Enriched pitching staff key to Maine’s fortunes Black Bears eye third straight America East title

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Greg Norton watched from the stands last May as the University of Maine baseball team won the America East championship and earned another trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The senior pitcher from South Portland, sidelined in after offseason rotator cuff surgery, looked on as first-year coach Steve Trimper successfully worked several freshmen into the mix and directed the Black Bears to a 35-22-1 record.

This spring, Norton makes his long-awaited return to head up a pitching staff that features plenty of talent and depth.

“[Pitching] was our Achilles’ heel last year at times, so we needed to shore that up and concentrate a lot of time on that,” said Trimper whose staff finished with a puffy 5.54 earned run average last year.

UMaine opens its the season Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Penn at Palm Beach, Fla.

“Norty’s a big cog in the whole thing,” Trimper said. “We’re looking for him to be the mainstay.”

Norton, 9-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 2005, should help replace the experience of graduates Scott Robinson, Troy Martin and Josh Zyskowski, who combined for 17 wins and 147 strikeouts.

“I love trying to be a leader not just to the pitchers but to the whole team,” Norton said. “With our core group of pitchers, I think we’re going to be extremely successful.”

Trimper has brought in junior college transfer Brad Hertzler and Canadian Joel Thorney, who should assume key roles on a staff that already includes juniors Nolan Boike, Jason Weymouth of Charleston, and Will Carroll of Boothbay; sophomores Mike Powers of Portland, A.J. Balsinde, Jose Mendoza, Pat Moran of Winterport and Mitch Clegg; and freshmen Ryan Forrest, a transfer from Creighton, Chris Wojick and the ambidextrous David Ricker.

Hertzler is a lefthander who was drafted in 2004 by the Boston Red Sox in the 32nd round. He commands four pitches, including a nasty cut fastball.

“He’s an in-your-face pitcher,” Trimper said. “He has a bulldog mentality and comes at you hard.”

Righthander Powers (5-4, 4.64 in 2006) comes back after a steady freshman season and will be in the starting rotation.

“His velocity’s up a little bit. He’s throwing his slider and he’s really developed his changeup,” Trimper said.

Thorney arrives at UMaine after working his way back from “Tommy John” elbow surgery. He is being brought along slowly, but is likely to be an important contributor.

“If he comes back, strength-wise, he could be our best guy,” Trimper said. “He’s a hard thrower [90 mph] with a great breaking ball and a slider.”

Lefties Mendoza (3-2, 5.73) and Boike (4-2, 4.50) could figure as starters or out of the bullpen, where Clegg (1-1, 3.48) and Moran (1-2, 8.61) look to see more time. Balsinde (1-3, 5.36, 4 saves) will reprise his closer role.

“A.J.’s been looking outstanding as our closer,” Trimper said. “He’s really developed his changeup.”

Weymouth (3-0, 5.13), another lefty, and Carroll both are trying to overcome offseason surgery. Forest, Ricker and Wojick also could figure in the mix.

One surprise on the mound is Brewer sophomore Kevin McAvoy, who could get some relief work after pitching well in Legion ball last summer.

“He throws the ball extremely well,” Trimper said.

Among the position players, the Bears return offensive production and good speed. Junior shortstop Curt Smith returns after batting a team-leading .390 with five home runs, 55 RBIs and 19 stolen bases a year ago.

Other mainstays are AE Rookie of the Year McAvoy (.369, 10 HR, 64 RBIs), a sophomore third baseman, senior All-AE first baseman Joel Barrett of Brewer (.368, 5 HR, 50 RBIs), and senior All-AE pick Matt McGraw (.333, 5 HR, 39 RBIs, 17 SB), who will play left field.

“We’re going to need our pitchers to come through a little bit more for us this year,” McGraw said. “We’re still going to be a strong offense, but I don’t know if we’re going to score 10 or 11 runs every game.”

UMaine will again count on second baseman Danny Menendez (.297, 29 RBIs), catcher Sean Parker (.263, 1 HR, 27 RBIs) and center fielder Billy Cather (.272, 10 RBIs, 12 SB), all of whom contributed as freshmen. Senior Mark Ostrander (.333, 3 HR, 11 RBIs), the MVP of the AE tourney, is the right fielder while junior Bobby Brown (.242, 3 HR, 19 RBIs) will play right and serve as the designated hitter.

Soph Brian Hackett of Bangor will be the backup at third, shortstop and second.

“I think this is the best team I’ve ever been on,” McAvoy said. “Last year was special and I think the people we gained are definitely going to make up for the people we lost.”

Either Cather or Menendez will lead off, followed by McGraw, Smith and Barrett.

“[Smith’s] obviously the most feared hitter in the conference,” Trimper said.

McAvoy and Parker are likely to fill the Nos. 5 and 6 spots, in no set order, while Ostrander and Brown will step in ahead of Cather or Menendez in the No. 9 position.

Newcomers expected to see playing time are DH/outfielder Kevin Jackson, catcher Myckie Lugbauer and Winthrop outfielder Taviscq Hasenfus.

UMaine has a testy nonleague schedule that includes Arizona State, Florida Atlantic, Miami and New Orleans.

“You don’t get better unless you play better teams,” Trimper said.

University of Maine 2007 Schedule

MARCH

3 – vs. Pennsylvania*, 1:30 p.m.

4 – vs. Villanova*, 2:30 p.m.

5 – vs. Mount St. Mary’s*, 2 p.m.

6 – at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.

7 – vs. Monmouth N.J.#, 7 p.m.

8 – vs. Penn*, 1 p.m.

9 – vs. St. Bonaventure*, 1:30 p.m.

10 – vs. No. Illinois*, 2:15 p.m.

11 – vs. Fordham*, 1:30 p.m.

13 – at Miami, 7 p.m.

14 – vs. Long Island U.*, 3 p.m.

16 – at Arizona State, 9 p.m.

17 – at Arizona State (2), 3 p.m.

18 – at Arizona State, 3 p.m.

24 – at New York Tech (2), noon

25 – at New York Tech, 1 p.m.

30 – at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.

31 – at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL

1 – at New Orleans, 2 p.m.

6 – at Stony Brook, 3 p.m.

7 – at Stony Brook (2), noon

8 – at Stony Brook, noon

11 – vs. Brown^, 4 p.m.

13 – UMBC, 5 p.m.

14 – UMBC (2), 1 p.m.

15 – UMBC, 1 p.m.

17 – Thomas, 4 p.m.

20 – New York Tech, 5 p.m.

21 – New York Tech, 1 p.m.

22 – New York Tech, 1 p.m.

24 – Colby, 4 p.m.

26 – at Siena, 4 p.m.

27 – at Albany, 3 p.m.

28 – at Albany (2), 1 p.m.

29 – at Albany, 1 p.m.

MAY

2 – vs. Southern Maine^, 6 p.m.

4 – Vermont, 6 p.m.

5 – Vermont (2), 1 p.m.

6 – Vermont, 1 p.m.

12 – at Hartford, 3 p.m.

13 – at Hartford (2), noon

14 – at Hartford, 1 p.m.

15 – Northeastern, 5 p.m.

16 – Siena, 1 p.m.

18 – Binghamton, 5 p.m.

19 – Binghamton (2), 2 p.m.

20 – Binghamton, 1 p.m.

*-at Palm Beach, Fla.; #-at Lakeworth, Fla.; ^-at Sanford