BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick High School spring sports teams are young, with graduation taking a heavy toll in baseball (mostly the pitching staff), softball and boys tennis.
Baseball
In coach Bill Ridge’s first season at the helm of the Dragons, Brunswick finished 10-6, good for the No. 5 seed in Eastern Maine Class A. After defeating fourthseeded Mt. Blue in the Eastern A quarterfinals, Brunswick lost to No. 1 Lewiston in the semis.
“We only have eight and twothirds innings returning with the graduation of Lizotte, Carter and Franklin, so our pitchers this year have come in working hard and are focused, with a couple seniors and a handful of younger guys battling for those innings,” said Ridge, whose squad faces rival Mt. Ararat in its opener on April 18 in Topsham. “ So far, we’ve been impressed with the work ethic of our pitchers, and it’s clear that they all realize that there are plenty of innings up for grabs. They all are out to prove that they deserve their share.”
Ridge returns many of his outfield and infield starters, including seniors Trent Anderson (first base, .333 batting average last year), Chris Bruno (third base), Alex Emery (outfield, hit .439 and was 2-0 with two saves to garner Second-Team All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference), Garrett Erb (OF) and Alex Viola (shortstop). Also, catcher Zach Lavoie returns to the fold to handle the mostly-new staff.
“The biggest key will be our senior leadership,” said Ridge. “ We bring back most of our everyday lineup, so defensively, we are very sound, starting with our infield of Viola, Anderson and Bruno, and the outfield, where we return two starters (Emery and Anderson).”
Seniors Peter Doucette, Brandon Richards; juniors Brett Lancaster, Jason Carter; and sophomores Ryan Maciejewski, Brady Larson, Adam Casey are newcomers.
“Hitting seemed to really come around by the end of last season, and we are hopeful that we will pick up right where we left off,” said Ridge. “I expect the offense to be much more reliable and prominent.”
Ridge expects the typical powers — Lewiston, Bangor and Cony — to be the top teams in the KVAC, along with Mt. Blue and Oxford Hills.
“The nice thing about playing in the KVAC is the parity throughout the league,” said Ridge. “There’s not much of a difference from top to bottom in talent, which makes each game important.”
Softball
Pat Roche’s squad struggled last year to a 3-13 record.
The Dragons lost a lot to graduation, with Laura Blier, Amanda Campbell, Emily Barter, Jenna Compeau, Kalyn LeBlanc, Tori Oliver and Jen Wenzler gone.
However, Roche feels his team and coaching staff, which includes jayvee coach Meaghan Quinlan, former Brunswick and University of Maine-Farmington standout McKell Barnes and Chris Teel, is ready for this year’s challenges, beginning April 18 at Mt. Ararat.
“Losing a large number of players from last year’s team has inspired this year’s players to put forth their best effort, as they know positions are wide open,” said Roche. “ The enthusiasm seen this season is outstanding.”
Seniors Melanie Bryant (SS) and Hilda Nixon (OF) return, along with sophomores Rachel Moroney (SS), Leah Andreotti (second base) and Jena Libby (C).
The newcomers are junior Kelly Bridges, sophomores Julia Carpenter (2B), Erica French (utility), Olivia Salvail (infield), Kensley Richardson (outfield), Tami Burgess (pitcher) and Mary Sasso (C), and freshmen Ashley Howe (P) and KK Teel (P).
Roche said the schedule is tough.
“Our crossover games include Bangor, Messalonskee, Brewer and Mt. Blue,” said Roche. “Then we have to face teams like Cony, Oxford, Mt Ararat and the remainder of the outstanding KVAC teams. So, the key this year is to limit the number of errors in the field. We can not give the teams in the KVAC any more then three outs an inning.
“We expect improvement on both sides of the ball. Our hitting so far has been outstanding. Defensively, we are still finding our way. We are almost there, but need to see some players in game situations improve this year.”
Girls lacrosse
The Dragons faced some early season struggles last year, including two losses to Messalonskee (Brunswick opens with the Eagles on April 24 at home), but rebounded to produce a solid 9-3 record before defeating Mt. Ararat (13-12) and Cheverus (14-3) in the Eastern A playoffs while advancing to the Class A state title game. Brunswick lost to Scarborough, 13-11, at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
Beth Caputi is back at the helm, and feels her team is coming along nicely. She will be challenged to replace several standouts on the defensive end, including graduated Tika Romano, Olivia Robbins, Kelsey Jenquine and Emma Marks, as well as the departure of daughter Lydia Caputi (prep school).
“I feel like rebuilding the defense is our main focus early on,” said Caputi. “I’m a proponent of skill development, and once you have that down it is a lot easier to work as a defensive unit.”
