HODGDON, Maine — It will be a smaller-than-usual squad that suits up for Hodgdon High School’s baseball team this spring.
According to coach Seth Dorr, only nine players are currently on the roster, meaning the team has no substitutes should a player get sick or injured.
“Basically, for me, numbers are down due to Greater Houlton Christian Academy having a team, and a large number of players graduating from last year’s team,” he said.
Last season, Hodgdon finished 11-4 in Class D North, which earned the Hawks the No. 5 seed in the region. Hodgdon blasted past No. 12 East Grand, 17-7 in a preliminary playoff and bested No. 13 Schenck, 8-4 in the quarterfinals before falling to top-ranked Fort Fairfield 5-0 in the semifinals.
Many key members of that squad are gone, due to graduation, including Ben Tuttle, Jordyn Merritt and Dillan Buzzell.
The Hawk roster features seniors Wyatt Foster and Matt Horton; junior Andrew Tuttle; sophomore Dameon Sanders and Josh Foster; and freshmen Nathan Tuttle, Colton Folsom, Jeremiah Goff and Elijah Matheson.
“We have four returning players in Wyatt Foster, Matt Horton, Andrew Tuttle, and Josh Foster,” coach Dorr said. “These four veteran Hawks have seemingly taken the rookies under their wings in order to get them up to speed on varsity baseball. We are excited to get outside if the snow ever leaves us.”
Hodgdon is tentatively slated to open its season hosting Washburn at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 24.
