Experienced Eagles fly high after strong start Husson softball happy after 5-4 spring swing

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The Husson College softball team had a lot to look forward to even without the success it had on the Eagles’ recent spring trip to Florida.

Husson knew it would be moving into a brand new facility, and the Eagles were looking forward to the return of seven position players who made it to the North Atlantic Conference championship game last year.

The 5-4 record on their southern swing was, however, a pleasant surprise.

“We had a great start in Florida, the best we’ve ever done there,” said senior Wendy Butler of Otis. “I just think it’s a great step for us to start out.”

Husson continues its season this weekend with a doubleheader at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. The Eagles are scheduled to open NAC play April 6 at home against Maine Maritime Academy of Castine, but coach Charlie Hamel is uncertain whether the new softball complex will be ready in time.

While Husson continues to wait for snow and ice to clear off the new field, the Eagles got a lot of experience in Florida.

Hamel’s infield starters are first baseman-catcher Rachel Wing; second baseman Nicole Manzo; shortstop Carolyn McAvoy, who was the NAC Rookie of the Year in 2004; and third baseman Jordan Pruett.

The outfielders include Butler, center fielder Nicole Munroe, and right fielder Krystal Bosse. Deanna Maxim is the designated player, and Rhonda Chambers is the utility player.

“Position by position we are better on a team level,” Hamel said. “As far as our batting order, we’re probably two batters stronger, so we can go a little deeper in the batting order.”

Freshman Shawna Bell, who was the cleanup hitter for Central High of Corinth last year, has been a key addition to the team as the leadoff batter and starting catcher.

“I don’t like leading off, but if I have to do it…,” said Bell, who batted .466 in Florida. “You want to hit and if you’re the lead runner on, then obviously the next person can get you around. Coach has confidence that we can move people on the bases.”

Searsport’s Taralee Webster, who had one of the lowest earned run averages in the NAC, returns to lead the pitching corps, which also includes Alicia Lagrange and Ashley Paschal.

Still, the Eagles keep coming back to the success on their spring trip, especially the last two games against Mitchell College of New London, Conn. Husson was 3-4 going into the March 15 doubleheader.

“The first game we had won, but the second game, we were down two runs in the bottom of the seventh and we came back and won it,” Hamel said. “It was a tremendous plus.”

Eagles hope to play Friday

The Husson College baseball team is hoping to begin the northern portion of its schedule on Friday when Colby College will visit the Winkin Complex for a 3 p.m. game.

The Eagles went 5-9 on their two-week spring trip to Florida before returning a week ago.

“There’s a lot of water deep in the outfield and there’s some ice in left field. We’ve got to get some breaks at night,” said Winkin referring to warmer temperatures that will soften the ice and enable the daytime sun to melt it.

The Eagles will take a three-game winning streak into their eventual opener. They rebounded from a poor start.

“The hard thing was we started with some injuries and we didn’t react well,” said Winkin. “When we got healthy, we played like a million bucks.”

The most damaging injury was a rib cage ailment suffered by junior shortstop Jason Harvey that sidelined him for 10 days.

Harvey, the Sunrise Conference Rookie of the Year two seasons ago when he hit .346, was a .250 hitter as the starting shortstop at the University of Maine last spring before transferring back to Husson.

“[Harvey’s injury] seemed to make a difference and the trouble is we played some real good clubs down there,” said Winkin. “It was like the Yankees losing [shortstop Derek] Jeter.”

Left fielder Aaron Brideau and first baseman Kyle Mathieu, All-Sunrise Conference picks last spring, were also slowed by injuries as Brideau suffered a hamstring pull and Mathieu had a leg pull. Mathieu hit .421 a year ago with 32 RBIs and Brideau hit .407.

“At the end, we did the things a good team does,” said Winkin.

“I was encouraged by how we played in our last three games,” said senior second baseman Shawn Henderson. “I think we’ve got a great club.”

“We know how well we can play when we have a full lineup,” said senior catcher Billy Kane.

Winkin said the bright spots included the hitting of RF Chris McInnis; transfer Sean Brawn’s offensive productivity early in the trip, and the pitching of freshman relievers John Tefft and Sam Adolphsen.

“Tefft might be our closer,” said Winkin.

Pitcher Barrett Dionne’s return was another plus. Dionne missed last season with an elbow injury that required surgery.

Kane said Dionne threw well, “but I don’t know if he’s 100 percent yet.”