UMPI has optimistic outlook> Seven returnees, two new pitchers could bolster Owls’ chances

With four feet of snow still on the ground, the University of Maine-Presque Isle’s eight baseball home games could very well wind up being played at the Husson College field in Bangor.

The weather is something UMPI coach Brian Cronin and his Owls can’t control but what they are hoping to control is how they play and that means improving on last year’s 1-12 record which followed three winless seasons.

Cronin has a small budget but wants his team to win at least eight of their 27 games. His players are also optimistic.

“Everybody’s spirits are high,” said junior left fielder David Hamel of Bangor. “We have a lot of players back from last year and we’ve brought in a couple of new pitchers which we definitely need. We’re pretty confident.”

The Owls are young with three juniors and no seniors.

“We have seven returnees. We have a limited budget but we do what we can. We have a blue-collar team. They have worked [hard] for everything they have. We’re coming along slowly,” Cronin said.

The second-year coach expects his club to be “pretty solid” defensively and could be better offensively if his hitters are more patient.

Shortstop Jake Gentle, the team’s leading hitter a year ago; Hamel, catcher Josh Morse, CF Darren Smith and 2B Sean Hussey will be the offensive catalysts with freshman righty Tim Underwood of Presque Isle heading up the pitching staff.

Along with Husson, St. Joseph’s will be one of the teams to beat again in the Maine Athletic Conference.

The Monks came one win away from winning the NAIA Northeast Regional a year ago and fifth-year coach Will Sanborn said this year’s team could be even better than last year’s 21-17 team. There are 22 returnees.

The current 8-4-1 start is the best in the school’s history.

“The area we’ve improved the most is our defense,” said Sanborn. “We’ve turned a lot of double plays.”

Slugging third baseman Frank Boutin, currently hitting .375 with two homers and 10 RBIs and shortstop T.J. Kanya (.300, 12 RBIs) will lead the offense and a deep pitching staff features lefty Randy Henry (2-1, 0.50 ERA), righty Greg Marancik (2-0, 1.04) and relief ace Pat Lessard (4 saves, 1.80 ERA).

Thomas College is beginning its first-year varsity program under former University of Maine catcher and assistant coach Greg King.

“Things are kind of tough right now,” said King. “We have only 13 players and a lot of them haven’t played baseball in five or six years. But our starting nine is going to be a lot more athletic than people think.”

King said the Thomas administration has been very supportive. The Terriers are currently on a seven-game spring trip to Florida and they will have a new field in the near future.

Catcher Matt Ferreira, RF Steve Morrell, 2B Ben Campbell and pitchers Troy Joslyn and Chad Boyd will lead the Terriers.

UMF should be improved.

“Our pitching will be a little better and our catching has improved but I don’t know if our hitting will be better,” said coach Dick Meader, who has lost Brett Chase, one of their top hitters last year, to a knee injury.

Meader has a solid one-two mound punch in son Darren, a righty who was 5-2 last year, and lefty Gary Marden. Meader, Marden, 1B-Of-P Brian Cox, 3B Chris Howe and C Gary Mahaney will pace the hitting attack.