UMPI Owls’ eyes are on first victory

The University of Maine-Presque Isle baseball team probably spends as much time in its vans as it does on the diamond.

But the Owls don’t mind. They just enjoy playing.

UMPI is 0-14 but its record is deceiving. UMPI has lost several close games including a 4-2, 7-4 doubleheader at Husson College on Wednesday.

“They always play us tough,” said Husson junior catcher and tri-captain Jason Folsom. “For the past three years, we’ve always had close ballgames with them. They’re a good team. They really are.”

UMPI has 10 games remaining on its schedule, all at home, but it isn’t known if the Owls will be able to play any at home due to the snow and unusually long winter.

“We took a snowblower to our field three weeks ago,” said second-year head coach Leo Saucier. “We haven’t even been able to get on our field yet.”

UMPI senior first baseman-DH Bob Tarpey of York said the constant travel has become second nature.

“I don’t mind it too much. Our field isn’t up to par. I like travelling, especially playing at Husson,” said Tarpey. “It’s a nice treat for us. It’s a great field. I love the [FieldTurf]. It’s real nice. There aren’t a lot of bad hops.”

“It’s nice to get out and play. We’re always in the gym back home,” said senior second baseman Matt Bouchard of Caribou.

It is a labor of love for Saucier, the former Stearns High School and Old Town American Legion standout pitcher.

“I was out of baseball for a long time,” said Saucier, who lived in Georgia and New Mexico and was working on his doctorate when he received the opportunity for a professorship at UMPI.

He is a professor of education and was an assistant coach three years ago before taking over a year later.

He has instituted a five-week fall baseball program and the team took a spring trip to Florida and Georgia. They played nationally ranked Valdosta State (Ga.) where Saucier had been an assistant while working on his master’s degree.

“Those five weeks in the fall are the most important thing we do,” said Saucier. “And we’ve been getting more and more kids out. We had 28 last fall.”

Saucier has made an impression on his players.

“He loves it. He has a great passion for it,” said Tarpey. “The fall program has helped us out quite a bit and going south was very nice. It was our first real southern trip. We usually just go to Massachusetts or Connecticut.”

Saucier intends to do more recruiting in Canada and said if he could keep “the best [Aroostook] County kids here,” they would be more competitive.

Tarpey believes Saucier will get the Owls to a new level.

“We’ve got a young team with a bright future. He has done some great things with the team,” said Tarpey.

Newport to Gorham to Bangor

Jeff White, a 6-foot-4 forward who starred at Nokomis High School in Newport before playing two seasons at the University of Southern Maine, is transferring to Husson College in Bangor.

White started 44 of the 48 games he played for the USM Huskies, averaging 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He has shot 37.7 percent from 3-point range in college. He sat out the past season to rehabilitate an ankle injury.

“We’re excited because not only is his versatility a plus, but he brings a lot of experience as a starter,” said Husson head coach Warren Caruso. “I think he has a good overall impact because he does so many things well and makes good decisions with the ball. He fills an awful good piece of the puzzle for us.”

White was a NEWS All-Maine third team member and a McDonald’s All-Star his senior year at Nokomis.