Bucksport High School’s John Wardwell Field was speckled with ice and snow Monday afternoon as the school’s softball team held its first practice of the year in the gymnasium.

Even though the Golden Bucks had to open the 2007 season indoors, seniors Terren Hall and Katie Hurd were all smiles during a break from the first practice of the year for the 2006 Class B state champions who went 20-0 last season.

Hall and Hurd, who make up one of the most formidable batteries in the state, are two of seven seniors and six returning starters. That talent and experience makes the Bucks a favorite to defend their title.

“We want it again,” catcher Hurd said. “That would be so sweet. We’re definitely going to be more powerful than last year.”

The rest of the state’s high school baseball and softball teams were also likely indoors Monday as teams were allowed a combination of 10 pitchers and catchers to report for preseason work. Full team tryouts and workouts will begin March 26.

Hall, who will play for the University of Maine next year, was the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. Hurd was the PVC first-team catcher.

The two were paired up during a tossing session. Hurd and four other team members stood along one end line of the basketball court while Hall and the rest of the Bucks, including assistant coach Michelle Grindle, backed up deep into the court every few tosses.

Eventually, both groups were standing on opposing ends of the court for some hard accuracy work. Hall and Hurd had plenty of pop as neither had to stray far to make catches despite the distance.

Then again, no one looked too rusty.

Despite graduating three PVC first-teamers, Bucksport has a ton of talent back including seniors Hall and Hurd, PVC second-team third baseman Sarah Winters, center fielder Katie Allen and outfielder Kayla Allen, who will likely take over in either left or right.

The Golden Bucks will also look to junior Keely Sullivan, who named to the PVC first team as a utility player. She started at first when Hall pitched and also earned a 6-0 record in the circle.

“She came around for us midway through the season and really started to hit the ball,” Hall said. “I think she’s going to be key for us this year.”

Sophomore Alex Sullivan had a stellar rookie season at shortstop.

The Bucks were without head coach Mike Carrier, who is going into his 17th season. Carrier is recovering from knee replacement surgery last week but may look into practice Thursday. Hall’s father Terry Hall, an assistant coach, ran practice with assistant and junior varsity coach Michelle Grindle.

Hall, who had a 0.40 earned-run average and broke school records for single-season and career home runs with nine during the 2006 regular season, spent the winter helping out with a youth softball program.

She also practiced throwing curves and a screwball on her own every Sunday in the Bucksport High gym with her father catching.

“I worked on the basic stuff to get ready for the season,” Hall said. “My pitches, accuracy, that kind of thing.”

Hurd was busy playing basketball for the Golden Bucks this winter, so Monday was her first session of hard throwing all winter.

It wasn’t exactly a blemish on her 14-0 record last year, but Hall knows her performance in the state game wasn’t her best. She gave up an uncharacteristic six earned runs and nine hits, including the only home run she allowed all year.

The Bucks also had three errors in the state final after committing just two in their previous preseason games.

“I keep on going through that home run,” Hall said with a laugh. “But it’s a new year. … We’re not perfect. We know there are things we have to work on.”

Hurd heading to MMA

Another one of Eastern Maine’s top players will head to Castine next year to play sports at Maine Maritime Academy.

Hurd, who aside from playing catcher for the Golden Bucks is also one of their top basketball players, will participate in both sports.

Hurd said she also looked at Thomas College of Waterville.

“[MMA] was my number-one choice and I got accepted there,” she said. “Then they told me they wanted me for basketball and softball. Their basketball team’s really good.”

The Mariners have earned a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament two years in a row.

Hurd, a 5-foot-7 forward, was a Big East Conference defensive award winner and played in last week’s conference senior all-star game.

Hurd will join Nokomis of Newport’s Tatum Welch and Stearns of Millinocket’s Amy Collinsworth on the Maine Maritime basketball team.

Cheerleading teams solid

Maine’s high school cheerleading teams had fine results at the New England Spirit Championships on Saturday at University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center.

Class A state champion Brewer scored 183 points out of a possible 210 to finish fourth in Division I. The Witches were the top Maine team.

Class B state champ Hermon recorded 155.5 points, with a 5-point deduction for too much music behind its routine, for a fourth-place finish in Division II. Washington Academy of East Machias, the winner of the Class C state title, was third in the coed division with 163.5 points and a 5-point penalty.

Class D state runner-up Bangor Christian was fourth in Division IV, scoring a 129.5.

Coaches, athletes honored

Three members of the Bangor High swimming and diving coaching staff along with senior diver Emma Chaiken picked up Class A statewide honors from the Maine Swim League, while MDI coach Tony DeMuro and Belfast junior Tyler Bowen were also honored.

Chaiken was named the Class A Girls Diver of the Year and her coach, Barbara Stoyell, was the girls diving Coach of the Year regardless of classification. Bangor girls head coach Cindi Howard was the Class A girls Coach of the Year and boys assistant Mike Bassi was a Coach of the Year winner.

DeMuro was the Class B boys Coach of the Year and Bowen was the Class B boys Swimmer of the Year.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.