Hitting is a constantly evolving process for the dedicated baseball player.

Batters must master not only the mechanical aspects of hitting but also must maintain confidence in the face of a slump and learn to pick and choose what pitches will be most beneficial to attack.

Ryan Quintal of the University of Maine is someone whose continued discipline at the plate has made him the Black Bears’ leading hitter this season.

Today, the junior left fielder is among the key batters for UMaine as it opens an important America East series against Vermont with a noon doubleheader at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.

The Catamounts, featuring a trio of talented lefthanded pitchers, are expected to make runs hard to come by.

“They’re dominating,” said UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos. “They’re so good on the mound, they don’t have to do a lot of other things.”

Quintal, a lefthanded hitter from Manchester, N.H., has been a key contributor. He leads UMaine with a .381 average, 51 hits, five home runs, and 30 runs batted in.

“He’s been our best offensive player,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’s been consistent and he’s hitting in the middle of the order.”

While the Bears have hit only .250 in nine conference games thus far, Quintal hasn’t faltered. He is batting .351 in league action with a homer and seven RBIs.

Quintal, who batted .294 last season, has continued to improve his hitting this season.

“He didn’t do a good job defining his strike zone; he swung at a lot of bad pitches,” Kostacopoulos said of Quintal’s 2004 effort. “Now, he doesn’t get himself out any more. He really does a good job of taking what the pitcher will give him.”

Quintal, who struck out 35 times in 197 at-bats a year ago – once every 5.6 at-bats – has fanned only nine times in 134 trips to the plate (once ever 14.9 at-bats).

“Now he only swings at balls he thinks he can hit,” Kostacopoulos said. “I think it’s discipline.”

Kostacopoulos also praised Quintal for his willingness to spend extra time in the batting cage working on his hitting mechanics.

This weekend, Quintal will be challenged by having to face three lefthanded starters in a row. Lefty vs. lefty is usually a showdown won by the pitcher.

“I don’t even remember a time when we faced three lefthanders on a weekend,” Kostacopoulos said.

However, there are a handful of UMaine hitters who welcome the trend. Sophomore first baseman Joel Barrett is batting .530-plus against lefties and junior center fielder Joe Hough checks in at .410 against southpaws.

And even though the Bears have not developed the kind of offensive rhythm they would like against league opponents, their coach believes the statistics are a bit misleading.

“It would be one thing if we were a .250 hitting team, but I know we’re better than what we’ve been hitting,” Kostacopoulos said. “Hopefully it’ll click and we’ll get things going.”

Quintal is the player who has continued to set the tone for the Bears.