Maine Central Institute spring sports previews
Softball
Coach: Steve Bodge (4th season)
Last season: 9-8, made Eastern B prelims
Top returners: 1B Lydia Fortin (Sr.), UT Kristy Huff (Sr.), SS Tiffany McLaggan (Sr.), OF Brooke Libby (Sr.), OF Ceaera Lasselle (Sr.), OF Stacy Pratts (Sr.), P/IF Mandy Kennedy (Jr.), OF Whitney Houston (Jr.), OF Brittany Glencross (So.)
Key newcomers: OF Breanna McLaughlin (Jr.), OF Coral Lu (So.), OF Emmalee Swift (Fr.), OF Natasha Wallace (Fr.), IF Kylee Alton (Fr.), UT Allie Sinclair (Fr.), C Picabo Morrell (Fr.)
Outlook: The Huskies are experienced at some positions but must replace their longtime battery of Jordan Kennedy and Kristen Sousa. Morrell looks promising at catcher, and Mandy Kennedy won six games as a freshman pitcher. MCI hasnt had a lot of recent success in girls sports, but this team is consistently competitive, and Bodge thinks confidence will be a key to maintaining that.
Coach's comment: I want the seniors who have played all four years to get in the playoffs one more time.
Boys track
Coach: Jason Allen (6th season)
Last season: 5th in KVAC B, 16th in Class B
Top returners: Brandon Wilson (Sr., mid-distance); Patrick Hapworth (Jr., javelin), Shawn Bennett (Jr., sprints), Forrest Benttinen (Jr., jumps), Revelin Goewey (Jr., throws), Nate Olsen (Sr., race walk), Markus White (Sr., throws), Roy Williams (Sr., race walk)
Key newcomers: Kyle Blaisdell (Soph.), Colby Patterson (Soph.), Garret Poulin (Jr.), Craig Reazor (Soph.), Andrew Sturm (Jr.), Trey Vintinner (Fr.).
Outlook: Wilson was sixth in the 800-meters at the KVAC B meet last season while Hapworth will challenge Watervilles JD Gurski in the javelin this spring.
Coach's comment: We have some solid returning kids to build around. Some of the new kids are really good athletes. Hopefully, it will translate from other sports to track. I think we can be fairly competitive.
Girls track
Coach: Jason Allen (6th season)
Last season: 2nd in KVAC B, 13th at Class B meet
Top returners: Melanie Arias (Jr., mid-distance), Breanna Brown (Jr., mid-distance), Kassie Brunette (So., sprints), Meghan Hughes (So., throws), Rebekah Kallgren (Jr., throws).
Key newcomers: Paula Arias (Fr.), Leah Edmondson (Fr.), Michaella George (Fr.), Ashley Kitchin (Fr.), Kate LeGrand (Jr.), Celeste Michaud (Sr.), Kayla Michaud (Soph.), Megan Orchard (Fr.).
Outlook: Everyone who scored in the state meet last season graduated, leaving the Huskies with a few question marks. The team does feature a strong freshmen class, which gives Allen reason to be optimistic.
Coach's comment: I think a lot of the newcomers are a good group of athletes. But there will be a big learning curve.
Baseball
Coach: John Dean (4th season)
Last season: 1-15 in Eastern B
Top returners: Nick Miller (Sr., P-OF), Andy Shorey (Sr., 1B), Casey Egerton (Jr., SS-P), Nick Cook (Jr., OF-P), Tyson Hunt (Jr., OF), A.J. Dennis (Jr., OF-P), George Howe (Jr., C), Ryan Crocker (So., 2B-P), Cody Theis (So., UT)
Key newcomers: Zack Doiron (Sr., 3B-P), Robert Cameron (So., C), Yuya Izuma (So., IF), Zack Valenta (Fr., UT), Adam Ogden (Fr., UT), Chris Shorey (Fr., UT), Mason Lasselle (Fr., UT), Zack Fortin (Fr., UT), Jake Hutchinson (Fr., UT)
Outlook: The Huskies are young, with just three seniors on the team. Dean will look to Miller and Andy Shorey for leadership. The junior duo of Egerton and Cook are the top pitchers heading into the season, and Dean is excited to see the development of Egerton and Crocker as a middle infield combination.
Coach's comment: Wed like a few more wins, but we want to be competitive in every game.
Boys tennis
Coach: Jeremiah Hackett (1st season)
Last season: 3-10, reached East B preliminary round
Top returners: Pakorn Jarupanitkul (Sr.), Danny Van (Jr.), Billy Phung (Sr.), Freddy Vu (Sr.), Kevin Baek (Jr.), Vu Woang (Jr.)
Key newcomers: unavailable at press time
Outlook: Jarupanitkul worked on his game in the offseason and comes back as the Huskies top singles player. The number three singles spot is up for grabs, as are the doubles pairings.
Coach's comment: We hope to have fun and continue the program.
Girls tennis
Coach: Ray Gariepy (1st season)
Last season: 8-6, reached East B quarterfinals
Top returners: Donhathia Sutassanaparlee (Sr.), Ramita Sarakvne (So.), Hanh Nguyen (Sr.), Jane Huynh (Sr.), Joanna Lira (Sr.), Jessa Hathaway (Jr.)
Key newcomers: Proud Vidhayascrana (So.)
Outlook: Gariepy feels he has a strong trio of singles players in Sutassanaparlee, Sarakvne and Nguyen. Huynh and Vidhayascrana are the likely top doubles team.
Coach's comment: These girls are very unified. Theyre very focused and they want to go far.
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