Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a preseason series on Eastern Maine high school baseball and softball teams. Today’s feature covers three Class D baseball favorites and a dark horse.

With so many teams fielding playoff-tested, veteran players, the 1995 Class D baseball season shapes up as a classic struggle for the Eastern Maine title.

The Fort Fairfield Tigers return seven starters from last season’s Class D state championship team.

“It’s a tough lineup to crack. There are a lot of veterans back,” said coach George Solomon, adding only three seniors are starters.

The pitching staff is headed by senior Shawn Willette, who was 5-0 with a 1.37 ERA in 1994. The rest of the rotation includes fellow righthanders Dave Bernard (1-1, 0.67), Mark Sprague (3-0, 2.33), and Joe Solomon (three saves).

“Pitching and up-the-middle defense will be our main team strengths,” said Solomon.

Anchoring the middle are senior center fielder Eric Cunningham, who batted .352 with 20 steals, and middle infielders Willette, Sprague (.377, 15 RBIs), and Solomon (13 steals). First baseman Graham Sayers batted .393 last season.

“Last year, we didn’t score a lot of runs. But we didn’t have to with our pitching,” said George Solomon. “This year, we’re going to have to score a lot.”

Another experience-laden team is the Van Buren Crusaders, who return seven starters from the 1994 playoff team – five are pitchers.

Coach Brian Hews welcomes back junior Corey Searles (4-2, 0.74 ERA), sophomore Travis Lajoie (2-1, 2.10), and senior Ryan Beaulieu (2-0, 0.84) – three righties responsible for all the team’s wins last year.

“I know my fourth or fifth starters could be the No. 2 or 3 guys on other teams,” Hews said.

Beaulieu led the offense a year ago with a .375 average, 13 RBIs, and 22 steals in 22 attempts. Todd Ayotte, a stellar defensive third baseman, will bat cleanup.

“We only hit .229 as a team last year, so I’m looking for big improvement there,” Hews said.

Fans of the Central Aroostook Panthers of Mars Hill have good reason to be optimistic. The team returns nine of its top 10 players from a 1994 playoff squad.

As is the case with almost everyone else in Class D, the Panthers’ pitching staff is loaded.

“I could go with seven guys on my staff and use a four-man rotation,” said coach Rick Bragg.

Senior fastballer Heath Bartley (1-3, 32 strikeouts in 28 innings) is the staff ace. Also figuring prominently are junior righties Chad Boyd (1-3), Mitchell Orser (2-2, 25 strikeouts in 25 innings, 3.51 ERA), and Todd Nelson (2-1).

Senior second baseman Matt Townsend leads the offense. He hit .478 last year and drove in 18 runs. Also back are Randy Libby (.295, 2 homers), and Steve Boyd (.364, 11 RBIs). Steve’s brother Chad hit .348 with 22 steals last year.

“We have the potential to be real… well, potent,” Hews said. “And the kids are real motivated.”

Katahdin’s Cougars are the dark horse but they also appear to be a strong team with a good pitching staff led by junior righty Sam Shippee, who went 7-1 with a 0.69 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 51 innings last year.

Despite losing two of their top three hitters to graduation, the Cougars are anything but destitute offensively.

Junior relief pitcher and first baseman Luke Cullins (.455, 12 RBIs) adds pop to the lineup along with Shippee (.372, 17 RBIs), and junior catcher Nate Richardson (.354, 12 RBIs, 11 steals).

What about weaknesses?

“Our outfield spots are up for grabs,” said head coach Kim London. “And we have no consistent power hitter.”

Add a dropoff in pitching talent after Shippee, and it’s understandable why London is reluctant to predict his team’s fortunes.

“I think we’re a playoff team, but it’s going to be a wait-and-see season,” London said.