There was adversity from the outset of the season for the University of Maine’s baseball team.

Their rivals and opposing fans took pleasure in the betting scandal that resulted in the suspension of 13 players a year ago. They also enjoyed the fact that the Mighty Bears struggled to a 19-24-1 record and failed to qualify for the ECAC Tournament.

Success breeds contempt and, as is the case with the university’s hockey team, beating Maine in baseball produces a special feeling. team, beating Maine in baseball produces a special feeling.

A disastrous 4-15 spring trip fuelled the belief that maybe Maine wasn’t the Maine of old.

Making matters worse was the fact Maine lost nine one-run games, primarily due to lousy relief pitching and 47 errors in 19 games.

Those are the kinds of losses that gnaw at you.

In addition, Maine had lost the services of highly touted freshman southpaw Jim Hanning (bone chip in his elbow) and sophomore righty Frank Jim Hanning (bone chip in his elbow) and sophomore righty Frank Barresi (arm ailment), who became medical redshirts.

“A lot of people doubted us. A lot of people in the area didn’t think we were going to be good,” said senior center fielder and tri-captain Chad White.

I could have put myself in that category.

But we have to give credit where credit is due.

This team has won 29 of its last 39 games, including three wins in the North Atlantic Conference Tournament that secured a berth to the Central II Regional in Austin, Texas, for the Black Bears.

“On the spring trip, there was nothing physically wrong with us. We just found ways to lose one-run games. Since we’ve been up north, we’ve found ways to win those one-run games,” said junior 3B Justin Tomberlin.

Indeed, the Bears have racked up several dramatic come-from-behind triumphs.

They knew they would have to win the NAC Tournament to go to the regionals and they had to travel 11 1/2 hours by bus to Newark, Del., to do so.

Their NAC Tournament wins epitomized their season.

They managed only seven hits in the opener, but Drexel made five errors and issued seven walks and the Bears capitalized. Meanwhile, senior righty Ronnie Hewes, bothered by a sore elbow, bravely battled through 7 1/3 iHewes, bothered by a sore elbow, bravely battled through 7 1/3 innings of four-hit, one-run baseball to get the win.

Game 2, a 6-1, 11-inning win over Delaware, was described by Coach John Winkin as one of the best games he has ever been involved with.

Delaware came one hit, squeeze bunt, wild pitch, passed ball, balk, error or stolen base away from beating Maine in the 8th, 9th or 10th innings. That would have made the hill a very difficult one for the Bears to climb. But ace righty Mark Ballard always came up with the big pitch and his mates came up with the big play to dodge the bullet.

Finally, in the 11th, a leadoff homer by Shawn Tobin triggered a five-run 11th inning.

That momentum carried over to the championship round where the Bear bats finally came alive and produced an 11-1 win over Drexel. Lefty Jason Rajotte hurled 7 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball to get the win.

They won the tourney without injured starting shortstop Shanan Knox, yet another adversity they have overcome.

“After what happened last year, we wanted to keep Maine baseball on the map,” said senior 2B Todd Livingston.

This team is loose and relaxed as it prepares to leave for Austin on Thursday morning.

They won’t be awed by anything.

“We always seem to hit better against better pitching,” said Livingston.

In general, they have played better against superior opponents.

This team probably doesn’t have the pitching depth or infield defense to win the regional.

But this team has shown a lot of heart and determination and it would surprise me if they didn’t win at least one game. They are winners.