Winthrop High School spring sports previews
BASEBALL
Coach: Marc Fortin (14th season)
Last season: 13-1 in Class C West, MVC champion
Top returners: Jordan Conant (Sr., C-P), Jake Steele (Sr., P-3B), Brandon Dupuis (Sr., LF), Dave Ketchen (Sr., 2B), Easton Morang (Jr., SS-P), Riley Cobb (Sr., CF), John Berube (Jr., OF), Ryan Conant (So., INF-P)
Key newcomers: Jacob Ward (Jr., P), Travis Luce (So., UT), Ryan Castonguay (So., 1B), Eric Duplissis (So., C-OF), Tyler Reeve (Fr., P)
Outlook: Despite the graduation of some key players, the Ramblers should once again be among the best teams in the Mountain Valley Conference. Morang, Steele and Ryan Conant give them a solid pitching rotation while Jordan Conant is among the top catchers in the MVC. There are key positions to fill in both the infield and outfield and the batting order is a little top heavy. But this is a group of athletes who have had success throughout the school year.
Coach’s comment: “I think we’re going to be up there battling with the leaders. We’ve got the pitching to do it.”
Boys track
Coach: Ed Van Tassel (2nd season)
Last year: 2nd in MVC, 5th in Class C
Top returners: Tom Conley (Sr., mid-distance), Pat Romar (Sr., mid-distance), Kevin Hart (Sr., sprints), Travis Hutchins (So., throws), Kevin Leavitt (Sr., distance)
Key newcomers: Chris Bowers (Fr., throws), Kameron Souza (Fr., distance)
Outlook: Winthrop should once again be competitiveh in the MVC and the states, but the graduation losses of Tor O’Brien and Dan Soltan will be felt. Still, Hart was solid in the sprinting events at the Class C meet and Conley qualified for the Class C meet in the 400.
Coach’s comment: “The talent is there. It’s just going to be a mater of getting everyone out and making sure everyone is eligible. if we do that, we should be in the mix.”
Girls track
Coach: Ed Van Tassel (2nd season)
Last season: 3rd in MVC, 7th in Class C
Top returners: Kenzie Hill (Jr., mid-distance), Anna Smithgall (Sr., throws), Sarah Warner (So., distance), Anna Doyle (So., distance), Karen Rice (So., sprints), Maura Moody (Sr., hurdles, pole vault).
Key newcomers: Lauren Selwood (Fr., jumps), Allison Conley (Fr., throws)
Outlook: The Ramblers should challenge Lisbon for the MVC title. Hill is the reigning MVC champ in the 800-meters. She should also score well in the 400. Smithgall gives the team a lot of points in the throwing events. She is the Class C state champ in the shot put. She also finished second in the MVC in the shot put and javelin, and third in the discus. Rice was second in the 100 at the Class C meet as well.
Coach’s comment: “We’ll be competitive. But I don’t know that we’ll give Lisbon a run. We’re not deep in any one event, but we have pretty good coverage.”
Boys tennis
Coach: Lou Gingras (3rd season)
Last season: 10-2, Western Class C Semifinals
Top returners: Nate Blanchard (Sr.), Steve Crockett (Sr.), Connor Chu (So.), Brady Frauttem (So.), Evan Arbour (So.), Adam St. Pierre (So.), Pat Flynn (So.)
Key newcomers: Danny Miles (Fr.), Zack Farrrington (Sr.), Ben Doughty (Jr.), Cody Plasterer (So.), Alex Meader (So.), Brian Valle (So.), Patrick Rath (Jr.), Glenn Taricarico (Jr.)
Outlook: It will be difficult for Winthrop to replace Nick Ochtman, the 2008 Kennebec Journal boys player of the year. St. Pierre, Arbour and Miles should be competitive in the singles positions. Miles comes from a long line of tennis players and has held his own with the older players so far this spring.
Coach’s comment: “We won’t be as top heavy. It’s hard to replace Nick Ochtman but we are going to have more depth as we go deeper. A lot of them are first year players and are pretty athletic. I was pleased with the turnout.”
Girls tennis
Coach: Lou Gingras (3rd season)
Last season: 11-1, Western Class C quarterfinals
Top returners: Elaine Theriault (Jr.), Kelly Miles (Jr.), Kelsey Ouellette (Jr.), Molly Lindsey (So.), Lauren McHatten (Jr.), Nikki Scott (So.), Katherine Stahr (So.), Brooke Deblois (Jr.), Katelyn Schmerfal (Jr.)
Key newcomers: None
Outlook: Therriault and Ouellette both went 11-1 in singles play as sophomores last spring. Lindsey and McHatten were the No. 1 doubles team at Winthrop last spring and give Gingras some depth at that position. The Ramblers must find a No. 2 doubles team.
Coach’s comment: “The only team that gave us trouble in the MVC was Boothbay and they lost three or four players to graduation. I’m looking for a strong season from them. I’m not losing anybody on the girls squad next year. Hopefully it will be our time over the next couple of years.”
SOFTBALL
Coach: Lisa Hasch (4th season)
Last season: 2-12
Top returners: SS/C/OF Ashley Marcellino (Sr.); LF Emily Ellis (Sr.); SS/P Katie Michaelson (Jr.); SS/P Erin Belanger (Jr.); SS/P Katie Michaelson (Jr.), 1B/3B Michelle Lough (Jr.); C Sasha Flaherty (So.).
Top newcomers: P Amy Belanger (Fr.); 2B Allison Serkarick (Fr.); OF Shauna Dambois (Fr.); OF Alicia True (Soph.).
Outlook: Hasch finally has the mixture of veterans and newcomers, she believes, to allow the Ramblers to compete in the MVC. Short on numbers, with only 11 players on the team, they are well-rounded and somewhat interchangeable — and they come back with a year of experience in close games.
Coach’s comment: “I think we’re going to be strong in defensive area, and we have to work on offense. The girls have been working on that.”
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