Monks buoyed by undefeated start Biathlete Currier to attend UMPI

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The Saint Joseph’s College baseball team’s bats were as hot as the Florida sun during its seven-game swing in the Sunshine State, and the Monks returned home with an unblemished record.

“That and a nickel will get you a cup of coffee,” said 15-year head coach Will Sanborn about his team’s 7-0 start.

Over their first seven contests, the Monks of Standish batted .402 as a team while outscoring their opponents 88-32 in kicking off their quest for another North Atlantic Conference title.

Their balanced offense was led by junior catcher Andrew Wood of South Portland, who batted .577 (13 for 26) and collected three doubles, two triples and 13 RBIs.

“That was good to see us come right out and hit the ball like that,” Sanborn said. “I think our offense has a lot of confidence right now.”

The balance was evident, as St. Joe’s had four players bat over .500 in Florida, and six more over .400.

“This is one of the more balanced teams that I’ve had,” Sanborn said.

While the Monks have been hitting the ball well, they have been excelling on the base paths as well, going 22-for-28 as a team in stolen bases, with Wood leading the way with five.

“We’ve got guys right down the lineup who can steal bases,” Sanborn said.

Two of St. Joe’s big wins on the trip came against two solid Division III entries in Fairleigh Dickinson and Drew University, both of New Jersey.

Against Drew, a 15-2 victory, junior outfielder Luke Enman slammed a pair of home runs to spark a 4-5, seven-RBI performance.

One of those homers came on the first pitch after both benches were warned for throwing at each other, which Sanborn says was a key point in that game.

“Our guys just kept our mouths shut and Luke Enman came up and hit the ball over the fence. That’s always a nice answer,” Sanborn said.

Enman finished the swing with a .533 average (18 of 30), three doubles, two homers, 10 RBIs and four stolen bases.

Sanborn’s pitching staff was solid in Florida, with a team earned run average of 4.12.

Sophomore Andrew Keirstead of Westbrook posted a 1.80 ERA, allowing two earned runs and 11 hits in 10 innings of work, striking out two and walking only one.,

The Monks’ defense was also stingy, posting only 11 errors.

“Defense is really one of our strong points,” Sanborn said. “We have one of the best infield groups around.”

Sanborn’s starting infield consists of Mark Clapp of Blue Hill at third, Enman at shortstop, Brian Schools of Gorham at second and Keirstead and Wood splitting time at first.

“To me, that’s as good as an infield group as you’re going to find at the Division III level,” Sanborn said.

The Monks open NAC play on April 7th at home with a doubleheader against UMaine-Farmington.

Currier settles on UMPI

Since graduating from Caribou High School in 2006, Russell Currier has traveled all over Europe and the United States training for and competing in biathlon competitions.

Now, Currier is ready to settle down for at least the next two years at the University of Maine-Presque Isle.

The Stockholm native, a four-time member of the U.S. world junior championships team, said he’ll attend UMPI and ski for the Owls before taking time off to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“I’ll do that for at least a couple of years, race on the NCAA circuit, then after that take another year off and hopefully make the Olympic team,” Currier said. “I have no regrets [about taking time off]. It was a good break and I’m much more ready for college now.”

Currier should do well skiing cross country for UMPI considering how fast his ski times typically are in biathlon races. Biathlon is a sport that combines skiing and target shooting. He has struggled at times in his shooting.

There are days, Currier admitted, that he sometimes thinks about doing cross country full time.

“It takes a long time to figure out shooting and it takes some people longer than others,” he said. “I mean, nobody shoots good everyday. You have to keep that stuff in mind.”

Currier will join fellow Maine Winter Sports Center biathlon athletes Meagan Toussaint of Madawaska, Bjorn Bakken and Brandan Ostroot on the UMPI team.