ORONO – Last season, the University of Maine baseball team took a major step in restoring its status as a league and regional power and as a national competitor.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ Black Bears posted a 40-17 record on their way to the America East title and a spot in the NCAA’s Los Angeles Regional, where they went 0-2.

UMaine’s long-range goal is to go a step farther this season, but the Bears will have to maintain the work ethic and consistency that were key to last year’s success.

UMaine begins that quest today with a season-opening doubleheader against Hartford at Gastonia, N.C., and a third game against Hartford on Sunday. Weekend games originally scheduled against Coppin State (Md.) and Maryland-Baltimore County were canceled.

“We got a taste of what it’s like to compete at that national level. Now we’ve set a goal of not only going to the regional but actually winning the games,” said senior captain Joe Drapeau of Biddeford.

Kostacopoulos warns that better competition in America East, a retooled pitching staff, and injuries could be major obstacles for the Bears.

“I think our primary objective since we started school is to get guys healthy,” Kostacopoulos said. “I do think we’re going to have some challenges.”

Among UMaine’s regulars, senior catcher Alain Picard, junior left fielder Simon Williams of Portland, and sophomore pitcher Scott Robinson had offseason shoulder surgery. Picard will be relegated to designated hitter duties this spring, while Robinson will not play.

Pitchers Ryan Foley and Jamie Grattelo also are coming off injuries, while senior second baseman Brett Ouellette has often been injured during his career.

The pitching staff will rely on the experience of junior righthanders Mike MacDonald of Camden and Mike Collar of Scarborough, who combined to go 15-7 last season with a 3.89 earned run average. MacDonald (7-3, 3.44 ERA, 74 strikeouts) was the America East Pitcher of the Year.

The Bears’ Nos. 3-4-5 starters are gone. Lefthander Rich Laganiere and righty Paul Bruder left school, while Robinson is injured.

“We really don’t have the depth we’ve had the past couple years,” said Kostacopoulos, who expects junior Ryan Harris, freshman Greg Norton of South Portland, senior Adam Labelle, and sophomore Greg Creeek of Chelsea to compete for the remaining starting spots.

Sam Warner of Eliot, the only lefty, also could figure in the regular plan while Grattelo, Ryan Foley, and freshmen Brett Rogers of Orrs Island and Troy Martin will try to earn some work.

“Hopefully some of those younger guys can come on quickly to replace the middle-of-the-pack pitching,” Kostacopoulos said. “The quality up top is as good as the last couple years.”

Experience abounds in the Bears’ positional lineup. Drapeau (.341, 11 HR, 61 RBI in 2002) anchors the infield at third base, while senior captain Jesse Carlton (.282, 5HR, 22 RBI) and Pat Tobin (.286, 4 HR, 19 RBI) are proven commodities at first.

Soph Aaron Izaryk (.367, 1 HR, 22 RBI) will do most of the catching, backed up by Drapeau. Up the middle, Ouellette (.311, 3 HR, 31 RBI) anchors second base while junior Mark Reichley (.322, 2 HR, 19 RBI) is the shortstop.

Sophomore SS Mike Ferriggi (.233, 14 RBI) has been plagued during the offseason by a back ailment, which means freshman Steve Gambale, coming off a bad shoulder, will likely back up the middle infielders.

UMaine features a proven outfield paced by Williams (.363, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 21 SB), CF Mike Livulpi (.324, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 17 SB), and senior Aaron Young of Augusta (.305, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 11 SB). Frosh Jason House and Ryan Quintal will provide depth.

Young will sit out the first four games and two others because of off-field problems during the offseason.

Picard (.340, 6 HR, 53 RBI, 14 SB) will hold down the DH spot.

“We need his bat in the lineup, so that locks us in to him pretty much DHing all the time,” Kostacopoulos said.

Kostacopoulos is confident in the ability of this particular group to build on its experience and camaraderie to have another successful season.

“This group has gone through a lot of battles together and gotten stronger,” he said. “Team chemistry is 100 percent of the team playing hard 100 percent of the time and I think we have that.”

UMaine’s challenging spring trip includes three games with College World Series entry Clemson, two with Big Ten semifinalist Iowa, two with Regional finalist Bethune-Cookman, and two with Florida International.

“The southern trip’s the most difficult trip since my first season,” Kostacopoulos said.

UMAINE BASEBALL SCHEDULE

MARCH

8, vs. Hartford (2) at Gastonia, N.C., 6 p.m.

9, vs. Hartford at Gastonia, N.C., 11 a.m.

10, at Georgia State

11, at Bethune Cookman, 7 p.m.

13, vs. Long Island, noon

14, vs. Long Island, 11 a.m.

15, vs. Iowa, 2 p.m.

16, vs. Iowa, 3 p.m.

17, vs. Fordham, 1 p.m.

18, vs. Fordham, 11 a.m.

20, at Clemson, 7:15 p.m.

21, at Clemson, 7:15 p.m.

22, at Clemson, 2 p.m.

28, at Rhode Island, 2 p.m.

29, at NY Tech, noon (2)

30, at NY Tech, noon, (2)

APRIL

5, at Pace, noon, (2)

6, at Pace, noon, (2)

9, at Husson, 3 p.m.

12, at Hartford, noon, (2)

13, at Hartford, noon, (2)

16, at Brown, 1 p.m., (2)

18, Northeastern, 4 p.m., (2)

19, Northeastern, 1 p.m., (2)

22, Husson, 6 p.m.

26, Binghamton, noon, (2)

27, Binghamton, noon, (2)

29, Colby, 6 p.m.

30, at Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m.

MAY

3, at Albany, noon, (2)

4, at Albany, noon, (2)

6, Central Connecticut, 1 p.m., (2)

10, at Stony Brook, noon, (2)

11, at Stony Brook, 11 a.m., (2)

16, Vermont, 5 p.m., (2)

17, Vermont, 4 p.m., (2)

22-25, America East Tournament

Games March 11-18, at Daytona, Fla.