Baseball coaches relish those rare years where they have a wealth of senior experience to draw upon. In a sport where the season is short and mistakes are magnified, having players on the field with poise, presence and wisdom to go along with more refined skills can be invaluable.
Poland’s deep and talented senior class will be the key to its plan to challenge defending Class B champion York and three-time defending Western Maine Conference champion Greely. Ten seniors, led by Kaleb Bridgham, Jake Simard and Lukas Johnson, dominate the lineup. Junior Ethan Callier bolsters the pitching staff.
Oak Hill isn’t quite as senior-laden, with a half-dozen in their final quarter of high school. Seniors Brady Dion, Parker Asselin, Jared Glazier and Jacob Martin form the core of that group. But the Raiders also have talented underclassmen returning with a year or more of varsity experience under their belts to be one of the top teams in the Mountain Valley Conference and improve upon last year’s playoff run to the quarterfinals.
Spruce Mountain will rely on its senior quartet of Scottie Hall, Lucas Preble, Brandon Stearns and John McKenna, particularly early, because after them, the Phoenix varsity experience is virtually nil. Last year’s ace, Payton Kennison, transferred to Cony, so Hall and Preble will lead the pitching staff in Spruce Mountain’s last season in the MVC. The Phoenix are moving to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference next year.
Gray-New Gloucester brings back seven starters, many of whom were pressed into service last year due to injuries. Justin McKenna and Tyler St. Pierre return as key contributors on offense and the mound.
Leavitt hopes to make noise in the KVAC with new coach Chris Cifelli and a nucleus of talented athletes. Seniors Drew Gosselin and Levi Morin anchor the lineup.
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