Seniors Liz Faulkner (defense), Katie Swan (D), Molly Herman (goaltender), Annie Kelly (midfield/ attack), Suzannah Smith (MF/ A), Corinne O’Connor (MF/A), Courtney Roderick (A) and Caroline Wild (A) return, along with 2011 KVAC Player of the Year Dakota Foster (MF), Lillian Kjellman (A/ MF), Olivia LeRoy (D), all juniors.
Newcomers are juniors Eliza Brooks (A) and Morgan Bradley; sophomores Jen Machin (MF), Grace Rabinowitz (A), Caley Nicholson (MF), Jess McGoldrick (A), Sasha Hampton (D, may see minutes) and Savannah Kay (D, may see minutes).
“A key for us is Molly in goal. She has been doing great in practice and her reflexes are fantastic, with great anticipation in making saves and working around her goal crease,” said Caputi, who expects several challenges along the way this season. “Cony and Mt. Ararat are good, and we face Morse, with Linda (Levesque) having very good seniors and a lot of youngsters coming along.
“We open with Messalonskee, which is nerve-racking considering that we lost to them twice last year, and we face Gardiner for the first time, which should be interesting.”
Boys tennis
Brunswick had a solid 2011 season under coach Rebecca Costa, compiling a 9-3 record and the No. 4 seed in Eastern A. In the playoffs, the Dragons dropped a tough 3-2 quarterfinal decision to rival Mt. Ararat, ending the high school playing careers of Rodrigo Cepeda (No. 1 singles), Garrett Brann (No. 2 singles) and Steven Andreotti (No. 2 doubles).
This season, Costa has shuffled the lineup, moving sophomore Johnny Gross from No. 3 singles to No. 1, while junior Jimmy Kenyon (Second Team All-KVAC at No. 1 doubles last season) and sophomore Cormick Gaughran (Second Team All-KVAC at No. 2 doubles) move to singles.
At doubles, junior Henry Ditzel (Second Team All-KVAC at No. 1 doubles) and sophomore Angelo Gerardi (doubles) return, while newcomers are sophomores Blake Gordon (doubles) and Joel Soloway (doubles), along with freshman Oliver Smith.
“The boys worked hard during the offseason and came into the season ready to play,” said Costa, whose team will be tested right out of the gate against Lewiston on April 23. “They need to continue to work hard on the court and improve throughout the season. The keys for us will be to stay healthy and have great effort and commitment.”
With no seniors, Costa has several youngsters stepping into key spots.
“It’s likely we will have five sophomores in the lineup,” said Costa. “All of them worked hard this winter, so I’m confident that they will do well.”
Over the next two years, the Dragons will face a different KVAC schedule, with matches against Brewer and Messalonskee on the docket.
“We do not see all the teams during the regular season, but I’m expecting all the matches to be close and competitive,” said Costa.
Girls tennis
Last year was a magical one for Brunswick, which rolled through the regular season undefeated (12-0) and downed nemesis Lewiston to claim the KVAC championship.
Brunswick went for four wins in a row against the Blue Devils, but came up short in a tough 3-2 defeat. And, as fate has it, the Dragons open up with Lewiston on April 23.
Coach Rob Manter watched as his No. 1 singles players Maisie Silverman stormed through the competition undefeated before rolling to the Maine Principals’ Association girls singles title.
“Last year is in the past,” said Manter. “ That team should be proud of what they accomplished. This year the key should be keeping the players focused. I do not see last year having any affect on this year’s team.”
Silverman is back, but graduation took No. 2 and No. 3 singles players Rachel Gross and Willa Purcell, along with the No. 1 doubles team of twin sisters Shannon and Erin Kenyon, and No. 2 doubles player Sara Freshley.
Senior Laura Pavitt, a KVAC Second Team selection at No. 2 doubles last season, returns along with seniors Hannah Wright and Alexa Rivers, and sophomore Leah Soloway.
“All have improved significantly from last year,” lauded Manter. “I am sure Laura Pavitt will be a captain, and perhaps joined by someone as yet undetermined as co-captain.
“Junior Gillian Ford is back from a year abroad and started as a freshman. Ali Stankiewicz, a sophomore from last year’s jayvee team, is looking very impressive, and Samiera Mac- Mullen, a sophomore, is in the running for a starting doubles position.”
Others in the mix are juniors Hannah Bobker and Hannah Duffek, along with freshman Hannah Gurnelli.
“We have a strong foundation and some nice new players,” said Manter, who sees perennial kingpin Lewiston still at the top of the KVAC standing. “The key will be getting our players experience and them believing that they will be good. We will be more competitive than some may realize.”
Track
The Brunswick boys and girls track teams return a bevy of talented athletes.
Last year in the state meet, the Dragon boys finished 10th as pole vaulter Mike Slovenski captured a state title, while Mitch Black finished second in the 800 and Alex Nichols fifth in the 400.
Slovenski graduated, but Black and Nichols return. Nichols had a superb indoor season this year, capturing the Class A state 400 title and finishing second in the 200.
