Young Bears will learn on the road

ORONO – John Winkin, University of Maine baseball coach for 20 years, didn’t have to deliberate long.

In thinking back on his 40 years as a college baseball coach, he can’t remember having a team as young as the one he will take to California on Friday for its two-week spring trip.

“But that isn’t bad at all. I have no complaints. I like this team’s potential,” said Winkin, who may take as many as 14 first-year players among the 25 on the trip. “There’s a freshness to them. They’re a fun bunch. They have a lot of enthusiasm. They remind me of some of the good kids we’ve had in the past who really like to play the game. They have a good approach to it.”

Maine will have five first-year players in the everyday lineup in second baseman Dan Catlin, third baseman Matt Trahan, and the entire outfield of left fielder Jeff Longo, center fielder Matt Huff, and right fielder Nick Caiazzo. Huff is a redshirt freshman and the others are true freshmen. Tony Bianchi, another true freshmen, will see some duty as the designated hitter.

“We’ve established how we want the team to be run and we know the guys are going to follow the guidelines,” said senior pitcher and tri-captain Mark Ballard. “There’s no screwing off, but we’re also going to make it fun.”

“We may be young, but our young players have had a lot of experience,” pointed out senior shortstop and tri-captain Todd Livingston. “They all know how to win.”

“I’m not worried about them making the adjustment to college baseball,” said junior catcher and tri-captain Steve Puleo. “They’re going to be all right. They’re really talented players.”

The offense will be the biggest question mark because Maine has lost players off last year’s 33-27 NCAA Tournament team who produced 32 of the 42 homers, 224 of 291 runs batted in, 224 of 331 runs scored, and 67 of 84 stolen bases.

“I think we’re going to hit a lot better than people expect us to,” said Ballard, who will also be a DH in addition to being the No. 1 starting pitcher.

“We’re going to try to manufacture runs this year,” said Puleo. “We’ll be running more and using more hit-and-runs.”

“I think we’ll be able to score runs,” said senior first baseman Glen Stupienski. “We going to have to make sure we get good pitches to hit. We’ll have to be patient at the plate.”

“The big challenge will be how quickly can good athletes adjust to the next level of pitching,” said Winkin.

The Bears won’t have to produce a lot of runs because the pitching staff, headed up by Ballard and converted relievers LeRoy Decker and Lance Bogardus, appears to be the strength of the team and the defense isn’t far behind.

“This is definitely the best pitching staff we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said junior catcher and tri-captain Puleo.

“We should be strong defensively,” said Winkin. “There won’t be a weak arm in the outfield and the infield should become real good once they get adjusted.”

Ballard was the North Atlantic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year a year ago. when he was 8-3 with a 2.67 earned run average and 95 strikeouts in 91 innings.He came down with tendinitis in his right shoulder in the NCAA Tournament, but said his arm is fine now.

“I just want to be consistent like I was when I won eight in a row last year,” said Ballard. “I’ll be throwing my curve and changeup a little more this year because the hitters will be expecting my fastball. I want to keep them honest.”

Righty Decker (1-1, 1.88) and lefty Bogardus (1-3, 4 saves, 4.08) will be joined in the starting rotation by senior righty Jason Dryswak (3-1, 6.27) and lefty Jim Hanning, a redshirt freshman who sat out last year with an elbow injury.

Junior Ryan Smith (3-2, 5.01) and sophomores Matt Cassidy (1-3, 1 save, 6.35) and Steve Coombs (0-2, 6.40) can start or relieve. Freshmen Brad Veilleux may become the fifth starter.

and it appears that first-year players Greg White and Dave Foran may get some mound duty.

Winkin hasn’t decided on a closer as yet but Decker, Bogardus and Dryswak could return to the bullpen and fill that role. Freshman Garrett Quinn will be brought along slowly, but could also become the bullpen ace.

Leadoff hitter Livingston, Puleo, and (.308, 11 SBs, 53 runs), Cape Cod League All-Star Puleo (.273-1 homer-7 RBIs), who hit .305 for Brewster last summer and was the league’s ninth-leading hitter, and senior firsummer and was the league’s ninth-leading hitter, and senior first baseman Glen Stupienski (.280-7-26) will be the veteran offensive catalysts.

Transfer John Ellis and sophomore Ken Reed are battling for the role of back-up catcher and Shiro Ando and Joe Polizzotti will be the back-up infielders. Freshman DH-catcher Ryan Thibodeau is also in the hunt for a spring trip spot.