DYER BROOK, Maine — The Southern Aroostook baseball team has two new coaches, and a bundle of returning veteran players who are looking to make some playoff noise on the diamond this season.
Brett Russell and Todd Collier are sharing coaching duties for the Warriors this season. The two take over the program from David Day, who led the team for the past few seasons. Last year, SA finished 7-7 in Class D North and was the No. 8 seed for the playoffs. The Warriors fell 14-9 to No. 9 Stearns in a preliminary play-off game at home.
Both Russell and Collier are former baseball players from SACS. Russell graduated in 1992, while Collier is a 1997 graduate and both men played ball for longtime coach Murray Putnam. The two men are embarking on their first year of varsity coaching this season.
“I am extremely happy to be given a chance to coach at this level, and for this program,” Collier said. “Brett’s and my goals are to restore Southern Aroostook to the baseball powerhouse that it used to be.”
The two men have a positive outlook for the season and it’s easy to see why with so many returning, talented players on the roster.
The 2017 Warriors include, seniors Hunter Lawlor (pitcher, catcher, infield), Luis Morales (pitcher, infield, outfield), Nate Lilley (pitcher, catcher, infield), Nolan Altvater (pitcher, outfield); junior Hunter Walker (pitcher, infield); sophomores Garrett Siltz (pitcher, infield, outfield), Steven Rackliff (outfield, infield), Jonathan Hardy (infield, outfield); freshmen Gavin Vining (pitcher, catcher, infield) and Justin Sowders (infield, outfield) and eighth-graders Xavier Morales (infield, pitcher, outfield) and Jacob Brooks (infield, pitcher, outfield).
“Our philosophy is taking the game seriously, but having fun while we are playing it,” Collier said. “The guys know that when we step on the field we are there to win. We are fortunate to have a great bunch of guys playing for us, I personally have never had so much fun as I’ve had coaching these guys. Both Brett and I said they are making us feel like we are kids again. We run laps with the team, which motivates them to beat the coach.”
The team’s strength will be its pitching, thanks to having a number of players able to take the mound this season, Collier said. The team’s hitting should be another strength, while fielding will be something to assess once the fielders get outside.
“I think our fielding should will be OK, we just haven’t been able to practice outside yet and evaluate it,” Collier said. “Ground balls on a gym floor aren’t anything like what they will be like on the field. No surprise bounces inside. I feel the way the guys all get along with each other is a major strength also.”
The two coaches have set a personal goal for the season of not only making the playoffs, but winning the state title.
“Our personal goals for the season are the same that every team should have, winning the state game,” Collier said. “Coach Putnam always told us that it didn’t matter how good or bad you looked on paper, the game was played on the field and any team could win on any day. And that’s how we are going to take every game this year.”
SA is slated to open its season at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 at Fort Fairfield. The first home game is Wednesday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m.
