Winkin optimistic despite UMaine’s 1-17 spring trip> Bears prepare for four-game weekend

A 1-17 spring trip in which you get outscored 155-48 would frustrate just about any coach.

Except one.

“I’m not a bit discouraged,” said University of Maine baseball coach John Winkin, who is in his 21st year at Maine.

“We played some awfully good teams and the pitching we faced was as good as any I’ve ever seen on a spring trip,” added Winkin.

“They have a lot of young players who made mistakes that young players make. But they’ll improve,” predicted Miami coach Jim Morris, whose team swept a three-game series.

“We were never able to put nine strong innings together,” said Winkin. “We weren’t able to make the big pitch; make the big double play or get the big hit. And the other teams did the opposite to us.”

The youthful Bears returned from the trip to Louisiana and Florida with a 7.58 earned run average; a .208 batting average; 40 errors; more walks issued (108) than strikeouts (102) and 33 wild pitches.

It was Maine’s second straight 1-17 spring trip.

One of the positives, according to Winkin, was the development of a good one-two punch at the top of the order in junior second baseman and leadoff hitter Shiro Ando and freshman center fielder T.J. Sheedy.

Ando hit a team-best .286 and Sheedy, whom Winkin considers an “ideal number two hitter,” scored a team-high eight runs and hit .242.

Another positive was the play of freshmen left fielder Rex Turner (.258, team-high 27 total bases) and shortstop Keith Croteau (.237).

“The shortstop is going to be a very good player,” predicted Morris.

Winkin was also pleased with the performances turned in by senior righthander LeRoy Decker (0-3, 5.96 ERA) and short relievers Lance Bogardus (1.80 ERA) and Garrett Quinn (1 save, 2.70).

“LeRoy pitched very well. There’s no question that he’s our number one pitcher (in the rotation),” said Winkin. “Bogardus and Quinn were outstanding.”

Junior Steve Coombs (8.10 ERA) and freshman Josh Harriman (1-0, 2.08 ERA) impressed him and will be the two setup men and Winkin said the other members of the starting rotation, Ryan Smith (0-2, 7.71), Dave Foran (0-4, 8.05), Jim Hanning (0-3, 9.61) and Andy Estabrook (0-3, 10.50) had both good and bad outings.

“We had trouble getting the third out and we struggled on 0-2 pitches against good hitters,” said Winkin.

The Bear boss feels “we’re going to be a very strong defensive team when we get settled in. Ando can turn the double play better than any second baseman we’ve had in quite a while. And our outfield can really run the ball down.”

Turner and Sheedy are joined in the outfield by sophomore speedster Mat Huff in right. However, Huff’s struck out 22 times in 54 at-bats and Winkin said he may move Coombs or Steve Lancaster into right.

First baseman Jeff Longo (.233) and DH-catcher Steve Puleo (.209) shared the team lead in RBIs with seven and Winkin said Puleo, 3B Nick Caiazzo (.179) and C-DH John Ellis (.172) hit the ball hard at the end of the trip.

Ellis’ strong arm and quick release will land him behind the plate more often than not and Puleo will DH.

Maine plays at Fordham on Friday and the Bears will then play North Atlantic Conference doubleheaders against Hofstra on Saturday and Drexel on Sunday.