“I think we are pretty good in the distances, with Jamie Ross, Wilder Nicholson and Benson Worthington, while Nichols should improve his 400 time and possibly break the 50-second mark,” said Brunswick track coach Dave DeLois. “ Mitchell (Black) will be up there in the triple jump and middle distances, and broke two minutes last year in the 800.”
Senior boys are Don Benbow (sprints), Black (800, 4 x 800, mile, triple jump), Ben Blaisdell (distances), Nicholson (distances), Dan Jacques (sprints, throws), Jacob Schwab (distances), Dylan Towle (hurdles, sprints) and Worthington (distances), while the juniors returning to the squad are Kyle Milbourne (pole vault), Nichols (400, 200, 4 x 100, 4 x 400), Burton Rabinowitz (sprints), Jibreel Garrett (sprints, jumps), Jamie Ross (distances) and Nathaniel Blais (triple jump, high jump). Sophomores Ryan Black ( sprints), Trevor Dodge (distances), Walter Martin (400, 800) and Thomas Weise (distances) round out those returning.
The newcomers among the boys are junior Ben Lamphere (throws); sophomore Josh Thibeault (throws); and freshmen Ben Flanagan (distances), Jamaal Garrett (distances), Isaac Hughes (sprints), Jacob Hunter (distances), Jack Murphy (distances), Mack Stinson (distances) and Chris Tanner (distances).
“We have some good athletes here that I can see contending, along with Edward Little and Mt. Ararat,” said DeLois, whose team opens at Edward Little on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
The Brunswick girls, led by Alexis Dickinson’s second-place showing in the 100, finished 14th in the Class A state meet in 2011.
Dickinson and her teammates look to improve those marks this season, with four seniors and a talented sophomore class.
“The sophomores are really good and will help a lot this year and in the coming years,” said DeLois. “Every year we are in the mix for the KVAC title, and I expect us, Edward Little and Mt. Ararat to be there.”
The seniors are Jasmine Boyle (mile, two miles, 4 x 800), Dickinson (100, 200, relays, Class A champion in 55 during indoor season), Katie McMahon (distances) and Cassandra Murano (100, 200, relays), with juniors Allison Hill (hurdles, jumps), Bridget Horan (100, 200, relays) and Hannah Judd (high jump) returning.
The returning sophomores are Anna Cowan (400, 800, relays), Sabrina Levesque (sprints), Amy Lyons (sprints), Haley Murano (sprints), Teresa Murphy (mile, two mile, relays), Michelle Richards ( shot put, discus, javelin), Anna Turner (400, triple jump, sprints) and Shannon Viola (sprints).
Newcomers include sophomores Natalie Grant ( jumps, sprints), Juliana Rattey (sprints, jumps) and Hope Wright (throws, sprints), while the freshmen are Brooke Escoe ( pole vault, distances), Julia Rider (sprints) and Alexandra Ring (sprints).
Boys lacrosse
Coach Don Glover begins his 16th season at the helm of the Dragons after his team finished 6-6 in the 2011 regular season before falling to Portland, 15-6, in the Eastern A quarterfinals.
Brunswick, which opens on Friday at Oxford Hills (4 p.m.), returns several players this year, as well as a slew of upperclassmen who are newcomers to the program.
“After a long and extremely intense tryout, we have a very talented group for varsity this season,” said Glover. “We have added 10 underclassmen to the varsity roster and our upperclassmen on varsity have really stepped into great leadership roles. With this added depth and intensity, the Dragons’ varsity looks to be a suitable opponent for the 2012 season.”
Returning to the fold are seniors Charlie Nau (D), Seth Holmblad (A), Theron Wilgus (GK), Blake Bodwell (D), Nick Toole (M), Tom Purinton ( M), Chris Snyder (M), Winston Sullivan (A); and juniors Alex Croatti (M), Mitchell Cooney (M), Sam Fortin (M), Ryan Poag (M) and Zach Hamm (LSM).
Varsity newcomers are seniors Sam Bessey (D) and Joe Coffey (D); juniors Kevin Slotnick (MF), William Hamel (D) and Brandon Gerber (D); sophomores George Rowe (M), Bailey Caparratto (A), Lucas McCue ( M), Chris Mrvichin (GK), Eli Downs (LSM), Nick Mrvichin (A) and Elliot Boyd (A); and freshmen Matt Brooks (M), Ryan Croatti (M) and Cameron Glover (A).
After Friday’s opener, things certainly are expected to be tougher on the Dragons, with a road game at Messalonskee (April 18), the team’s home opener against rival Mt. Ararat (April 20) and a home date with Lewiston (April 27).
“Other teams to watch are Messalonskee, Lewiston and Mt. Ararat,” said Glover.
sports@timesrecord.com
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less