Experienced UMaine seeks to defend AE title Talented Black Bears eye better start to season

The University of Maine softball team had one of the most successful seasons in program history last year and returns all but one full-time infielder and all of its power hitting and pitching. But the Black Bears are trying to remember one important thing: all of their successes happened at the end of the season.

The challenge this year is to start strong – and be consistent – as the Bears begin the defense of their America East conference title and hope for another trip to the NCAA tournament.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence knowing the way they finished last year,” interim coach Michelle Puls said. “We also have to keep in mind that that was at the very end of the year, and they also have that in the back of their heads.”

Maine, which was picked to finish second in the preseason America East coaches’ poll, opens play Sunday with a doubleheader against Furman in Orlando, Fla. The Bears won the America East tournament title and gained the league’s automatic berth to the national tourney for just the second time in program history in 2004.

Puls, a former Bangor High and UMaine standout who was an assistant for five years under Deb Smith, took over last spring after Smith decided to step away when the season ended. Puls’ move to the third-base coach’s box from across the infield is one of the few big changes the Bears will make this year.

The only full-time infield replacement will come at second base, where former left fielder Erin Provost will take over for the graduated Sara Asadoorian.

Provost, first-team all-conference shortstop Brittany Cheney and third baseman Lauren Dulkis, who was the conference tourney MVP, anchor the infield. Amy Kuhl, who shared time at first with Niki Taylor last year, will continue to field and hit. With Taylor graduated, Kuhl will share time at first with Kristie Hawkins of Portland and pitcher Sarah Bennis. Lindsay Tibbetts of Berwick also returns as the starting catcher.

“Erin’s awesome, Brittany’s unbelievable,” said senior righty Jenna Merchant, who was the America East Pitcher of the Year in 2004. “They’re both such great middle infielders. We always have a great defense. They take good care of me.”

Provost’s move to the infield opens a spot for right fielder Molly McKinney to move to left. Dana Grimm, who was a frequent replacement in right last spring, will get the start this year. And, of course, all-conference first-teamer Jess Brady of Jackman is starting for the fourth year in center field.

“The good thing about what we have this year is that I’m blessed with a high-powered offense and it’s difficult to figure out who’s going to play where,” Puls said.

That offense starts with Brady. Her team highs last year included a .385 batting average, .534 slugging and .428 on-base percentages, 32 runs scored, 62 hits and 18 stolen bases. She also set the career record for steals last season (50) and drove in 20 runs.

Cheney batted .301 with a team-high five home runs. Her 21 RBIs were tied with Kuhl (.270). Dulkis batted .276 with 14 RBIs and McKinney hit .236, driving in 15 runs.

Merchant and Bennis will again provide a 1-2 punch in the circle, although Puls will give Alexis Pullen and Candy Jaegge a look in Florida before determining a rotation. Merchant and Bennis combined to pitch 163 1/3 innings, and Pownal’s Bennis started both NCAA tourney games.

The Bears are heading down to Florida with one of the toughest schedules in program history. Before even getting to conference play – Maine opens up America East competition April 2 at Binghamton – the squad will have faced six teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last year.

The Black Bears start right off with a doubleheader against NCAA tourney entrant South Florida and then Florida State, which advanced to the Women’s College World Series last year. Maine will also face Cornell, Hofstra, Massachusetts and Seton Hall before opening at home April 9 against Hartford.

“It’s a different schedule because usually it’s the second week that we start to play tougher teams,” Tibbetts said. “But now we’re going down there and it’s like, bring it on.”