This afternoon, the University of Maine baseball team makes its third visit to the America East Championship in the last five years. This year, there’s something different about the Black Bears.

For the first time during the five-year tenure of coach Paul Kostacopoulos, the America East Coach of the Year, UMaine appears to be a legitimate threat to challenge for the conference title.

The second-seeded Bears (36-13) open the four-team, double-elimination tournament with a 3:30 p.m. game against No. 3 Towson (Md.), which is 35-21, at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Del. Top seed Delaware (41-13) meets No. 4 Northeastern (18-30) in the 7 p.m. contest.

However, UMaine will be without senior all-conference first-team first baseman Jon Hambelton, who must serve two more games of an NCAA suspension for his role in last Saturday night’s fight in a game against Northeastern. And junior Joe Drapeau of Biddeford, the first-team catcher, is “questionable” because of a sprained left ankle suffered the home-plate collision that started the scenario.

Kostacopoulos realizes wining the tourney, especially without Hambelton and with Drapeau hobbled, will be a tough task. But overcoming setbacks has been one of the trademarks of this year’s UMaine ballclub.

“I think we respond like we’ve responded all year,” Kostacopoulos said. “We’re a very resilient team and when one soldier goes down, another one fills in. I think that’s why we’ve won 36 games, because we have been able to do that.”

The Bears believe they can win. UMaine beat Delaware twice this spring and took three each from Towson and Northeastern.

“We’re confident,” senior co-captain Keith Genest of Augusta said prior to the loss of Hambelton. “We know that we can do it, but it’s a whole new season. We’ve got seven seniors on the team who have all been there, who know what it’s like. It’s who can play relaxed in that situation.”

UMaine’s confidence stems from its pitching staff, which leads America East with a 4.19 earned run average led by junior lefthander Rusty Tucker, the America East Pitcher of the Year and today’s starter against Towson.

One pitcher can’t carry a team in tournament play, especially with nine-inning games instead of the usual seven-inning contests. Starters Simon Stoner (6-2, 5.17 EA), AE Rookie of the Year Mike Collar of Scarborough (8-0, 3.55) and Mike MacDonald of Camden (5-2, 3.78) are ready, with MacDonald expected to be on call for relief if needed.

“Early in the tournament, he who pitches wins,” Kostacopoulos said. “If you advance far enough in that championship round, there’s potential you’re going to see guys that haven’t seen a lot of the mound. Pitching gets thin quick in nine-inning games.”

Matt Truman of Otisfield (1-4, 3.05, 4 saves) and Adam Labelle (2-2, 3.38, 2 saves) are the relievers most likely to get some work, but Eric Johnson (0-1, 7.24) has pitched well of late and Kris Ehmke (5-1, 5.93) has tournament experience.

“You piecemeal your relievers differently, but your starters are still guys that have got to go out there and log some innings,” Kostacopoulos said.

UMaine’s bats emerged from a brief lull last weekend as the Bears piled up 41 runs and 44 hits in taking three of four from NU. UMaine ranks second behind Delaware with a .323 team batting average behind Hambelton (.429) and second-team infielder Quin Peel (.385).

“There’s a lot of confidence going around,” MacDonald said. “We’re hitting the ball right now and it’s going to carry into the playoffs. Hopefully, we can do what we’ve been doing all year.”

Utility man Pat Tobin has surged to .342, while Alain Picard continues to swing a hot bat despite being relegated to a part-time designated hitter role. Drapeau checks in with a .333 average, 12 homers and a team-leading 51 RBIs.

“Everybody’s hitting the ball, top to bottom, and that’s what we need,” Hambelton said.

Drapeau’s ankle injury may significantly alter the Bears’ lineup, depending upon whether he can play in the field.

“Joe’s 50-50, but I’m leaning more on the positive than the negative,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’s a pretty tough kid. I think the closer we get to the competition, the better [his ankle] will feel.”

UMaine must limit its defensive mistakes in the tournament, but the Bears’ outfield is among the best in the conference.

“It’s a matter of going down there and doing it,” Kostacopoulos said. “This is not a team that winning is assumed going to the park.