If last year was a bridge year, this season is the one to make it happen.

Although it was by no means a bad year for local baseball in 2022, few central Maine teams made deep runs or truly turned heads across the state. Sure, some teams were solid throughout the year, but in the postseason, youth caught up to them against elite opponents elsewhere in the state.

Yet those younger squads are now a year older and more experienced as the 2023 season dawns on ball diamonds throughout the region. After last season provided the stepping stones, a new campaign is one of bigger dreams and aspirations as the green grass emerges.

“I think you could see a lot of teams here break out this year,” said Monmouth Academy head coach Eric Palleschi. “You had a lot of teams that were young last year, and with the early spring around here, teams have had more time outside that they can take advantage of.”

In Class A North, Skowhegan is hoping to be one of the few teams playing well into June. The River Hawks finished 9-9 against a tough schedule last year and have 13 players returning, including pitchers Jackson Quinn, Noah McMahon, Ben Morgan and Silas Tibbetts. Strong hitters Tyler Annis and Brendan Dunlap also return.

The schedule will be even tougher for Skowhegan this year as it is the only A North team that will play a schedule comprised entirely of Class A opponents. That schedule, though, is one that will have Mike LeBlanc’s team ready for foes like Oxford Hills and Bangor come postseason time.

“I think we’re going to compete, but we know there’s going to be no days off,” LeBlanc said. “It’s really going to come down to whether our pitchers throw like they’re capable of throwing. We have four kids that can throw between 75-85 mph, and if they command their strike zone, we’re going to be tough.”

Also looking to contend in A North is Messalonskee, which went 11-8 last year with a loss to eventual regional champion Bangor in the semifinals but must replace a pair of standouts in Mitch Grant and Jacob Thomas. Mt. Blue, led by Hayden Dippner and Jayden Meader, will look to improve on last year’s 7-10 finish.

In Class B North, there are a number of teams that return the bulk of their production from solid 2022 seasons. At the top of that list is Lawrence, which went 14-5 and, like Messalonskee, saw its season come to an end with a one-run loss to eventual Northern Maine champ Ellsworth in the regional semis.

Thirteen of the 14 players from last year’s playoff roster are back for Lawrence, including one of the state’s top defensive players in Conner Nutting and two dynamic pitchers in Hunter Lee (6-0 last year) and Ben Ryder. The Bulldogs are seeking their first regional championship appearance since 1989.

“The run we had last year, it created a lot of excitement for our program,” said Lawrence head coach Rusty Mercier. “We’re definitely maturing, and we have an older roster that’s more experienced. We’re hoping we can take a step further this year and continue with our playoff ways from last year.”

It’s been a long climb to success for Lawrence, which struggled on the diamond for ages before winning 10 games in 2019, 12 in 2021 and 14 last year. Yet this group of players has made it its mission to turn the program’s fortunes around, something they’ve done through playing the sport year-round on the American Legion circuit.

“Baseball is a unique sport where you really do have to put the time in in the summer, and I think our kids know that and are learning what it takes,” Mercier said. “We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and we’re finally starting to see some results, which is nice.”

Cony, which dropped from Class A to Class B last year, finished near the top of B North, going 13-4. Reigning Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year Kam Douin returns for the Rams, as do fellow pitchers Landon Foster, James Presti and Jordan Benedict.

Elsewhere in Class B North, Nokomis will look to redeem itself in the postseason after going 12-4 before being upset by a three-win Winslow team in the preliminary round. Waterville brings back pitchers Gabe Hubbard and Spencer Minihan from last year’s 7-10 squad.

Erskine Academy has championship dreams in Class B South. On the mound, the Eagles bring back one of the KVAC’s top pitchers in University of Southern Maine commit Grady Hotham from last year’s 14-3 squad. Emmett Appel, Sam Boynton and Holden McKenney return in the field and at the plate.

As is the case with Nokomis, an unexpected season-ending loss from a year ago is eating away at Erskine. After going 8-2 in one- or two-run ball games in the regular season, the second-ranked Eagles were on the wrong end of one at the worst possible time as they fell to No. 15 Lake Region 1-0 in the playoffs.

“Walking down the halls that last week of school after that loss, it hurt a few of these boys,” said Erskine head coach Colby Foster. “When we had our informational meeting, our captains spoke and talked about that. These boys know they have some unfinished business.”

In Class C South, Monmouth is one of the leading contenders to bring home some hardware. The Mustangs, who went 14-5 last year with a loss to Lisbon in the C South semifinals, bring back seven of their nine starters as well as their three starting pitchers, Sammy Calder, Isaac Olivera and Kyle Palleschi.

“It’s a huge advantage to have (your pitching staff) sorted out right as you go into the year,” Palleschi said. “The kids understand what the expectations are, and they understand what our goal is. … (Winning a Gold Glove) is the goal this year; it’s the goal every year.”

Monmouth will again face competition from reigning Class C South champ Lisbon as well as an Oak Hill team with a group of returnees that includes Ethan Vattaso (5-1, 2.10 ERA, .358 average) and Trent Drouin (.457 average, 21 hits). Winthrop and Dirigo, Palleschi said, should also challenge in the Mountain Valley Conference.

One team that must retool this year is Maranacook, which has to replace starting pitchers Nick Florek, Tyler Hreben and Alex Trafton from last year’s C South runner-up team. Ben Jewett and Jake McLaughlin will anchor the 2023 Black Bears on the mound, and Brayden St. Pierre and Robbie Vivenzio are the key returnees at the plate.

“We lost three top starters pitching-wise, so it’s going to be a matter of who’s going to step up,” said Maranacook head coach Eric Brown. “It’s going to be a big challenge this year for us to get everyone to where they need to be. … It’s just a matter of how well we can coach them up.”

Mount View looks to contend in Class C North after a campaign that improved as it went on a year ago. The Mustangs started 2-4 but finished 14-6, winning their first three playoff games by a combined 39-5 before falling to eventual state champion Bucksport 4-2 in a hard-fought Northern Maine final.

Noah Hurd, arguably the best player in central Maine last year with a .547 batting average, 2.07 ERA and 77 strikeouts, is back to lead that title push for Mount View. The Mustangs also return Dakota Harriman, Calvin Jewett and Levi Winslow, who all made significant contributions last season.

Richmond, which returns core players Wyatt Cassidy, Hunter Mason, Zander Steele, Connor Vashon and Max Viselli, is a top contender in Class D South. The six-team D South field also includes Forest Hills, which will hope to better last year’s 3-14 mark.

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