Florida trip awaits Presque Isle girls
Sports Editor
PRESQUE ISLE — Hoping to build upon the success of its soccer and basketball squads, the Presque Isle softball team has high expectations coming into the 2010 season.
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Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
Amy Grivois of the Presque Isle Wildcats’ softball team connects on a pitch during an indoor workout held last Wednesday at PIHS.
Ninth-year coach Alan Curtis, who has 20 years of coaching experience, has a bundle of returning players who bring a wealth of experience to the team. Many of the softball players already enjoyed successful 2009-10 sports seasons in soccer and basketball.
Presque Isle finished 11-6 a year ago, qualifying for the postseason. The Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to Gardiner, 5-4, in the playoffs.
“We are down five starters from last year, but like what we have seen thus far from the team as a whole,” Curtis said.
The Wildcats include seniors Krista Coffin (pitcher), Kelsey Park (first base), Jenna Stephenson (second base), Alicia Kierstead, Naiomi Donovan, Haley Johnston and Amy Grivois; juniors Alecia Palmer (pitcher, infield, outfield), Chelsea Lynds and Rilee Elliott-Currie (shortstop); sophomores Kayla Richards (catcher), Courtney Colligan (pitcher, outfield) and Jess Theriault; and freshmen Chandler Guerrette, Lauren Ackerson (pitcher), Karlee Bernier, Megan Ireland and Kailee Shaw.
The team managers are Bethany Lord and Hillary Albert.
Coffin, Park, Stephenson, Palmer and Richards are returning starters for the Wildcats. Coffin is now in her third season as the starting pitcher. According to coach Curtis, she has been throwing the ball extremely well this spring.
Stephenson, the team’s leading hitter for the past two seasons, returns and will be called upon to continue her offensive production at the plate. Richards will once again handle the bulk of the catching duties behind the plate.
“If the weather holds it will be nice getting outside early,” Curtis said. “Everyone we played last year is still good and did not lose many players. Old Town has replaced Dover on our schedule. Also fewer teams make the playoffs, so we will have to play well early.”
According to the coach, one of the disadvantages both Presque Isle and Caribou have had for a number of years is the schedule. Because so much travel is involved, the Wildcats have to play numerous doubleheaders because of the short spring season. Presque Isle has four doubleheaders scheduled for this year and that number could go up if rainouts come into play.
“Brian Cronin, my assistant, has now been through a season of softball and has found many ways for us to be better,” Curtis said. “As long as I listen to him, we should be fine.”
The Wildcats will look to get a head start on the competition when the team travels to Orlando, Fla. April 16 as part of a seven-day spring training event. The team will compete at the Disney Sports Complex. It marks the third time the Wildcats will journey to the “Sunshine State” for its preseason.
On Saturday, April 17, Presque Isle plays the Anguinas Institute from New York at 8 a.m. and then St. Paul Falcons from Connecticut at 10 a.m.
On Monday, April 19, the Wildcats will play a fellow Maine team, Falmouth High School, at noon followed by Mount St. Mary’s Academy (N.Y.) at 2 p.m. On Wednesday, April 21, the Wildcats take on Berlin High School (Conn.) at 8 and again at 10 a.m.
“This is our third trip to Disney,” Curtis said. “We have gone every other year since 2006. The players do fund-raising to help offset their cost. We practice on all of our off game days with the exception of Thursday which is our all-day theme park day.”
There are 15 students going on the trip (comprised of varsity and junior varsity players from last season’s teams) with 11 adults/coaches going as chaperones.
“In the past the competition has always been very good,” Curtis said. “Most of these teams have already played between 20 and 30 games. It is a beautiful complex and everything is done very professionally. Needless to say, the players are counting down the days.”
Disney provides the umpires, trainers and announcers for every game. And the team stays at the Disney All Sports Complex. Disney provides all transportation including to and from the airport. As part of the rooming fee, each person receives a three-day hopper pass to attend the theme parks.
Once the team returns, it will jump right into its schedule. Presque Isle opens its season Saturday, April 24 with a doubleheader at Old Town. Games start at noon and 2 p.m.
