OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide manager Chris Torres readily admits that coming into this summer, he didn’t know a lot about starting pitcher Harry Ridge.

But then he saw Ridge, a rising sophomore at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, throw for the first time in person.

“I’m a baseball guy, been one my whole life. I saw him throw a bullpen and knew he was a good pitcher,” Torres said. “I was a catcher so I know those things, and he’s proved me right.”

Ridge earned his manager’s trust right away, and as a result started opening night, throwing four solid innings in a 10-2 Tide victory. He has remained the de facto ace of the staff ever since, accumulating a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA as opposing batters are averaging .170 against the 6-foot tall righty.

A native of Yarmouth and a Cheverus High graduate, Ridge’s performance so far in OOB has been a simple continuation of his freshman season with the Polar Bears, when he went 5-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 51.2 innings.

Torres said that success comes from one simple ”“ but all-important ”“ factor.

“Harry throws strikes and pounds the zone,” Torres said. “That’s what you need in this league is to be around the zone. He’s had solid starts and hopefully he keeps doing it.”

Gelinas holding his own

Even though he lives in Saco, Jeff Gelinas has had perhaps the toughest transition of any member of the OOB roster after making the jump straight from high school into a collegiate summer league.

Gelinas has received limited playing time so far and struggled in his one appearance on the mound, giving up four runs in one inning of relief, but has held his own at the plate, reaching base in three of his six at-bats.

Torres has so far liked what he’s seen out of the recent Thornton Academy grad.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Torres said. “He’s still young, he’s still learning but he’ll be fine. He’s going to get some at-bats and he’ll definitely help us.”

Originally recruited to the University of Maine as a pitcher, Gelinas impressed with his bat as well this past spring, leading the SMAA in on-base percentage (.600), slugging (.784) and home runs (four).

Torres said he thinks Gelinas can succeed either as a position player or pitcher as a Black Bear.

“I can understand why he’s going to UMaine,” Torres said. “I see it pitching-wise, but he needs work. He’s raw. Once he starts figuring out how to use his lower half better, he’s going to start throwing the ball harder and start surprising more people.”

Torres settling in

Torres himself has been through an interesting transition period this summer, as he’s embarked on his first ever stint as a manager.

Twice a 32nd round pick in the MLB Draft, once out of Vero Beach High School in 2001 and again out of Cumberland University in 2005, Torres played professional baseball for eight years before deciding to hang up his spikes and go into coaching. Torres is following in the footsteps of his late father, Victor, who spent years as a hitting instructor in the San Francisco Giants organization before passing away in May.

“It’s been exciting, I’m definitely learning a lot,” Torres said. “It’s a lot easier to play than manage in my eyes because I could get out there and do something about it. Here I can tell them what to do, but they have to execute.”

Torres said he thinks rather than a deterrent, his young age (30) has so far been a benefit, as OOB’s players see a manager who not so long ago was going through the same trials and tribulations as themselves.

“I think they like having someone who knows what they’re going through every step of the way,” Torres said. “I’m not higher than them; I’m one of them, but they have to respect. So far it’s been great.”

— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 323.