RICHMOND

When Kade Strout, Ben Carver, Tyler Harrington and Brian Snedeker were sophomores, the Richmond High School baseball team was the toast of Class D baseball after defeating Central Aroostrook 7-4 in the state championship game.

Now seniors and coming off a tough 5-10 campaign last year, the foursome are looking to lead the Bobcats back into prominence.

“ Last season was more of a rebuilding year after coming off a state championship team with seniors that started,” said Strout, a pitcher and coach Ryan Gardner’s starting shortstop. “All those seniors that year were a big part of not only this team, but all of the teams here, so we had to find new players to fill those spots. It was hard. We tried to work through it, and hopefully this year we will hit more and be more focused.”

Gardner’s Bobcats, who are slated to visit Vinalhaven on April 14 in their East-West Conference opener, dropped their final five games last season to finish out of the playoff picture.

“It was a tough year last season, but things might have changed if our mental game was better,” said Gardner. “This season will ride on how mentally prepared we are and if our pitchers can throw strikes. We need to be ready to field the ball, which goes hand and hand with throwing strikes. We will go as far as our senior leaders take us.”

“It was weird to not be there, especially considering that we have been successful in every sport since we were freshmen,” said Strout. “We’ve always been in a group that has won titles in soccer, basketball and baseball. We want to get back to those roots, where Richmond is one of those top dogs.”

Gardner was dealt a blow right out of the gates as Carver is still recovering from a broken wrist, sustained near the end of the basketball season. Carver, the team’s starting catcher and a key pitcher, will be replaced by juniors Randy Moody and Gage Myrick behind the plate at the outset of the season, with hopes he can return later this month.

“Ben is one of our best players and a leader both on and off the field,” said Snedeker ( first base/pitcher) of his classmate. “Not having him early hurts, but Randy and Gage are ready to go behind the plate. We all need to step up.

“If we can come out, and go 6-2 or even play .500-baseball, it would be huge while Ben is out.”

“A lot of people try to overthink baseball, and in Class D our coach tells us the simple things will make us successful,” said Strout. “If we can do that, I think we will go pretty far.

“To win this year, our senior year, would be amazing, and we want to go out with our heads held high, knowing that we accomplished something.”

Gardner predicts for his squad to have success, his pitchers must throw strikes and his team needs to run the bases well.

“Every single team in the East- West Conference has a good numberone pitcher, so the key will be how well the number- two and – three pitches, and if we are able to throw strikes,” said the coach. “You have to score runs in this league to win. For us, putting the ball in play and utilizing our team speed will be key. You can’t use your speed if you’re not on base.”

“ We need to make sure we are throwing strikes as pitchers, something we struggled with last season,” said Harrington, the team’s third baseman and a pitcher. “We have been so competitive in year’s past, and last year was frustrating. I think we can get back to the playoffs and go from there.”

“You have to get on base to use your speed and make your opponents uncomfortable, something we failed to do last year,” said Snedeker.

Returning to the fold are seniors Gordon Warner (outfield) and Peter Lorbeski ( OF); juniors Moody ( catcher/ pitcher) and Myrick (C/OF); and sophomores Dustin Sullivan (OF), Collin Acord (utility) and Will Gaudette (UT).

Newcomers Alex Poliakoff (sophomore, UT), Cameron Emmons (freshman, UT), JJ Paterson (freshman, P) and Bailey Johansen (freshman, UT) hope to help this season.

Gardner expects defending Class D champ Greenville to be tough again.

“Greenville lost just four kids, and Buckfield is a good young team,” said Gardner.

Softball

Two things remain the same with regards to the Richmond softball squad.

Rick Coughlin is once again leading the Bobcats, and Richmond is the favorite to represent Western Maine Class D in the state title game for the third consecutive year.

Last season, the Bobcats lost the rematch to Deer-Isle Stonington, 7-2, in the state title game after winning the title in 2010.

Coughlin has just two fears. Number one — find a replacement at second base for four-year starter Tara Hurley, the team’s only senior last year. And number two, overconfidence.

“My captains (Leandra Martin, Danica Hurley and Lindsy Hoopingarner) are not letting the girls look too far ahead and not work on the things that we need to work on to accomplish our goals,” said Coughlin. “I have to make sure they are not too overconfident. We have to work hard to get back to where we want to be — the State Class D title game.”

Martin and junior Jamie Plummer will handle the pitching duties again, while Hurley and junior Ciarra Lancaster will be at shortstop and third base, respectively. Things get a little more out of focus on the right side of the infield. Junior Brianna Snedeker and sophomore Kayla Hurley are working out at second base. If Snedeker, who was the team’s first baseman last season, plays second, then Coughlin plans on alternating Plummer and Martin at first base.

“It is like starting new in trying to find the right person to fill that second base spot,” said Coughlin, whose squad visits Vinalhaven on April 14 in the opener.

The outfield is the same, with juniors Noell Acord (left field), Payton Johnson ( center field) and Alyssa Pearson ( right field) the starters, while Hoopingarner is the catcher.

Juniors Andra Meagher (UT) and Lindsey Warner (OF) are expected to see playing time, with Heather Brown and Emily Leavitt both nursing injuries. Sophomores Chika Obi ( OF), Courtney Blake ( OF) and Haley Murphy (OF) return to the fold, while the newcomers are junior Sydney Choate (OF) and Marlena Carter (OF), and freshman Kelsie Obi (1B).

“This group has continued to see success, from soccer to basketball, so I believe we will be solid again,” said Coughlin, who expects Greenville and Rangeley to be his team’s main challengers this year, along with bitter rival Buckfield.