3 baseball recruits sign with Maine> Greely High’s Brewer in new coach’s 1st class

Two lefthanded pitchers and an outfielder have signed on as the first recruits under first-year University of Maine baseball coach Paul Kostacopoulos

The three recruits are James Bailin, a 6-foot-1 pitcher from Division High School in Leavittown, N.Y.; Bob Talbot, a 6-6 pitcher from Berwyn, Pa. who goes to Conestoga High School and Brandon Brewer, a 6-foot-3 outfielder from Yarmouth who goes to Greely High School in Cumberland Center.

“To sign three kids is great,” said Kostacopoulos. “The early signing period is very competitive. You have to fight off a lot of southern schools.

“Getting two lefthanded pitchers was a goal,” added Kostacopoulos. “It’s imperative to get a balance of lefthanded pitchers and righthanded pitchers.”

Maine did not have a lefty with more than 10 1/3 innings of use this past spring. Only two, Brad Veilleux and John Hauck, saw any duty at all.

Brewer, meanwhile, gives the Bears some needed athleticism, according to Kostacopoulos.

“They are all very good students and good kids,” added Kostacopoulos.

All three have been accepted to Maine.

Kostacopoulos said Bailin threw four no-hitters last spring.

“He’s unique in the sense that he’s polished,” said Kostacopoulos. “He has a good idea of the strike zone. He’s not overpowering but he keeps the ball in play. He never hurts himself. His ball moves all over the place and he can throw a changeup. He will be a very good pitcher for us. I expect him to have an immediate impact next year.”

Kostacopoulos said Bailin’s fastball is in the “79 to 82” miles an hour range.

Talbot, who will also be looked at as a lefthanded-hitting first baseman/designated hitter, will hit “83 to 85” on the radar gun with his fastball but isn’t as polished as Bailin.

“He has great arm action and has a world of potential,” said Kostacopoulos. “I don’t know if he’ll have an immediate impact or if he’ll come on as a sophomore or junior. The bigger the kid, the harder it is to impact a program [immediately]. They typically have a tougher time throwing strikes and have a longer swing at the plate.

“He may need a little bit of time to develop but he projects tremendously. He should be able to play at the next level [beyond college],” added Kostacopoulos.

As for Brewer, Kostacopoulos said “he can run and throw and you can’t teach that. He has the best arm from the outfield of anyone I saw last summer.”

The righthanded-hitting Brewer can also pitch but Kostacopoulos said Brewer indicated he would prefer to be a position player.

“Not a lot of people know about him because he played summer baseball for a team in Massachusetts,” said Kostacopoulos. “He’s an athletic kid and that’s something we really need. He can swing the bat a little and we’ll develop that more. We’ll get him to be a little better hitter.”

Kostacopoulos said Talbot and Brewer could both be drafted this spring.

Kostacopoulos’ recruiting is far from over.

“We need to get a shortstop or middle infielder; another outfielder; a catcher and two or three more pitchers,” said Kostacopoulos.