For the John Bapst of Bangor baseball team, late-season snow hasn’t been the direct challenge.

Instead, it’s the lack of a field to call its own, which resulted in the Crusaders holding their first outdoor practice late Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s tough to find practice time with the weather and once the college schedule backs up,” said fifth-year Crusaders coach Shane Graham.

John Bapst did have two scrimmages before that first outdoor practice. Its solid play in those preseason games against Bangor and Hampden Academy may represent a sign of things to come. The Crusaders return seven letterwinners from last year’s 10-8 team that reached the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals before being edged by Bucksport 8-7.

The Crusaders will be led by senior pitcher-shortstop Kyle Gallant, senior pitcher Aaron Healey, senior catcher Nick Smith and senior pitcher-outfielder Jon Gagnon, along with junior center fielder Casey Hull, a third-year starter.

John Bapst also will get a boost from the return of junior infielder Andrew Casey, who missed last season with a knee injury.

The Crusaders are scheduled to open Tuesday against Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln at Mansfield Stadium.

Veterans lead Mariners

In a school steeped in basketball tradition, the Deer Isle-Stonington baseball team is in the midst of a breakthrough run of its own.

Five consecutive winning seasons – highlighted by two state titles in the last three years – have branded the Mariners as one of the teams to beat in Eastern Maine Class D.

But this may be a transition season of sorts for the club, which graduated six starters from last spring’s 17-3 team that topped Rangeley 11-2 in the state championship game.

A solid, albeit small, veteran nucleus is back, headed by senior righthander Collin Ciomei, who is 2-0 as a pitcher in state championship games.

But Deer Isle-Stonington also will need some solid play from some of the younger players on its roster if it is to become the first team to win back-to-back Eastern D titles since Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook won four in a row from 1986 to 1989 – the first four years of Class D play in high school baseball.

And beyond that there’s the ultimate goal of repeating as state champion, something that hasn’t been done by an Eastern D team since Southern Aroostook won three straight from 1987 to 1989.

Veteran Mariners coach Darren Eaton – whose team opens its season at home Thursday against two-time defending Eastern C champion Searsport – isn’t talking in those terms.

“It’s all according to how well we blend,” said Eaton, whose team is 42-14 over the last three seasons despite one of the tougher schedules in Eastern D. “But I like my team. I’ve got nine kids who can play.”

Deer Isle-Stonington should be led by a pitching staff that features the rangy Ciomei; classmate Ethan Pinkham, who won last year’s Eastern Maine final against Ashland; and junior Eben Powers.

“We’ve got some kids who can pitch,” said Eaton. “Collin’s one of the best pitchers in the state, and he’s come in very upbeat this season.”

That trio also will share the catching duties when not pitching, though Ciomei can play shortstop, first base and in the outfield. Pinkham is a three-year outfielder for the Mariners and Powers was last spring’s starting third baseman. So where they all wind up when not on the mound may depend on the growth of the rest of the roster.

Another veteran expected to see considerable playing time is senior outfielder Doug Boutilier.

Deer Isle-Stonington has benefited from having a junior varsity program in recent years, and several players up from last year’s squad will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the varsity level this spring as the Mariners battle the likes of Ashland, Katahdin of Stacyville, Woodland and Southern Aroostook for regional honors.

Katahdin practicing patience

While many baseball teams have been practicing and scrimmaging on their home fields for a week or more, many other programs north and west of Bangor are still waiting for the last remnants of winter to melt.

Katahdin is one of the teams that fall into the latter group, though recent sun and warm temperatures offer daily hope that the Cougars’ practice site is about to change from the school gym and parking lot to their home field.

“There’s still seven or eight inches of snow on the field,” said Katahdin coach Marty McCarthy at midweek. “But it’s dropped a wicked lot in the last week and a half.”

Katahdin is scheduled to play its season and home opener against Fort Fairfield on April 28, and there’s optimism that Mother Nature won’t get in the way.

There’s also optimism about the coming season for the Cougars.

Just two starters graduated from last year’s team, which finished 11-5 after dropping a 7-3 decision to eventual state champion Deer Isle-Stonington in the Eastern Maine Class D quarterfinals.

And while there’s only one senior on this year’s team, the Cougars are stocked with 10 juniors who boast plenty of experience in both the high school ranks and in District 1 Junior and Senior League play – summer play that has given them considerable composure against Class A- and B-level players.

“We’re pretty young in age,” said McCarthy, “but the guys have played a lot of baseball.”

Katahdin is led by junior pitcher-shortstop Andy Qualey, one of four All-Penobscot Valley Conference Class D choices from last spring.

Junior Evan McCarthy, the coach’s son, and classmate Josh Guiggey also figure in the pitching plans, with McCarthy catching and Guiggey catching or playing first base when not on the mound.

All-PVC outfielder Ethan Qualey and infielder Kaleb Gallagher are other key returning players for the Cougars.

Katahdin also will benefit from a home-heavy regular-season schedule this year, with doubleheaders against Deer Isle-Stonington and Bangor Christian set for Stacyville this spring after being on the road last year.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

990-8045