BIDDEFORD — The University of New England softball team ended a nine-year Endicott reign atop the Commonwealth Coast Conference last year by winning the conference championship. Now the Nor’easters are hoping to begin a reign of their own by winning the conference title again.

Leading the charge for UNE is someone who didn’t have to travel far to find her way to the campus. Senior Erin Grover, a Biddeford native, is one of three captains hoping to take a team mixed with experience and youth, and defend their conference crown.

“It’s pretty exciting. This is probably the best team overall that we’ve had since I’ve been here as a freshman,” said Grover. “It’s real exciting to be leading such a talented team.”

Grover said she thinks this year’s freshman class is the best recruiting class the Nor’easters have had since she’s been there. With that potential, Grover said that puts a lot of pressure on her to be a leader.

“I feel that they look up to me. And I have a huge role on this team, to be able to lead them, and not let them down, and help coach prepare everyone for the games and the championship this year,” Grover said. “I just hope I can fill that role, and I’m trying my hardest to do that.”

UNE head coach Dan Letellier said his captains’ experience dealing with the grind of a season is where they become most valuable.

“They know what it takes to play at this level. Our upperclassmen know how to do it mentally more so than just the physical aspect of it,” said Letellier.

Grover said the experience of winning the conference title last year has translated to a more intense offseason and preseason this year, now knowing what it takes to be the best.

“This year we’ve been really busting our butts to get back there,” she said. “We’ve probably worked harder already this year than we have any other year.”

The Nor’easters’ season begins with a slate of 10 games down in Florida today. Letellier said those games are invaluable for building the team.

“It’s huge. Those games allow our players to learn what it is to play at this level, and allow them to grow on the fly,” he said.

Grover said the Florida trip also helps bring the new players into the fold.

“I think our biggest thing is team-bonding down there,” she said.

As a result of ending Endicott’s run and claiming their first conference championship since 2001, the conference coaches picked the Nor’easters to repeat this season. Not that Letellier puts much weight into who’s ranked first at the beginning of the season.

 “We don’t focus too much on the preseason rankings,” he said. “We worry more about where we end the season, and finish the season.”

The Nor’easters will rely on three freshman pitchers this season as they try to defend their title. Letellier said giving those pitchers some run support will be the key to their development, as well as the team’s success.

“We’re going to try and be a little bit more aggressive, and manufacture more runs. Make teams make mistakes,” he said. “We’ll run into outs, but we’re not going to stop running. We’re going to make teams make plays.”

Letellier said the team’s goal this year is not merely repeating as conference champions, but to host the conference tournament. He wants to add exposure to a program he thinks deserves it.

“We want to win, but we want to show everybody in the area what a great program that we have here,” said Letellier. “That’s our goal is to showcase to our home fans the type of team we have.”

The thought of finishing her career as a champion, and doing it in her hometown, rendered Grover speechless.

“I don’t even know how I can put that into words,” she said. “Being able to go back-to-back, especially for my last year that I’ll ever be playing softball, would be just unbelievable, and I think we’re fully capable of doing that.”

— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.