Brewer, Gardiner, Katahdin should contend again

Saturday’s state championship games in high school baseball were filled with trials and tribulation.

But with the end of one season comes speculation about next year, particularly concerning teams that have filled their trophy cases with the spoils of postseason success.

Class A Brewer, which secured its first Eastern Maine baseball title since 1988, graduates six seniors, a group led by captains Greg Higgins, Prentiss Swett, Shun Sasaki and Caleb Smith, all multiple-year starters for coach Dave Morris’ club.

Higgins was one of the state’s top pitchers this spring, compiling a 9-0 record and earning the victory in the Eastern Maine final against Hampden Academy before working into the fifth inning of the Witches’ 8-7, eight-inning loss to Deering of Portland in the state championship game three days later.

Swett has been one of the Witches more productive hitters for the last three years, and Sasaki and Smith have anchored Brewer’s defense in center field and at shortstop.

The Witches also lose starting third baseman Mike Kotredes and outfielder-pitcher Matt Burnham to graduation, but should remain competitive in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference for two reasons – the tradition within the program that has advanced the Witches to the regional final in three of the last five years, and a solid returning nucleus.

Junior Chase Daniels and sophomore Eric White will give Brewer a solid 1-2 punch on the mound next spring, and will join with catcher Jon Thoms and outfielder Billy Bissell as a formidable middle of the lineup. Juniors Kyle O’Connell and Coby Hutchins, who split time at second base this year, should leave the Witches solid defensively in the middle infield.

Class B Gardiner loses just four players to graduation, but one is Gatorade Player of the Year Kyle Stilphen, who showed his offensive dominance with nine RBIs in the Eastern Maine and state finals combined.

Stilphen’s leadership, hitting and defense at shortstop can’t be minimized, but the Tigers should be strong again next year in part due to an influx of younger players who played in the Babe Ruth national tourney in Alabama last summer.

Class C Searsport will suffer perhaps the most significant graduation losses of the four Eastern Maine champions, as seven of the 13 players on the roster played their last game when the Vikings shut out Livermore Falls 5-0 to win their second state title in the last three years.

Pitching ace Nate Adams, catcher Casey Ashey and pitcher-shortstop Tom Cameron all had stellar careers for Searsport, while classmates Ethan McHatten, Bob Wilson, Josh Pedrick and Dustin Brassbridge made timely contributions throughout the regular season and playoffs.

And while Searsport may face some rebuilding, Class D Katahdin of Stacyville will have no such problem. The Cougars, who dropped a 3-2 decision to Rangeley on Saturday, graduate just pitcher-outfielder Thomas Anderson from their 18-player roster.

Star righthander Andy Kay, infielder Josh Guiggey, catcher Evan McCarthy and outfielder Ethan Qualey will anchor a 10-member junior class that will be back for the senior year next spring as the early favorite in Eastern D.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

990-8045