MARS HILL, Maine — Like many baseball teams in the region, the Central Aroostook Panthers had a difficult time getting games in early this spring due to the poor weather. Prior to May 12, CA had played just four games and struggled to get their rhythm as evidenced by a 1-3 start.
Since that time, the Panthers seem to have found their groove. Central Aroostook won three of four games to make it back to the .500 mark and is now in 10th place in the Class D North region with still plenty of key games remaining.
CA plays Washburn Wednesday and LCS/MSSM Monday and closes the year with contests against Fort Fairfield, Shead, Hodgdon and Ashland.
Central Aroostook junior Colby Kingsbury throws a pitch to a Madawaska batter during an early-season game. (Contributed/Dave Allen Graphics)
The Panthers are coached by Butch Richardson, who has been in charge of the varsity program since 2013. Central Aroostook did not have enough players to field a team in 2015, but last year made a surprising run to the semifinals out of the 12th seed. Seven players off that team return, including five starters.
“My main focus for the team is to peak, performance wise, at the right time,” Richardson said. “That will ensure playing into the post-season as we did last year. With the team starting to come together, I feel we will accomplish this.”
The starting lineup is: senior center fielder Zach Crouch, junior third baseman/pitcher Colby Kingsbury, junior first baseman Caleb Harris, junior left fielder Taylor Campbell, sophomore pitcher/shortstop Ben Thomas, sophomore catcher Lane Grass, sophomore right fielder Mitchell Grass, freshman shortstop/pitcher Brayden Bradbury and freshman second baseman Ethan Pryor.
Richardson said he has five pitchers with good to excellent control and the top hurlers at this point are Thomas, Bradbury and Kingsbury.
Senior Josh Chandler, junior Gage Kearney, sophomore Ted Wheeler and freshman Drew Belmain are the Panther reserve players. Carl Mullen and Dustin Pryor serve as Richardson’s assistant coaches.
