ORONO – Last season, University of Maine baseball coach Paul Kostacopoulos was forced to replace eight starters. He guided that overachieving team to the America East championship game.

This spring, the Black Bears have considerably more experience and a talented group of newcomers who should help UMaine contend again for the league title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UMaine, which was picked to finish second behind defending champion Stony Brook in the America East preseason coaches poll, opens a 12-game, 13-day Florida trip Sunday with a game against Northwestern.

“It’s certainly a different atmosphere around here than it was at this time last year when we had to replace eight starters,” said Kostacopoulos, who has a 249-176 record at UMaine.

Gone are pro draft picks in ace righthander Mike MacDonald of Camden and speedy outfielder Simon Williams of Portland. Also departed are shortstop Jason Harvey, who transferred back to Husson College in Bangor, reliever Ryan Harris and outfielder Pete Saunders.

However, UMaine has established tremendous consistency, averaging 37 wins the last four seasons, and hopes to improve on its 2004 record of 34-21.

“We have people in place to do it,” Kostacopoulos said. “We return a lot of players and I think a lot of players have improved.”

The Bears should have a well-balanced starting rotation. While nobody has established himself as the kind of dominating performer MacDonald was during his career, Kostacopoulos has high expectations for the group of righthanders.

Sophomore Steve Richard, the No. 2 starter last season, was 4-2 with a 3.09 earned run average and 63 strikeouts on his way to America East All-Rookie accolades. Troy Martin (5-2, 3.13, 53 strikeouts) came into his own in 2004 while fellow junior Greg Norton of South Portland (4-6, 4.98) looks to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

The fourth spot will be filled by versatile senior captain Greg Creek (2-0, 1.77), who saw limited mound duty a year ago. The fifth starter is freshman John Tesseyman.

“I think our top three guys in Richard, Martin and Norton, are going to be very good starters for us,” Kostacopoulos said. “I really believe we’re going to get some consistent performances, as we have [in the past].”

The bullpen is a question mark to open the season. Junior Scott Robinson leads the relief corps after going 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA and six saves last season. The Bears look to sophomore Ryan Brown of Old Town and junior college transfer Josh Zyskowski, among others, to emerge.

“Scott has proven he has the makeup and stuff to be very effective but outside of that you look at the roster and you can’t really say that about anybody else,” Kostacopoulos said.

UMaine expects to have plenty of offensive punch with its positional veterans. Leading the way is Chelsea’s Creek, who’ll play at first base and in the outfield or be the designated hitter. The second-team league selection hit .365 with six home runs and a team-high 45 runs batted in a year ago.

Sophomore DH/first baseman Joel Barrett of Brewer was an All-Rookie choice last season. He was second on the team at .359 with a homer and 35 RBIs.

Junior Joe Hough, who is coming off a breakthrough all-conference season (.348, 7 HR, 42 RBIs, 12 stolen bases), will start in center field.

“Joe’s certainly our best defensive outfielder and, if you look at just the numbers, offensively he was our best player last year,” Kostacopoulos said.

Sophomore Matt McGraw (.344, 2 HR, 17 RBI) was an all-rookie pick last season and can catch or DH. Junior Ryan Quintal (.294, 6 HR, 44 RBI) will again patrol left field.

The on-field leader is senior captain Aaron Izaryk, the AE first-team catcher, who hit .287 with 5 HRs and 38 RBIs in 2004. Senior Mike Ferriggi (.271, 1 HR, 23 RBIs) provides experience at second base.

Steve Gambale is back at his shortstop post. He registered a .988 fielding percentage, with only two errors, as a freshman in 2003 but did not attend UMaine or play ball last year.

The other vacated position is third base, where freshman Curt Smith of Curacao has earned the starting nod. He may be familiar to Bangor-area fans as he played in two Senior League World Series.

“I think he’s going to be a special player,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’ll turn some singles into doubles, turn some routine ground balls into hits.”

Kostacopoulos said this team should have the versatility to use more players this season.

“The concern all last year was our depth,” Kostacopoulos said. “Now we have guys that I have no problem putting into a ballgame.”

Sophomore Ross Cantara, who missed most of last season with a broken wrist, will see time in the outfield, while freshman Moises Rivera is the backup second baseman.

Frosh Mark Ostrander is a talented defensive outfielder, freshman Ray Vallee of Augusta should see time at shortstop and newcomer Frank Pesanello, a C/1B, also could contribute.

“I think every first-year player that we brought in this year can help us,” Kostacopoulos said.