The University of Maine baseball team this week begins in earnest its quest to win a second straight America East championship with the start of conference play.

America East has adopted a new four-game format for its league schedule and coach Steve Trimper’s Black Bears (14-9-1) will receive their introduction to it on the road at Maryland Baltimore County starting Friday.

As UMaine gears up for league play, it also may have to come to grips with a potential pitching setback.

After going 9-4 last season with a 3.15 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings, senior Greg Norton of South Portland came into the season hoping to re-establish himself as the Bears’ ace. However, his recovery after September shoulder surgery has been slow and he may not be ready to contribute this spring.

Last Saturday, the righthander pitched in a game for the first time this season, working an inning in relief in UMaine’s game two victory over Maryland Eastern Shore. With the window closing on the deadline for players who wish to seek a medical redshirt, decision time has arrived.

Norton, who apparently is not at 100 percent, may see his doctor this week to discuss his options.

With a possible professional career in the offing, Norton may elect to sit out 2006, allow the shoulder to heal completely and gear his efforts toward next season.

If Norton is deemed unable to pitch, it would be a significant blow to a UMaine staff that already lost ace righthander Steve Richard (9-1, 2.07 ERA, 90Ks in 100 IP) when he transferred to Clemson University last summer.

Seniors Troy Martin and Scott Robinson would be forced to pick up the slack while sophomore Nolan Boike, junior Josh Zyskowski and freshmen Mike Powers of Portland and Pat Moran of Winterport must accelerate their progress to help the Bears develop a staff capable of keeping them in the hunt for the league title and the NCAA Tournament berth that comes with it.

AE baseball features new format

With the departure of longtime conference member Northeastern to the Colonial Athletic Association last fall, America East baseball athletic directors have implemented a new format for league play this spring.

Teams will play four games over the course of three days, beginning Friday. Nine-inning games Friday and Sunday are sandwiched around a Saturday doubleheader consisting of seven-inning contests.

Trimper said the new arrangement was put in place to give AE teams 24 conference games rather than the 18 they would have been left with under the previous two-day, three-game scenario.

“Personally, I like the three-game series because someone wins it and someone loses it,” Trimper said. “The positive about the new system is, we’re getting more games in.”

Under the previous format, teams played three nine-inning games. Now, they’ll have only two full contests per weekend, which Trimper sees as a negative.

“Our postseason tournaments revolve around nine-inning games, so it’s better to play as many nine-inning games as you can,” said Trimper, who would have preferred that one of the Saturday games be nine innings.

While the new system may cost student-athletes more missed class time because of longer road trips, Trimper pointed out that among three league road weekends, at least one occurs in May after classes are out for the semester.

The other significant change implemented by America East is allowing the league regular-season champion to earn the right to host the four-team, double-elimination conference tournament. The winner receives the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Recently, the tournament site was determined in advance, giving that team a huge home-field advantage, even though it might not have “earned” it based on its regular-season performance.

“At our level the only way you’re getting to the regionals is winning the three-day conference tournament,” Trimper said. “Now, to have the ability to earn the chance to play in your backyard, with your clubhouse and sleep in your own bed, that is such an advantage.”

The host bid will go to the highest-seeded team with lights. UMaine, Vermont and Maryland Baltimore County all have campus facilities capable of putting on the tournament, while Trimper said other schools could utilize nearby ballparks to host the event.

The America East Championship is scheduled May 25-27.