WASHBURN, Maine — The regular season is scheduled to open soon for the Washburn varsity baseball team, with a number of positional battles still being contested to try to determine a starting lineup.
“We have been really busy at practices, really focusing on the fundamentals and trying to improve daily,” said head coach Ben Goodwin, who begins his 12th season with the Beavers.
The Beavers won just twice all of last season, but Goodwin likes what he has seen during preseason workouts.
“I see strong potential in a lot of players,” he said. “Their mindset will determine their own level of success this year and hopefully it will continue to build as we are a very young team.”
Washburn won the Maine Principals’ Association Good Sportsmanship Award for Class D North last season and Goodwin said he felt it was well deserved. With many of those same players back, he is looking forward to working with the group this spring.
“I think that this team collectively is one of the most upbeat teams I’ve been able to coach,” he said. “Their positive attitude has definitely carried over from last year.”
Many starting jobs are still available, but junior Braedon Campbell is one of the top offensive players from 2017 and Goodwin has high hopes that he will repeat his success at the plate. The squad’s lone sophomore, Colby Hewitt, is a top pitching prospect and Carvor Pendexter, a junior, could have a breakout season with the bat.
Konner Jordan is the team’s only senior. Other junior players are Jaedon Alvira, Steven Nader, Patrick Saucier and Noah White. Seven freshmen are on the roster: Chase Bates, Aiden Churchill, Gavin Dunagan, Julian Echieverria, Russell Farley, Joshua Jackson and Shayne Scott.
“I think a lot of my players have their own specialty that we will need to try to harness to be successful this year,” Goodwin said.
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- Braedon Campbell of the Washburn Beavers makes contact on a pitch during a game played in 2017. Campbell is expected to be one of the top offensive contributors for the Beavers this season. (Courtesy of Dave Allen Graphics)
