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Coming into this weekend’s home series, the University of Maine baseball team has won six straight games, seven of their first eight conference games and sits in sole possession of first place in America East. Hitting their stride heading into the middle of America East play, coach Steve Trimper’s squads’ early conference efforts could go a long way toward the Black Bears hosting next month’s conference tournament. The top team in the conference with a lighted field gets to host the America East tournament from May 20-22.
After last weekend’s four-game sweep of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, UMaine sits 7-1 in the conference and 24-13 overall. Last season at this time, the Black Bears were 14-18-1 overall and 3-5 in America East and on their way to a last-place finish.
Things have changed since last season though. The Black Bears graduated one of the greatest players in program history, Curt Smith, now in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system, but the rest of last season’s young team has developed further and several key freshmen have infused more talent into the pitching staff.
Offensively, of the 10 players who started at least one of the games against UMBC, they are all hitting above .300 except redshirt freshman Justin Leisenheimer who is hitting close to the mark at .294. The emergence of Justin’s twin brother, Ian, this week’s America East Rookie of the Week, has balanced the Black Bear lineup. Ian is leading the team with a .421 batting average and has a team-high 34 runs batted in. Senior outfielder Kevin McAvoy has regained his freshman form, hitting .414 so far this season with a team-high five home runs. Senior second baseman Danny Menendez’s development has also aided UMaine. Menendez stole a team-record four stolen bases in Sunday’s second game and is on pace to break the single season record of 35. He has 23 currently.
Defensively, the Black Bears have been stellarly led by the play of Menendez and his double play partner, Tony Patane. The two middle infielders have led a defense that is tied for second in the nation with 51 double plays turned.
The starting rotation is comprised of two sophomores and two freshmen. Freshman right-hander Pat Quinn leads the team with a 5-0 record and 1.74 ERA. Matt Jebb has the most wins on the staff with six. AJ Bazdanes and Jonathan Balentina fill out the rotation with 3-0 records and Alejandro Balsinde has been solid out of the bullpen with a team-high four saves.
Senior Ashley Waters, last year’s America East Player of the Year, keeps adding to her resume. The UMaine second baseman broke the career hits record on April 11 against Binghamton. She now has 209 hits in her career, breaking the record previously held by Jess Brady.
Men’s Basketball
Coach Ted Woodward has announced the addition of three student-athletes to next year’s squad. Mike Allison, Murphy Burnatowski and Jacob McLemore, younger brother of current player Gerald McLemore, will join the men’s basketball team in the fall of 2009.
Allison and Burnatowski are both Ontario natives and have international experience. McLemore is from San Diego, Calif. and is ranked by ESPN as one of the top 200 point guards in this recruiting class.
The spring football season is underway for the UMaine football team and Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team will take part in the annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Football Scrimmage on May 2 at 10 a.m. On April 30 the Black Bears will host the Jeff Cole Memorial “Bone Marrow” Drive from 3-7 p.m.
Related Posts:- UMaine, Vermont split series (April 27, 2009)
- Women’s Soccer: Martel leads UMaine to pair of wins (October 19, 2009)
- UMaine senior leads volleyball team to playoffs (November 8, 2001)
- Post play leads UMaine by Tribe (November 13, 2006)
- Defense leads UMaine in UMBC win (January 26, 2004)
