LIMESTONE, Maine — Eagle baseball coach Pierre Huntress carries a 19-player roster, and already 10 have seen game action in a pitching role through the high school team’s first 12 games.
“Due to pitching restraints as a result of the new rule that limits pitch counts, I’ve had to grow arms,” quipped Huntress, who is in the midst of his second season as the head coach of the Limestone/Maine School of Science & Math baseball team.
“It really turns into a chess match during games, such as when to keep a guy in and when to take him out,” he added. “We’ve been focusing on getting first-pitch strikes and just trying to get ahead in the count.”
The LCS/MSSM squad has had mixed results through its first 12 games. The team owned a 5-7 record heading into its scheduled game against Madawaska Friday. The Eagles are currently in 14th place in Class C.
Sophomore captain Mason Patten leads the pitching staff. The 6-foot, 4-inch right hander had success on the mound last season and travels extensively during the summer playing on an eastern Maine team.
Freshman Will Whitman is Huntress’s No. 2 pitcher, while juniors Jacob Hatfield, Kyle Provencal, Tobyn Blatt, Matt Pelkey, Karter Whitman and David Levesque, senior Matt Hancock and freshman James Hawkes also have been utilized as pitchers.
Patten, who plays first base when not pitching, is the team’s cleanup hitter and has the Eagles’ lone home run. Whitman, also a third baseman, is considered the best hitter on the team by Huntress and he bats behind Patten in the order. Hatfield is the primary catcher and is among the team leaders in hits and RBIs.
Karter Whitman plays second base and classmate Alex Sprague starts at shortstop. Patten, Pelkey and Hawkes fill in at third base behind Will Whitman.
Hawkes sees time behind the plate. Blatt and Provencal are starting outfielders, with right field being filled by committee. When Huntress opts to use a designated hitter, Hawkes, Hancock and senior Victor Negron are the top options.
Senior Travis Hatfield, junior Trevor Hale, sophomore Tommy Pinette, freshman Eddie Mignacca, seniors Jacob Pelletier and Andrew Deschaine and sophomore Alec Comeau round out the roster. Amelia Roy and Dustin Wallace are the managers and Aaron St. Pierre serves as an assistant coach along with Josh Dillon, who is the middle school head coach.
Huntress is hopeful his Eagles can finish strong and get into the playoffs. Last year’s team placed 11th and this year they will need to attain that ranking to extend the season.
“Our bats are coming alive and I have a team full of guys who just want to play hard and win,” Huntress said. “They don’t care what their role is but just want to contribute. We talk about doing big things this year and still have that chance.”
