HAMPDEN – When it came time for Ian Lee to take batting practice the other day, rather than bash fastballs as he’s been doing at Hampden Academy for the last four years, the senior catcher asked for a steady diet of curveballs from Broncos’ coach David Shapiro.

“He’s such an intelligent hitter,” said Shapiro. “He knows he’s going to see a lot of off-speed stuff for the rest of the season, so that’s what he wants to see in BP.”

It is a dedication to self-improvement that has served Lee well throughout his high school career, and something he hopes will continue to help next season when he seeks to walk on to the University of Maine baseball program.

At Maine, Lee would join several other area players on the Black Bears’ roster, including former Hampden Academy teammate Pat Moran, Joel Barrett and Kevin McAvoy of Brewer, and Brian Hackett of Bangor.

“A lot of it for me was growing up and seeing some of my friends go there like Pat Moran,” said Lee of his decision to attend Maine. “For a while I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go. I also considered a couple of other places like Saint Joseph’s and Franklin Pierce, but I decided I just really want to go to Maine.

“Pat was definitely a big factor because I talked to him a lot about where I wanted to go to school. And seeing Pat and Joel Barrett and Kevin McAvoy and Brian Hackett all going there … Pat said I’d really enjoy it, and he knows me pretty well.”

Lee ranks as one of the premier players in Eastern Maine, having earned All-Penobscot Valley Conference first-team honors each of the past two years while also gaining American Legion All-Zone 1 honors each of the last three summers.

“You talk about kids who are intrinsically motivated or are externally motivated,” Shapiro said. “Ian’s the type of kid who has a tremendous inner drive to want to be the best.”

This spring Lee is batting .586 with seven doubles and three triples among his 17 hits. He currently has a .708 on-base percentage and a 1.068 slugging percentage for the Broncos, 3-7-1 entering today’s scheduled home game against Skowhegan at Bordick Park.

Shapiro describes Lee as an “excellent receiver” who worked with a veteran Hampden pitching staff featuring Moran and current Husson College freshman Chris Pease a year ago and now is using that experience to mentor a much younger Broncos’ rotation this spring.

“I can’t imagine where we’d be without him behind the plate,” Shapiro said. “He knows the game so well, and the other kids really respect him.”

Lee has been primarily a catcher throughout his career, but showed his versatility in 2004 when he earned second team American Legion All-Zone 1 status as a third baseman.

“[Maine coach Steve Trimper] said he has some guys coming in who are pretty good and that I’m going to have to work hard to get playing time,” Lee said. “I’m going up there to catch, but wherever they want me is where I’ll play.”