"The Gracie" on Husson's campus from Thomas Standpipe, Bangor, Maine
The Husson baseball season officially starts on Saturday March 6 when the team heads south for their annual spring trip to Florida. Going into his third season as head baseball coach, Jason Harvey said the team is very excited about going to Florida to play their first games of the season against great competition.
“We have been practicing outside for two weeks, throwing a little bit, and taking some ground balls — something we usually do not get the pleasure of doing this time of year,” said Jason Harvey.
The Husson Eagles will play against several teams in Florida that will reach the thirty win mark for the season. This prepares the Eagles for conference play when they come back from their spring trip playing fifteen of their total thirty-seven games in Florida.
The Eagles team has many of the same players back from last season and hope to have another great season.
“We have seven out of our nine starters back from last season, so we should be pretty good again this year,” said Coach Harvey.
Chris Maguire, Kyle Vanidestine, and Ethan Guerette must play well again this year for the Eagles to repeat as conference champions. Vanidestine was named conference rookie of the year last season and hope that he puts up quality numbers this year. Maguire, Guerette, and Vanidestine were all named first team All-Conference in 2009.
Last year, the Eagles won 33 games–the most in school history. They advanced to the NCAA Division III New England Regional. With a remarkable 33-14 record a year ago, the team lost only key player due to graduation. Nick Arthers, starting catcher last season, hit an outstanding .416 with 11 homeruns, and drove in 67 runs.
“We cannot really replace him but everyone is going to have to step up in order to fill his role this year,” said Jason Harvey.
This year Husson baseball changed conferences from the North Atlantic Conference to the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles are preseason favorites to win the 2010 NEAC East baseball title.
“Our goal for the season is to make it to the conference playoffs,” said the Husson head coach.
The Eagles open their season against Rensselaer also known as RPI the #13 team in the country for division III on March 7 in Florida. Husson’s first home game is slated for March 24 against Bates College. Go out and support our team.
Photo: “Gracie from Standpipe” from justinrussell’s Flickr photostream
