’96 UMaine lineup stacked for offense

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ORONO – There are changes aplenty for the University of Maine baseball team as it prepares for a Feb. 23 opener against the Clemson University team former Bear football-baseball standout Jack Leggett coached to the College World Series a year ago.

After playing a four-game set at Clemson, the Bears return home briefly, then beginning one of their most grueling spring trips ever.

Including Clemson, seven of the nine schools on Maine’s schedule are in Collegiate Baseball’s current Top 25 and six are among Baseball America’s Top 25.

Maine coach John Winkin, who is beginning his 22nd year, said the variety of personnel changes are designed “to try to put our best offensive team in positions where they will be most effective for us. I also want to get leadership into the game in key spots.”

The changes include making backup catchers Ron Coombs and John Ellis the starting right fielder and first baseman, respectively; making third baseman-outfielder Nick Caiazzo into the starting catcher and also giving him some third base duty; turning outfielder Mat Huff into a reliever and giving 1B-OF Jeff Longo a little mound duty; and transforming closer Garrett Quinn into a jack-of-all-trades reliever.

“I’m excited but I’m also a little nervous,” said Cooombs, of Kingman and Lee Academy. “Playing right field takes some getting used to. But I’ll play anywhere as long as I get to play.”

Ellis expressed the same sentiments about first base.

“I only played there once in high school,” said Ellis. “I’ve got to learn where to go on certain plays. I’m just going to keep my bolearn where to go on certain plays. I’m just going to keep my body in front of the ball.”

Huff hasn’t pitched in four years.

“Mat has a great arm and a pretty good curve,” said Winkin.

“I think I’ve surprised some people,” said Huff. “I have a good arm but I didn’t have much control in high school. They have taught me the basics. They have taught me how to pitch instead of just throwing. I’m real excited about it. If I can throw strikes and get outs, I’ll be happy.”

Caiazzo caught in the prestigious Alaska League all summer and feels at home behind the plate.

“I’ve always loved catching. That’s what I played growing up. This past summer was the first time I had caught since high school,” said Caiazzo.

However, Caiazzo, last year’s homer leader with 11, has a sprained left ankle which will keep him out for 2-4 weeks. Freshman Kregg Jarvais will be the starting catcher in his absence and Coombs will also catch. Veteran Tony Bianchi, a .301 hitter last year, will play right when Coombs catches.

Veterans Shiro Ando and Keith Croteau will play second and short, respectively, and Marc Halsted and Tony Fernandez will platoon at third when Caiazzo isn’t there.

Rex Turner returns in left and T.J. Sheedy, a .335 hitter last spring, will again patrol center field.

The DH candidates include Longo, Bianchi, Steve Coombs, Quinn and freshman pitcher Pete Fisher.

Outfielder-pitcher Steve Lancaster has an elbow problem and may be redshirted.

Fisher, who throws 90-91 mph according to pitching coach Jay Kemble, heads up the starting rotation along with redshirt freshman Andy Estabrook, who had facial surgery last year after getting hit by a line drive. Josh Harriman and Dave Foran round out the rotation.

Steve Coombs, Quinn, and freshmen Brian Glover and John Hauck will be the key relievers, according to Winkin.

Maine, 20-37 a year ago, has gone 1-17 on its last two spring trips and this schedule could be even tougher.

Should Maine tone down its spring trip or continue risking damaging the players’ confidence?

“Our confidence takes a little shot but we come back more ready to play in our conference,” said Huff.

“Everybody wants to play the top competition. That’s why a lot of us came to school here,” said Estabrook.

“If Maine didn’t have this kind of spring schedule, I probably wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t have some of the other talent that’s here,” said Fisher, a late-round draft choice of the New York Yankees. “When you play against these types of teams, you get seen by the pro scouts and you get to find out what you’re made of.”

“This team wants that challenge. It’s a great opportunity to face good pitching and good hitting. And it will make them better as players,” said Winkin.

1996 UMaine baseball schedule

Feb. 23 at Clemson, 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at Clemson, noon Feb. 25 at Clemson, 1 p.m. March 1 at Texas A&M, 8 p.m. March 2 at Texas A&M, 3 p.m. March 3 at Texas A&M, 3 p.m. March 4 at Rice, 8 p.m. March 5 Oklahoma State, at Rice, 1 p.m. March 5 at Rice, 8 p.m. March 6 at Texas Christian, 3:30 p.m. March 7 at Texas Christian, 3:30 p.m. March 8 at Texas, 3 p.m. March 9 Oklahoma, at Texas, 7 p.m. March 10 at Texas, 5 p.m. March 11 at Texas, 3 p.m. March 12 at Florida State, 6 p.m. March 13 at Florida State, 6 p.m. March 14 at Florida State, 6 p.m. March 15 at Miami, 7 p.m. March 16 at Miami, 7 p.m. March 17 at Miami, 1:30 p.m. March 22 at Fordham, 3 p.m. March 23 at Drexel (2), noon March 24 at Drexel, noon March 27 at Providence, 2:30 p.m. March 30 at Towson St. (2)*, noon March 31 at Delaware (2)*, noon April 2 at Holy Cross, 3 p.m. April 5 at Northeastern (2)*, noon April 6 at Northeastern (2)*, noon April 13 at Vermont (2)*, noon April 14 at Vermont (2)*, noon April 20 Husson, noon April 21 Hofstra (2)*, noon April 24 Massachusetts (2)*, 3 p.m. April 27 New Hampshire (2)*, noon April 28 New Hampshire (2)*, noon May 4 Hartford (2)*, noon May 5 Hartford (2)*, noon May 11 Southern Maine, 3 p.m. May 12 Drexel (2)*, noon May 17-20 NAC Championship, TBA May 23-27 NCAA Regionals, TBA June 1-8 College World Series, TBA

*-North Atlantic Conference

UMAINE OPPONENTS Current rankings

Baseball America poll – 7. Clemson*; 14. Oklahoma; 15. Florida State*; 16. Oklahoma State; 18. Miami (Fla.)*; 20. Texas

Collegiate Baseball Magazine poll – 7. Florida State*; 10. Miami (Fla.)*; 12. Oklahoma; 17. Oklahoma State; 18. Texas; 21. Clemson*; 23. Texas A&M

*-1995 College World Series teams