Searsport and St. Dominic have alternated Class C state championships the past four years, but neither school has a lock on talent. There’s plenty of it in the Mountain Valley Conference where four or five teams are poised to challenge for titles, both in Class C and Class B.

Last year, Livermore Falls lost in the state title game to Searsport and the Andies return enough to challenge for another title. Class B MVC powers Mountain Valley and Lisbon also fall into that category.

For the past few seasons, Winthrop’s been right there, too. Last spring, the Ramblers finished 13-1 in the regular season and shared the MVC title with Livermore Falls, a team that eventually knocked Winthrop out of the playoffs. Despite some key graduation losses, coach Marc Fortin thinks his team will be in the middle of the MVC race again.

“We were MVC champs last year, and we have high expectations again this year,” Fortin said. “We’ve got a nice mixture. We think we’re going to be OK.”

Fortin likes his starting rotation of Easton Morang, Jake Steele and Ryan Conant, and he has one of the top catchers in the conference in three-year starter and senior Jordan Conant.

“Conant behind the plate is going to be key for us,” Fortin said.

There are questions in the infield, where the Ramblers must replace three players. Morang and Ryan Conant will alternate at short depending on who’s on the mound, while Steele returns to play third. Riley Cobb returns to the outfield, and along with Morang and Jordan Conant, is one of the team’s leading hitters.

Hall-Dale returns capable pitchers in Dylan Dupont and Ryan Leach and picked up a bonus with Kennebunk transfer Tim Holbrook. Improved pitching should keep the Bulldogs in games, along with an improved defense.

“I think our infield is good,” Hall-Dale coach Tim Johnson said. “We’ll be much stronger (in the outfield) this year.”

Tyler Cummings returns for his fourth year at shortstop and is one of the team’s top hitters as well. Leach plays the infield when he doesn’t pitch and is another good stick while Holbrook will play the outfield when he doesn’t pitch. Jake Levesque returns for his second year behind the plate while junior Damien Melnicove will play first.

Johnson expects good performances at the plate from Cummings and Dupont, but said Leach, Levesque and Holbrook must hit for the team to be successful.

Monmouth coach Eric Palleschi returns eight players with varsity experience but only one battle-tested pitcher in Derek Gray. He’s counting on senior Parker Ferland and three newcomers to take up some of the slack.

“We’ve probably got five or six guys who can throw strikes,” Palleschi said. “It’s like pitching by committee this year.”

The Mustangs have a good catcher in Eric Smith, who is starting his fourth year behind the plate. But there are some questions on defense.

“We should hit the ball,” Palleschi said. “Defensively, we’ve got some work to do.”

Mt. Abram coach Ryan Palmer feels cutting down on simple mistakes could help his Roadrunners improve on last season’s 4-12 record and make a playoff run.

“A lot of our games, we could have won,” Palmer said. “We could easily have had four or five more wins.”

Mt. Abram’s pitching should be improved. Junior Aaron McGinness, the team’s top pitcher, has improved his velocity and control, Palmer said.

Senior Mike Bonney is penciled in as the leadoff hitter, while junior catcher Dylan Tisor and senior first baseman Hank Poulin will provide offense from the third and fourth spots in the lineup.

Madison returns just about everybody, and coach Shawn Bean hopes that experience translates into wins.

Senior pitcher/shortstop Ezra Gourley suffered through injuries last season. Now healthy, Bean will lean on Gourley for leadership.

“He’s got to be the anchor of the pitching staff,” Bean said. “I know he’s got it in him.”

Outfielder Justin Grant is back after hitting .340 last season. Other top hitters returning are catcher Lucas Libby (.400) and second baseman Garth Clark (.360).

Carrabec finally has stability at the top. Coach Tim Dunphy is entering his third season and is committed to rebuilding the Carrabec program.

“I’m feeling confident it’s going to look a lot better than it has in the past,” Dunphy said.

Dunphy has four pitchers he feels he can go to: Dylan Dominski, Shawn Keenan, Aaron Lane and Nate Manzer.

Catcher Brian James gives the Cobras a veteran behind the plate.