BREWER – The Brewer High School baseball team relied on pitching and defense to reach last year’s Eastern Maine Class A championship game.

This spring the Witches hope the addition of a more consistent hitting attack will lead to even greater success.

“Last year we went to the Eastern Maine championship and we had one guy hit over .300,” said Brewer coach David Morris.

“We had pitching and defense, but hopefully we can hit the ball better this year,” he said. “We’re really doing a lot of talking about hitting right now because we have the physical tools but I’m not sure if we’re there mentally yet. We’ve been really working on a lot of mental toughness and situational hitting.”

Brewer graduated some key contributors – first baseman Brad Brown, second baseman Rick Adams and pitcher Jim Nicknair among them – from last year’s team, which won 11 of 14 games after a 2-2 start to earn its second trip to the EM final in the last four seasons.

But there’s a veteran nucleus back both on the mound and in the field – with most of the returnees buoyed by additional high-quality experience at the American Legion level.

“We lost a couple of core guys, but we’ve got some young kids who I think are going to step up to fill in the holes,” said senior pitcher-first baseman Prentiss Swett. “We only have one sophomore, no freshmen and a lot of juniors and seniors. We’ve got a lot of veterans; we’re an older team.”

Senior Greg Higgins returns to anchor the pitching staff, along with sophomore Eric White. Swett, Billy Bissell and Chase Daniels – who emerged during last summer’s American Legion Zone 1 tournament – provide talented depth, with Swett and Bissell likely to see some duty as the team’s closer.

“I think what we’re really pleased with so far this spring is that the pitching’s been pretty decent,” said Morris. “Overall, there’s a confidence in our pitchers that we’re pleased with because that’s definitely one area where we have some guys returning.”

Senior Caleb Smith anchors the infield as a third-year starter at shortstop.

Swett and Higgins both will see duty at first base, while White and senior Mike Kotredes will play third. Several candidates are vying to replace Adams at second, including Coby Hutchins and Kyle O’Connell.

White and senior Shun Sasaki are returning starters in left and center field, while the strong-armed Bissell will play right. Jon Thoms and Andy Bush are the top catching candidates.

“I think we’ve got a lot of kids who hit the ball well,” said Swett, who will bat in the middle of the lineup. “We’ve got a lot of contact hitters, too, who we can work in the top and the bottom of the order, and if they’re on base, we’ve got some guys in the middle of the order who can drive them in.”

Athletic administrators honored

Several high school athletic administrators from around the state were honored recently during the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s 38th annual spring conference held at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

Among those recognized were Jim Murphy of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, recipient of the Keith Lancaster MIAAA award for professional development; and Paul Michaud of Fort Kent, MIAAA president special achievement award.

Gary Carter of Richmond High School received the Robert J. Lahey MIAAA AD of the year award, while Gary Hoyt of Cheverus of Portland was the recipient of the Martin E. Ryan MIAAA Award of Excellence.

Athletic administrators receiving special achievement awards were Brendan Harvey of Bucksport and the Penobscot Valley Conference, Corey Fleming of Narraguagus of Harrington and the Downeast Athletic Conference, Paul Michaud of Fort Kent and the Aroostook League, Jeff Benson of Oxford Hills of South Paris and the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, Jack Trull of Old Orchard Beach and the Western Maine Conference, Tom Philbrick of Rangeley and the East-West Conference, and Rich Drummond of Portland and the Southern Maine Activities Association.

Distinguished service awards were presented to William Labbe of Brunswick High School and retiring Maine Principals’ Association assistant executive director Lawrence LaBrie, while former KVAC secretary-treasurer Brian Hatch of Morse High in Bath was presented the MIAAA/Maine Hall of Fame Award.

MIAAA media awards were presented to Travis Lee of WMTW-TV Channel 8 of Portland and George Almasi of the Times Record of Brunswick.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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