MacDonald closes in on records Ace to lead Maine against Albany

ORONO – Pitchers Bill Swift and Mike D’Andrea helped set the tone for the University of Maine baseball team during its heyday in the 1980s. The Maine-born aces’ dominate the Black Bears’ record books.

In recent years, Mike MacDonald has continued that tradition and the senior righthander from Camden is threatening to establish new standards.

“Bill Swift and Mike D’Andrea are guys whose names are synonymous with the success in this program’s history and Mike is right there with them,” said UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos.

UMaine’s ace takes the mound Saturday to open a key three-game America East series against Albany at Mahaney Diamond.

MacDonald, who has compiled a 23-12 record with a 3.53 earned run average and 260 strikeouts in 291 innings, is challenging some UMaine milestones. He is 14 shy of the career strikeout mark (274) held by D’Andrea and ranks third in innings pitched (291) behind D’Andrea (317 1/3) and Swift (297).

MacDonald’s 23 wins are fifth all-time and his 44 starts also rank among career leaders.

“It’s a great feeling to come to a storied program like this and say that you’re up with some of the great people to come out of this program,” MacDonald said.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, the America East Pitcher of the Year in 2002, is 4-2 this spring with a 3.73 ERA. He leads the league with 70 innings pitched and is fourth with 67 strikeouts.

Kostacopoulos marvels at MacDonald’s consistency and said his presence on the mound is a powerful force for the Bears.

“Psychologically, he’s such a big part of our team because we’re so confident when he pitches,” Kostacopoulos said. “We really believe we’re going to win the game if Mike’s pitching.”

MacDonald has continued to improve. He features an above-average fastball, a curve, a changeup, and a cut fastball and has shown talent befitting a major league draft choice.

“You never go in expecting anything. You just work as hard as you can to get to your potential,” said MacDonald, who credited the coaching staff with making his success possible.

The most important lesson he has learned as a pitcher is to trust his teammates.

“You’ve got so many good guys around you and you have to realize they can make all the plays in the field and to let them make the plays and not try to strike people out all the time,” he said.

MacDonald’s development goes beyond mechanics and execution. He has learned to deal with the psychological side of the game.

“What’s going to prepare him for his professional life is that he has learned to handle the bumps in the road, the adversity that presents itself over the course of a career,” Kostacopoulos said.

Since his arrival, UMaine has won 140 games, more than the 129 during the Swift era (1981-84) and one shy of the 141 won with D’Andrea (1986-89).

“Playing with some of the guys that I’ve been fortunate enough to play with is satisfying enough in itself,” he said. “Then, to look at the results that we’ve had is even that much more satisfying.”

With UMaine’s season winding down, MacDonald is reluctant to discuss a possible pro career.

“I’m just trying to get through the rest of this year and hopefully win another America East championship,” MacDonald said.

However, Kostacopoulos says MacDonald has definite pro potential.

“When people evaluate him, they know what they’re getting,” he said. “You’re gonna have a guy who’ll get you into the seventh inning, a guy who has command, who can throw three pitches for a strike. He’s rock-solid consistent.”