Terry Hickey’s Maranacook squad went 15-1 in the regular season a year ago, but he may be the only person thinking the Black Bears — largely untouched by graduation — might not be as good as everyone thinks.

“You know, 15-1, it’s such a facade,” Hickey said. “One umpire’s call, one bad bounce, one anything and things don’t go your way. We’ve hit the cover off the ball and not gotten runs out of that, too. There’s still a lot of luck, isn’t there?”

Perhaps. But junior pitcher Sarah Maxwell is capable of making her own luck. The phenomenal talent was the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B division’s first-ever MVP award winner, and she’s primed to continue pitching to battery mate Heidi Shaw.

Hickey believes the team’s strength is in not having one particular strength.

“We play game by game, inning by inning, pitch by pitch — so eventually you can get to the playoffs and then see what happens,” Hickey said. “That’s served us well. We play a conservative brand and don’t get too fancy. We just try and play solid defense and wear the other team down, let them make the mistakes.”

Terry Parlin resigned after four seasons at Winslow to become the head coach at Thomas College. Still, he left behind a talented group for “new” coach Steve Blood, who had two previous stints with the Black Raiders.

Ten of Winslow’s 14 players are freshmen and sophomores, and Winslow prepared for the regular season with a preseason schedule that included games against Class A teams like Skowhegan, Messalonskee, Brewer, Oxford Hills and Lawrence.

Sophomores Kaite Bernard and Julie Riordan are two excellent left-handed pitchers, and are also fast enough to play the slap-hitting style from the top of the order.

Erskine made its return to Class B a successful one last year, winning 13 games and advancing to the Eastern B semifinals. The Eagles lost five games in the regular season, all by one run.

The Eagles return only six players from that team, but one of them is pitcher Sam Morse, who rarely gave the opposition more than two runs.

Outfielder Monique Moore is the only senior on this year’s roster.

“We’re inexperienced, but I’ve got some fantastic leadership,” Erskine coach Mike Soule said. “The younger kids who were on the team last year want to prove that it wasn’t just the seniors.”

Waterville was one of the surprises in Class B last season, going from 9-23 the previous two years combined to a 9-7 regular-season record. The Purple Panthers graduated only one player from that team and look solid around the diamond.

Paige Gardiner and Jess Murray give Waterville two solid starting pitchers, and Taylor Hart, Jess Boucher and newcomer Kylee Gardiner help make up a promising batting order. Last season, Waterville defeated Medomak Valley and Winslow — the two teams that faced off in the Eastern B final.

Oak Hill graduated seven key performers from last season’s 12-win team, but 13th-year head coach Julie Boucher expects her team to be in a familiar position regardless.

“I have the same expectation for this team that I’ve always had,” Boucher said. “We hope for the playoffs, and we feel we can get there. I’m confident they’ll rise to the occasion. They all love to play the game.”

Perhaps the most important returnee for the Raiders is sophomore pitcher Lauren Hall, who worked every few games as a rookie in the league.

“She gained a lot of experience and a lot of confidence last year,” Boucher said. “She worked hard in the offseason and on various winter teams.”

Maine Central Institute will look to contend for a playoff spot behind junior pitcher Mandy Kennedy and seniors like Lydia Fortin, Kristy Huff, Brooke Libby and Tiffany McLaggan. Whitney Houston is also a good bat to have in the lineup.

Mt. View was in the hunt for an Eastern B playoff spot for most of last season before staying home with a 5-11 record. In such a tough league, the Mustangs will need to play tight defense, and they have a great start on that with their defense up the middle. Catcher Alonia Horton, shortstop Terri Belcher, second baseman Rachel Andrews and center fielder Brianna Moody are all high-quality defensive players.

The Gardiner Tigers are hoping that last year’s struggles through a 2-14 season pay dividends this time around.

Coach Conrad Lewis is looking to senior shortstop Chelsea Striker, a .413 hitter with 33 stolen bases a year ago, and sophomore pitcher Cassie Snell to lead the way.

“I think we’ll be far more competitive, but it depends on us scoring runs,” Lewis said. “We’re going to give up some, but I’m very pleased with Cassie’s improvement pitching. She’s one of those gritty athletes. She won’t quit on you. If she continues to improve, like I’m sure she will, our goal is the playoffs.”