Three new arms will join UM pitching staff

Even after literally beating the bushes to get six players signed in the fall recruiting period, University of Maine baseball coach Steve Trimper still hoped to bolster his pitching corps.

Trimper received good news Thursday as three pitchers committed to play for the Black Bears.

Lefthander Brad Hertzler, righthander Mike Klaus, and ambidextrous pitcher David Ricker all signed National Letters of Intent to attend UMaine.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Hertzler was a three-time all-state selection in high school at East Providence, R.I., a 32nd-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2004, and a 2006 All-New England selection at Rhode Island Community College this year. His brother Barry has four saves and a 0.47 ERA for the Portland Sea Dogs.

“He’s a right-now guy and a guy we’re definitely counting on to come in and be one of our top three guys,” Trimper said. “He’s a power guy and a monster competitor with a good slider and an upper 80s fastball.”

Klaus is a 6-1, 195-pound Wantage, N.J., native who can also play first base. Trimper found him with the help of a former high school classmate who coached Klaus in high school. He went 20-7 with a 2.85 ERA and averaged 11/2 strikeouts per inning. He also batted .375 with seven home runs.

“He will be a good project for us. He has a power arm with a fastball in the 80s,” Trimper said. “He has big-time potential if he can develop his offspeed stuff.”

The 6-2, 220-pound Ricker hails from Hendersonville, N.C., and went 4-5 with a 2.74 ERA. He notched 99 strikeouts in 55 innings and batted .500 with 25 RBIs this season. He can bat, pitch, and catch left- and righthanded.

“I will predict he’ll start a media frenzy. He’s identical from both sides in everything he does and it’s like getting two pitchers in one,” Trimper said. “We had him up here once and he threw 87-88 from the left side with no warmups. Then on the right, he’s hitting 86-87. I think he has a lot of upside.”

Leveille surgery successful

University of Maine men’s hockey center Michel Leveille underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee three weeks ago and the Bears’ third-leading scorer this past season said everything went well.

“I feel pretty good. I’m walking fine. I’m pain-free. The knee is doing real well,” said Leveille, who was injured in a 3-2 loss at Boston University on Jan. 13. He missed five games before returning with a knee brace that he wore for the rest of the season.

Dr. John West performed the procedure at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Leveille will rehabilitate it over the summer and should be ready to go when the season begins.

Leveille, who was an assistant captain, had 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points in 37 games this past season. He was second on the team in goals and assists.

He had five goals and eight assists over his last 10 games, including a goal in the 5-2 loss to eventual national champion Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinal.

He said he will probably wear a knee brace to begin the season “mostly for confidence so I won’t have to worry about the leg.”

Leveille, who has 104 career points (34 & 70) in 113 career games, has earned his degree in communications but has a year of eligibility remaining.

He could sign a free agent contract, “but I haven’t had any offers as yet and, as of right now, I’m planning to return to Maine next year.”