Coaches pick Bears to win league title Baseball team is unanimous selection

The University of Maine, the two-time defending America East baseball champion, is the unanimous pick to win the conference title again this spring.

Maine received all seven first-place votes and 49 points overall in the conference preseason poll, which is voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Binghamton was second in the poll with 39 points, followed by Vermont (30), Albany (26), Stony Brook (25), Hartford (14) and Maryland Baltimore County (13).

Second-year coach Steve Trimper is hoping the Black Bears can improve on their 2006 record of 35-22-1, which included a 13-9 league mark.

“It’s obviously nice to be honored in the preseason by our peers. It shows the recognition the program has received through the hard work of our kids and assistant coaches,” Trimper said. “At the same time it puts a big target on our back.”

Trimper added that the preseason selection also motivates his team to uphold the program’s tradition of success as it works to do better each season.

The top four teams in the conference advance to the America East Championship, which will be played May 24-26 at the highest seed that has a field with lights. The winner of the double-elimination tourney receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

The Bears return 19 letterwinners and seven starters, including five of their top six hitters. UMaine is led by junior shortstop Curt Smith, who led America East with a .390 batting average and had 55 RBIs.

Smith has been named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America Third-Team selection.

Also returning for the Bears is 2006 AE Rookie of the Year and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Kevin McAvoy of Brewer. The third baseman hit .369 with 39 runs scored and 64 RBI.

Senior Joel Barrett, also of Brewer, returns to anchor the infield at first base. The All-America East second-team selection, batted .368 with 57 runs scored and 50 RBIs. Utility player Matt McGraw scored 55 runs and stole 17 bases.

Maine’s pitching staff is expected to be stronger in 2007 with the return of Greg Norton of South Portland. The senior righthander sat out the 2006 season as a medical redshirt.

Also returning is sophomore righty Mike Powers of Portland, who was 5-4 as a rookie.

Maine has 14 newcomers on its roster. Six pitchers, including junior college transfers Brad Hertzler and Joel Thorney are expected to contribute right away. Myckie Lugbauer should challenge for playing time at catcher.

UMaine opens the season March 3 against Penn in Palm Beach, Fla. The Bears will play at Miami, before traveling to Arizona State for a four-game series.