis, 11:30 a.m.; Evansville, 1:15 p.m. South Florida Pepsi Classic (Tampa, Fla.) March 13 – Oklahoma City, 11 a.m.; Hofstra, 3 p.m. March 14 – Iowa, 9 a.m.; Winthrop, 1 p.m.; First round single-elimination, 7 p.m. March 15 – Final Rounds, TBA