The Husson College baseball team had its ups and downs on its recently-concluded spring trip to Florida, but interim head coach Jason Harvey felt his team progressed and played its best baseball at the end of the trip.

“That’s definitely a plus,” said Harvey, who is replacing the recovering John Winkin. “We competed well. I juggled the lineups. I wanted to see different guys at different positions.”

Husson, which went 4-8 on its trip, opens the northern portion of its schedule Friday afternoon against former Brewer High football coach Ken Perrone’s Salem State Vikings. The Eagles visit Johnson and Wales (R.I.) for a pair Saturday afternoon.

Harvey said the pitchers battled.

“There weren’t any dominant performances but they kept us in games and that’s all you can ask for,” said Harvey.

He said the hitting and defense struggled early in the trip but eventually came around.

The hitters “got the opposing pitchers to throw more pitches and we hit the ball harder more consistently” at the end of the trip, according to Harvey.

And he said the fielders “made plays for the pitchers” after making costly errors early in the trip.

“There were some growing pains,” said senior reliever Sam Adolphsen of Union. “But we were a lot better at the end than when we started and that’s the goal of the trip.”

“We improved,” concurred first baseman-pitcher Andrew Patterson of Brewer, one of the co-captains. “All the pitchers threw well. And we started putting hits together [at the end of the trip].”

“A lot of our younger guys came up big for us,” said junior third baseman Nick Arthers of Belfast, the other co-captain.

Harvey said junior right fielder Jeff Miller of Brewer, freshman infielder-designated hitter Chris Maguire of Bucksport and sophomore first baseman-designated hitter Dennis Graham were the bright spots offensively.

He said Miller hit .350 and “always came through with big hits.”

Miller began the trip as the leadoff hitter but is now hitting in the run-producing third spot.

Harvey said Maguire also hit .350 and Graham hit .315.

On the mound, senior righty Keith Nason of Glenburn solidified his spot as the No. 1 starter, according to Harvey, and Adolphsen, who was 2-0, was exceptional coming out of the bullpen.

Adolphsen can be used as a setup man or a closer, Harvey said.

“When the game is on the line, we want the ball in Sam’s hands,” said Harvey.

Portland freshman Ryan Arsenault has earned the No. 2 spot in the rotation with Bangor freshman Kyle Leeman and Patterson vying for the three and four spots.

Harvey did a lot of experimenting in the infield with the exception of first base where Patterson and Graham provide stability.

Sabattus freshman Ethan Guerette played the best defense among the three shortstop candidates and has the inside track to win the job. He can also play second.

The second base and third base jobs are up for grabs.

Junior Brian McGinley of Hermon was solid behind the plate.

McCabe earns All-Region honors

Colby College of Waterville’s Katie McCabe was one of 16 women’s basketball players named to the D3hoops.com Northeast All-Region Team.

McCabe, who earned third-team honors, was one of five NESCAC players selected to the team. The second-team All-NESCAC selection averaged 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds this winter, both of which ranked second in the conference.

Stacey Kent of the University of Southern Maine, Clark University junior Sarah Roderigue of Winslow and Bates’ Meg Coffin were all named to the all-region second team.

Rue breaks 3-point mark

Saint Joseph’s College sophomore guard Alberto Rue broke the program’s single-season record for 3-point percentage this winter.

Rue went 55-for-116 (47.4 percent) from beyond the arc, breaking Ryan Martin’s mark of 46.8 percent set during the 1998-99 season.

Ross, Skeffington named captains

University of Southern Maine seniors Adam Ross and Eddie Skeffington will captain the Huskies’ baseball team this spring.

Skeffington, a career .340 hitter at the Gorham school, is projected to start this season in center field while Ross will head up the pitching staff.

The Huskies open their season in Arizona today against William Paterson University.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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