ORONO -Mike Ross arrived at the University of Maine with the baseball program in transition.

The Black Bears had failed to reach the .500 mark five consecutive seasons from 1994-98. Ever since Ross joined the ballclub, UMaine has made a resurgence.

The power-hitting outfielder from Foxborough, Mass., the only senior on this year’s team, has been a key contributor in recent seasons as coach Paul Kostacopoulos has built UMaine back into a New England power.

Ross’ consistent play has been instrumental in the Bears’ success.

“When the ship could have sunk and we were 1-12 or something like that (in 1999), we had people like him fighting every day,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’s been a good player for four years. Most people can’t say that.”

Ross has been a fixture in the UMaine outfield, having started 181 of the 189 games in which he has played. The 6-foot, 185-pounder, who last year flirted with the school record for consecutive games played, has produced batting in the middle of the order.

“It’s being even-keeled, trying not to be too up or too down [emotionally],” Ross said, “just playing hard every day and being ready to play.”

The senior captain takes a .325 career batting average into tonight’s 7 o’clock America East game against Stony Brook. He has belted 30 home runs and has knocked in 164 in 189 games.

On the UMaine all-time charts, Ross ranks second in RBIs behind major leaguer Mark Sweeney (211). He is eighth in home runs and stands second behind Sweeney (66) with 50 career doubles.

“You think about all the great players we’ve had here and look where he is,” Kostacopoulos said. “I think that says a lot about him and his consistency and longevity. He’s been a consistent RBI guy for us.”

Ross has bounced back after struggling a bit as a junior, when he batted .293 with four homers and 24 RBIs. The former America East Rookie of the Year and freshman All-American is hitting a solid .299 this season and ranks second on the team with eight homers and third with 40 RBIs. Ross also has stolen a career-best 17 bases in 21 attempts.

“I’m trying to be consistent over the last few weeks and end on a good note heading toward the tournament,” said Ross, who has been understandably distracted this spring.

Tom Ross, Mike’s father, was diagnosed last October with cancer in his neck. After several months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the elder Ross was scheduled to undergo surgery early this morning in Boston to remove cancerous tissue and lymph nodes.

Tom Ross, a former hockey and baseball player at Boston University, has been a fixture at UMaine baseball games. His camera around his neck, he paces around the field to find good vantage points to watch his only son play ball.

“It’s definitely good to see him out there. I like to have him around,” said Mike Ross, who last Saturday, with his dad in attendance, celebrated “Senior Day” by hitting a home run in each of UMaine’s wins over Hartford.

The younger Ross credits his fiery father with instilling in him a high level of aggressiveness and determination that have paved the way for his success. It’s that same fighting spirit that Tom Ross will need in his battle with cancer.

“He’s my role model,” Ross said. “He’s very competitive. That’s where I think I get a lot of my competitiveness, from him. He’s a battler. He’ll make it through this.”

With that thought in his mind, Mike Ross will try to help lead UMaine to the America East championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“The [league] tournament’s up here. It should be a lot of fun,” Ross said. “We definitely want to reach our goal of being in the NCAA Tournament.”

Ross hopes to pursue a career in pro ball. He plans to graduate in December with a degree in business management.

“I’ve matured a lot, had an opportunity to play for a great Division I baseball program and gotten a really good education,” Ross said.