Sports Reporter
WASHBURN — It did not take long for the Washburn Beavers to match their win total from a year ago.
Members of the Caribou 13- and 14-year-old Junior League baseball team include, front from left, Sean Madore, manager Scott Curry, Dean Walker, Mikey Selander and Matt Curry; middle, Matt Milliard, Adam Flynn, Breen Blackstone and Jacob Bither; and third row, coach Pete Milliard, Cody Herbert, Aaron Losienecki, Matt Frost, Jared Keaton and coach Art Selander.
Washburn, which went 1-13 in 2008, won its home debut this fall over Limestone/MSSM on Aug. 15. Since then, however, the Beavers have struggled to score and, as a result, victories have been difficult to come by. Washburn is 2-9-1 overall, but with younger players in key positions, coach Ben Goodwin is hoping the experience they acquire will translate into success by season’s end and beyond.
“Their ability to be very successful is right there,” the second-year coach acknowledged. “Applying basic skill and concepts to hard work and determination will hopefully turn out some victories.”
Sophomore Jordan McLaughlin is the team’s striker and was the Beavers’ top goal scorer a season ago. The freshmen group is strong, with midfielder Mitchell Worcester and sweeper back Nick Bragg being inserted into the starting lineup right away and becoming instant contributors.
Other starters are goalkeeper Justin Howe, midfielders Connor Fitzpatrick, Zach Davis and Kyle Huston; stoppers Sal Viola and Mason Turner and backs Ethan Pendexter and Tony Viola. The majority of this group is underclassmen as well.
Goodwin’s bench crew includes backs Jacob Reed, Sean Sperrey, Chris Hartman and Chase Chandler and midfielders Adam Wilcox, Chris Farley, Mike Forand and Justin Farley.
“The keys to a successful season are aggressive play and a strong defense,” Goodwin said. “When we play to our potential, we haven’t seen anyone yet we can’t beat.”
The Beaver coach is hopeful, despite the current record, that his team will be able to secure a playoff berth this fall. The team, currently in ninth place, has games against Van Buren and Katahdin remaining after the harvest recess.
