DANFORTH, Maine — Two veteran coaches are back this spring to guide the East Grand baseball and softball squads.
Shaun Beaudoin returns for his 11th season with the softball program, while Rex Crocker is back of his sixth season with the Viking baseball team.
In softball, East Grand finished 7-8 last season, which earned the Vikings the No. 11 seed in the postseason. East Grand was shutout 12-0 by No. 6 Ashland in a preliminary playoff.
Many talented players are back from last year’s play-off team, including All-Conference pitcher Haleigh Shay. A junior, Shay will get the majority of the time inside the pitching circle this season, according to Athletic Director Chris Young.
The Vikings, who have qualified for the Class D playoffs each of the last seven years will return a strong infield group led by shortstop Jennifer Crone, a sophomore, who led the team in hitting in 2016. Making the move from first to second base is freshman Jordyn Cowger.
Junior Emili Russell will play first and junior Kianna Caissie will anchor third base. Both have played with the Vikings for the past three seasons.
The Vikings lost all conference catcher Kim Stoddard to graduation and will move sophomore Mallory Gilman from centerfield to the catcher’s position this season, Young said.
Veteran outfielder Sami Dube, the team’s lone senior, will handle centerfield and several young players will round out the outfield and play key roles off the bench for East Grand. Charlene Stark, a sophomore, saw action last year and will be joined by eighth-graders Faith Lindsey and Natalie Golding.
“The key for the Vikings will be scoring runs as Shay and the other pitchers (Cowger, Crone) should keep scores low and opponents off base,” Young said.
In baseball, the Vikings have a number of returning players and could be one of the surprise teams in Class D North. East Grand is not a cooperative baseball team with Greater Houlton Christian Academy this season.
“Pitching will be the key for East Grand as the Vikings return four pitchers with extensive varsity experience,” Young said. “Senior Peter Apgar and junior Thomas Gilman saw the bulk of the innings last year and both had good control, which is something the Vikings will need to keep opponents off the bases.”
Senior Philip Farley and junior Trevor Noyes also have a lot of innings under their belts and should help with the new high school pitching rules and the short Aroostook County baseball season.
Senior Wyatt Oliver will play first and is the top returning hitter, providing power to the lineup. Senior Sam Plummer can also hit and will play in the outfield. Junior Linden Stoddard also has a strong bat and will likely play left field, Young said.
Newcomers Matthew Cropley and Tyler Frye will be needed as the Vikings do not have a deep bench.
The baseball team is scheduled to open the season at home on Wednesday, April 26 against Wisdom, while the softball team opens its season Friday, April 28th at Shead H.S. in Eastport.
