Black Bears are a hit down south Brady, Bennis spark team’s 10-6 start

For this year’s Florida trip, University of Maine softball coach Deb Smith thought she’d try something different.

Rather than put up the Black Bears at a hotel, the team rented three houses in Kissimmee, Fla., and put six players and a coach or staff member in each building. With a pool, enough bathrooms for everyone, and plenty of space, Maine’s veterans and rookies spent a lot of time together.

So how much did that have to do with UMaine bringing a 10-6 record – one of its best starts in recent memory, according to Smith – back to Orono this week?

“It worked out awesome,” Smith said after Tuesday’s practice. “The girls did a lot together outside of the field. We came back with a lot better chemistry and a better mix this year than we’ve had in the past.”

Smith was pleased with what she saw from her team on its southern swing. Not only are the Bears hitting well, but their pitching was bolstered by Sarah Bennis, and the team has solidified several key defensive positions.

Bennis, a freshman from Pownal, came home with a 4-2 record and a 1.45 ERA.

“Each time out she gets a little bit better and that’s a good thing going into conference,” Smith said.

Sophomore Jenna Merchant, a first-team all-conference pitcher last year, is 5-3 with a 2.07 ERA.

Five Maine players are batting .300 or better, with Jackman’s Jess Brady leading the team and America East conference at .446. The sophomore, who was named the America East Player of the Week, also has a team-high 25 hits, 11 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Juniors Nikki Taylor and Sara Asadoorian are batting .350 and .333, respectively.

Freshmen Brittany Cheney (.370), Molly McKinney (.304), and Dana Grimm (.290) are also among the Bears’ top hitters.

“It was really good to see,” Smith said. “With as many rookies as we have, they’ve had to step up. I’m very impressed with how they did.”

The stellar batting averages were initially an indication of some weak opposing pitching, Smith said, but that changed later in the trip. Teams from the University of Central Florida and Tennessee-Martin both had tougher pitching, and the Bears had a combined 13 hits in those two wins.

“Yes, we have some pretty good batting averages and early on some of that was inflated, but now based on what we saw the second week, it’s probably a little more realistic,” Smith added. “The way we stand now is, I think, what it will be as the year goes on.”

Cheney has solidified the starting shortstop position, and redshirt sophomore Lauren Dulkis will start at third base. Taylor and freshman Amy Kuhl will continue to split time at the catcher position. Smith’s outfielders will rotate, with Brady the mainstay in center field.

The Black Bears will head back out on the road this week for games at Boston College and Cornell Thursday and Friday, respectively, before starting America East play with doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Binghamton.