UMaine racing toward school mark for triples Smith hitting his stride in several categories

The University of Maine baseball team is on the verge of eclipsing a 15-year-old hitting record this season.

Coach Steve Trimper’s Black Bears go into today’s nonleague game against Colby College of Waterville with 22 triples, one shy of the 23 three-base hits legged out by the 1991 UMaine team.

While the existing standard was established during a 66-game season, the 2006 UMaine team has amassed its America East-best 22 triples in only 34 games. What’s more, the Bears have received a triple from 10 different players.

Historically, the Bears haven’t been known as a team with tremendous speed, although this year’s ballclub has a handful of good runners.

However, one big key to its triples number has been the team’s ability to hit balls into the gaps and down the lines.

“We’ve done a tremendous job trying to work gap to gap,” Trimper said of UMaine’s hitting approach. “We’re trying to keep the barrel [of the bat] in the [strike] zone and go up the middle with everything.”

Trimper explained that philosophy helps generate more line drives with backspin on the balls, which allow them to travel farther.

Sophomore Curt Smith leads UMaine and America East with five triples this spring. Senior Joe Hough, one of three Bears with three triples, set the school career mark earlier this season and now has 13.

The previous record of 11 was set by Chad White of Brewer (1990-93).

Junior Joel Barrett of Brewer and senior Ryan Quintal also boast three triples each in 2006.

Smith back on track

After struggling a bit with the bat a week earlier against Stony Brook, Smith was a menace at the plate during the Bears’ nonconference weekend series against New York Tech.

Smith, a sophomore shortstop from Willemstad, Curacao, reached base 10 times in 14 plate appearances to help the Black Bears take two of three games from the Bears.

Smith went 7-for-11 (.636) with two doubles, a triple, and two RBIs while raising his average to a league-best .403 (one point better than freshman teammate Kevin McAvoy of Brewer).

Smith scored five runs, drawing three walks and stealing one base.

He ranks first in America East in hits (54) and runs scored (67), is second in slugging percentage (.642), doubles (13), and total bases (86), and ranks third in on-base percentage (.474) and fourth in stolen bases (10).

Trimper moved Smith over to shortstop after he played his first season at third base. Smith has committed 15 errors, the most in the conference along with Bears third baseman McAvoy.

Menendez earns league honor

UMaine freshman Danny Menendez on Monday became the second team member honored as the America East Rookie of the Week this season.

While McAvoy has earned the recognition five times already, it was Menendez who helped UMaine win three games last week.

The second baseman from Miami batted .429 for the week (6-for-14) with three RBIs and four runs scored. Menendez had a key triple Sunday that helped the Bears rally for a 13-12 victory over New York Tech.

“He had given me sliders two pitches before, so I just stayed back and tried to get a piece of it,” said Menendez, who later scored the tying run.

Menendez earned the starting nod at second base this season and has committed only four errors in 141 chances (.972 fielding percentage).