UMaine emerges as top team in region Bears’ bases are still loaded with talent

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OXFORD, Miss. – The season is over for the University of Maine baseball team, but the success it achieved during 2005 make it one of the most memorable and meaningful in program history.

UMaine again emerged as the premier program in New England. Coach Paul Kostacopoulos directed the Bears to a 35-19 record, the fifth straight season with at least 34 wins.

In claiming its second America East championship in four years, UMaine earned a spot in the NCAA Oxford Regional at the University of Mississippi. There, the Bears made a strong statement about the quality of baseball in the Northeast and their commitment to excellence despite the geographic constraints they must overcome.

Saturday’s win over Southern Mississippi ranks among the most impressive in school history. It was accomplished without the tremendous scholarship advantage enjoyed by UMaine teams in the 1970s and ’80s, and without the benefit of playing on its own field as occurred under the previous regionalized tournament format.

The 12-2 victory over Southern Miss was the program’s first ever in a Regional held outside New England. It was the first win for the Bears in NCAA postseason play since Maine hosted the 1991 Regional.

“I’m just extremely proud of how we played, how we competed, what we accomplished [in Mississippi],” Kostacopoulos said.

Grit and determination in the face of adversity and in pressure situations was what set this team apart.

On May 27, the Bears were one strike away from elimination in the America East title game. A game-tying single by Mike Ferriggi with two strikes and two out and several other key contributions enabled UMaine to beat Vermont.

Sunday afternoon, in brutal heat and humidity, the Bears rallied from a six-run, eighth-inning deficit to tie their NCAA elimination game against Oklahoma. They were one swing of the bat away from reaching the championship round, but came up short.

“I love this team,” said senior designated hitter Greg Creek. “It was the team that clutched up at the right time more than any team I’ve been on.”

The performance in Mississippi earned UMaine tremendous respect from their opponents and the rabid Ole Miss fans while reaffirming the program’s potential.

“We’ve got a lot of guys coming back, so we’re excited,” said junior Joe Hough. “Some of the guys were saying, this is what it feels like, let’s go back next year and win it.

“No one gave us a shot to come down [to Mississippi] and be in a game, never mind win one and lose one in the ninth,” Hough said. “We know we can play with anybody.”

Consistently outstanding frontline pitching, several potent bats throughout the batting order, and steady defense were UMaine’s keys to success.

Starters Steve Richard (9-1) and Greg Norton (9-4) kept the Bears in virtually every game. And when Creek was unable to pitch because of a sore arm, Troy Martin (8-2, 4 saves) reprised his indispensable role as both a starter and a reliever.

Scott Robinson (2-2, 9 saves) was effective as the Bears’ closer. He set a school season record with 29 appearances.

Freshman lefthander Jason Weymouth (2-2) of Charleston overcame early health problems to become the No. 4 starter, but UMaine lacked depth of experience on the staff.

Ryan Brown of Milford, John Tesseyman, Justin Bishop and Josh Zyskowski pitched sparingly, while Will Carroll of Boothbay and Brian MacDonald were out with injuries.

Senior co-captains Creek (.354) and Aaron Izaryk (.332) and classmate Ferriggi (.296) depart having helped the Bears make two NCAA appearances.

Creek finished as UMaine’s top hitter after injury relegated him to the DH role. Izaryk, an Academic All-American, was a fixture behind the plate and a force with the bat. Ferriggi peaked in his final season and formed the cornerstone of a middle infield that turned a school-record 64 double plays.

“Those three players are not going to be easy to replace, but we think we have people in the program, who didn’t get much time this year, who I think will be better players next year and be ready to step into some roles,” Kostacopoulos said.

UMaine packed plenty of offensive punch as six players batted over .330. Freshman Curt Smith (.354) was a clutch performer at third base, while first baseman Joel Barrett of Brewer (.340) and outfielders Hough (.336) and Ryan Quintal (.335) were again among the team’s leaders.

Matt McGraw (.291) made a midseason transition from catcher to right field and improved dramatically. Freshman Ray Vallee of Augusta (.245) beat out Steve Gambale (.229) for the shortstop job, but both need to become more consistent in all facets. Ross Cantara (.256) played a utility role.

UMaine must fill a void at catcher with McGraw and frosh Frank Pesanello the likely candidates. Freshman Moises Rivera is the top returning prospect to take over at second base.

Mark Ostrander hopes to significantly improve his hitting as a sophomore to complement his defensive skills in the outfield.

Incoming freshmen include righthanded pitchers Mike Powers of Portland, Pat Moran of Winterport and John Dacyczyn and lefty Mitchell Clegg, along with infielders Kevin McAvoy of Brewer and Bangor’s Brian Hackett.

Among other milestones Kostacopoulos, the architect of UMaine’s return to NCAA play, earned his 500th career win.

“This program is going in the right direction,” Izaryk said. “They’re doing a great job bringing players in, bringing good people in. Everybody’s working for the same goal.”