Winkin making moves to get most from Bears

ORONO – When you’re hot, you’re hot. When you’re not, someone will be ready to replace you.

That is the philosophy Coach John Winkin hopes to employ when his University of Maine baseball team takes the field next spring.

Winkin and his staff have spent the last five weeks evaluating the team, and he thinks the 1995 Black Bears will be talented enough and deep enough to utilize various combinations of players.

“We’ve spent a lot of time moving guys around to make us as versatile as we could possibly be and give our team a lot of options,” Winkin said Thursday, two days before Maine caps its fall workouts with a Blue-White game Saturday morning at Mahaney Diamond.

Maine finished 20-33 last season and lost in the quarterfinals of the North Atlantic Conference playoffs.

There has been considerable movement among last season’s starters. Sophomore right fielder Nick Caiazzo has been catching a lot and playing some third base.

Steve Puleo, the only senior who is not a pitcher, is the No. 1 catcher, but could also see time as the designated hitter. Soph John Ellis and freshman Ron Coombs are backups behind the plate.

Junior shortstop Shiro Ando has moved to second base, while sophomore Dan Catlin has gone from second to third. That paves the way for either freshman Keith Croteau of Saco or sophomore Matt Trahan to step in at shortstop.

Trahan, the starter at third in ’94, has been out with a fractured ankle. Freshman Marc Halsted of Orono has impressed and is pencilled in as a utility infielder.

Sophomore Joe Polizzotti and freshman Tony Fernandez of Bangor have also played in the infield.

First base candidates include sophs Brian Jolliffe, Jeff Longo and Ryan Thibodeau, a catcher.

“We have good athletes and I wanted the flexibility of being able to keep whoever’s hot in the lineup, even if we have to mix them somehow to get that,” Winkin said.

In the outfield, sophomore Mat Huff returns, but has switched from center field to right. Speedy freshman T.J. Sheedy of Stoneham, Mass., appears to have locked up the job in center.

Winkin has plenty of options with the third outfield spot, including sophomores Longo and Tony Bianchi, freshman Rex Turner of Augusta, and junior Steve Coombs.

Pitching has been the area of greatest concern because of injuries and the loss of two top prospects to the pros. Sophomore lefthander Jim Hanning has developed back problems after a life-threatening bout with appendicitis.

Senior lefty Lance Bogardus, set to return to the bullpen, has been rehabbing a recurring elbow problem. Junior righthander Matt Cassidy is recovering from an arm injury he suffered last summer.

“Our only setback in any way has been the inability of Hanning, Bogardus and Cassidy to be involved on a scale that everybody else was,” Winkin said. “They really could not compete.”

Senior righty LeRoy Decker headlines the list of starters, which also includes righty Steve Coombs, Hanning, sophomore RH Dave Foran, soph lefty Brad Veilleux, and freshman LH Steve Lancaster.

Senior RH Ryan Smith will take care of setup chores, but is versatile enough to fill any need, Winkin said. Sophomore Garrett Quinn returns as the righthanded closer.

Freshman lefty Keith Lancaster of Farmington has impressed after coming off a shoulder injury suffered in a bicycle accident. His bat could earn him some time at DH.

Freshman righties Andy Estabrook of Yarmouth, Josh Harriman of New Hampshire, Pete Catlin of Brunswick, and transfer Brian Wickett of Old Town also are in the fold, as is redshirt lefthander Bert Marsden of Hallowell.

Season tickets for UMaine men’s and women’s basketball, autographed bats of Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. and Pete Rose, and an autographed Wayne Gretzky hockey stick will be among the numerous raffle and auction items up for grabs Friday during the Bill Swift Golf Classic at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

The raffle and an auction will follow the tournament dinner and awards ceremonies. Even those who aren’t playing may bid on the items, including autographed baseballs from Willie Mays and Warren Spahn.

All proceeds from the tourney, which starts at 10:30 a.m., will benefit the UMaine baseball program.

Swift, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, and Oakland A’s infielder Mike Bordick will be two of the special guests for Saturday’s UMaine alumni all-star baseball game, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Mahaney Diamond.

Numerous Black Bear standouts will be on hand for the game, which will pair players as American or National, based on their professional affiliation.

A Friends of Maine Baseball cookout will follow the game. The cost is $6.50 for non-members of the group, but everyone is welcome.