UMaine in crucial matchup Bears hope to host league tournament

Intensity and emotions are likely to be high today as the University of Maine baseball team opens a critical four-game America East series against Vermont in Burlington.

On the line is the right to host next week’s America East Championship.

Coach Steve Trimper’s Black Bears (30-18-1, 10-7 AE) need to beat the Catamounts (16-30, 14-6 AE) three times and have Binghamton take at least one game from Albany in their series to secure home-field advantage for the tournament.

“We got out every single weekend trying to win series,” said Trimper, who was an assistant coach at Vermont under veteran Cats boss Bill Currier from 1994-98.

“Going up to Vermont doesn’t change anything, our mindset, what we do all the time,” he added. “It just so happens that if we win the series, we come back [to Orono].”

Vermont would earn the right to host the tourney with two wins against the Bears. Today’s opener is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m., but may be moved up because of a rainy evening forecast.

The Bears and the Catamounts decided the conference champion last season. Vermont forced a deciding game in the tournament, but UMaine pulled out a dramatic 11-inning victory.

“We’re looking forward to going to Vermont and win the series so we can host the tournament,” said sophomore shortstop Curt Smith. “I’m excited.”

UMaine is fielding a vastly different lineup from the squad that earned the title in 2005. The Bears routinely have four freshman starters in the lineup, and sometimes five, and also have been relying heavily on two first-year pitchers.

That dynamic has resulted in some inconsistency, but Trimper recently has expanded UMaine’s depth and experience by using even more freshmen.

In addition to rookie of the year candidate Kevin McAvoy of Brewer at third base or designated hitter, second baseman Danny Menendez, catcher Sean Parker and outfielder Billy Cather have played key roles on the squad.

Brian Hackett of Bangor, inserted into the lineup against Hartford to shore up the defense, responded well and provided some clutch hits as UMaine took three of four from the Hawks.

“Those are the types of things that really get the team going,” said junior Joel Barrett of Brewer. “You’re not expecting anything, but when they do something, it’s like icing on top of the cake.”

Cather’s return from a wrist injury last weekend also boosted the Bears both offensively and in the field.

“It hurt our lineup losing Billy for the last couple weeks to that injury,” Trimper said. “He gets on base, he draws walks, he can steal a base, he plays a good outfield and he can use the whole field when he hits.”

If UMaine hopes to play host to the AE tournament, it will need its newcomers to play well in the series against Vermont.