CA could challenge
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
MARS HILL — Ryan Guerrette has a veteran team to work with as he begins his first year as coach of the Central Aroostook Panthers, and the players have responded with some convincing victories to begin the season.
The CA girls have already recorded wins over Southern Aroostook and Fort Fairfield, but its toughest test was scheduled to take place yesterday afternoon at perennial Class D power Limestone-MSSM, which stood at 4-0.
Guerrette is excited about the prospects of this year’s Panthers, which return eight starters from the 2010 team which went 10-6 and lost by a run to Katahdin in the quarterfinals.
The Panthers have already proven they are capable of putting runs on the scoreboard as they have averaged 23 runs in their first two outings.
“We’re a very good hitting team,” Guerrette said, “and I believe we can hit off anybody we face.”
It is the other aspects of the game – pitching and defense – which has prevented CA from enjoying great success over the years, but Guerrette is hoping his team will turn the corner in both facets.
“We’ll go as far as our pitching and defense will take us,” he said. “We are looking for consistency on the mound, and we’ve really worked hard on defense this spring.
“Talentwise, we can compete with anybody.”
Early on, the pitching duties will fall on senior Kristen Long, who saw most of the work on the mound last year. However, junior Vicki McIntyre could provide CA with an intriguing option and sophomore Paige Garrison is another candidate.
The starting lineup also includes sophomore catcher Michaela King, McIntyre at first, junior Shannon Todd at second, junior Rachael Grew at shortstop and sophomore Page Fletcher at third base. All are returning starters except for Todd, who nonetheless is a third-year player.
King led the team in RBIs a year ago, while Long held the top batting average. Grew and McIntyre also have a track record as dependable offensive performers.
The speedy Garrison, who will be at the top of the batting order, starts for another year in left field and Whitney Klein moves over to center after handling the right field job in 2010. Freshman Megan King, senior Mariah Cook and junior Tanika Klinger are all possibilities to start in right field.
Sophomore Jessica Malo and freshman Stephanie Dame round out the Panther roster.
Guerrette, who also serves as the school’s athletic director, has former Caribou boys varsity soccer coach Mark Shea as his assistant.
“I wanted someone who has been a successful coach, and Mark fit that bill with the job he did at Caribou for 11 years,” Guerrette said. “We work well together and we’ve had a good time so far.”
