With three top pitchers returning, the Bucks are feeling confident about their chances.
By Randy Whitehouse
Staff Writer

BUCKFIELD – During the late 1980s and into the `90s, Buckfield baseball stood out among Class D programs, collecting four Western Maine titles in a 10-year span.

Now in the early 21st century, Buckfield continues to be one of the winningest programs in Western Maine. But something has been missing for the Bucks since 1997, the last time they won a regional title.

Every year except one, when Richmond took the crown in 1998, the Bucks have found themselves playing second fiddle to either Monmouth or North Yarmouth Academy. Monmouth moved up to Class C last year, but NYA reminded the Bucks last year that they still have some work to do to add to their trophy case by edging them out by one run in the regional semifinals. NYA went on to win the state title.

The Bucks have five starters back from last year’s 12-5 campaign, and while they’re proud that few Class D schools can compare to their consistency, they’re ready to get some hardware to prove their success.

“I expected we’d have a good team this year, but it’s a lot better than I even expected it to be,” said junior pitcher/shortstop Scott Wetherell.

Wetherell’s confidence is well-founded. The Bucks have their top three pitchers back, including Wetherell, fellow junior Chris Savage and senior ace Steve Abbott.

“Those three have pretty much held down the pitching duties for us for the last three years,” Buckfield coach Chuck Williams said. “We have one junior that we’ve brought up to pitch and play first in Harry Hayes and a freshman (Matt Lowell) that has quite a lot of promise.”

“All of our pitchers are fairly experienced,” said Weatherell. “And we’ve got a lot of variation in our pitchers, too.”

The Bucks’ pitching sometimes covered for an inconsistent offense last season. So far this year, though, all signs have pointed to a more disciplined lineup that protects the plate and is capable of hitting the other way to keep rallies alive.

“I think our main goal is just to put the ball in play, cut down on the strikeouts, and so far in the scrimmages and (their season opener) against Old Orchard, we’ve been able to do that,” Williams said. “We want to find ways to get on base. Once we get them on base, everything changes. It gives us a lot more opportunites to move them up or steal or hit and run.”

The Bucks have long been one of the most aggressive teams on the basepaths in the conference. Brendan Harvey, Russell and Savage give them good speed at the top of the lineup this year, so that won’t change.

“That’s the best part of baseball, stealing bases,” said Russell, whose job as the Bucks’ catcher is to neutralize the opponents’ speed.

The ingredients are there for the Bucks to once again challenge in Western Class D, but one Achilles’ heel has already cropped up.

“The one thing we have to watch is injuries,” Savage said.

Savage speaks from experience, having broken his thumb trying to bunt in preseason. He should be back on the mound soon. Russell, meanwhile, is nearly all the way back from a shoulder injury suffered while sliding into a base.

Yet one of Buckfield’s strengths through the years has been the ability of its freshmen to step in and contribute right off. Wetherell, Savage, Russell and Abbott all did it when they were freshmen, and now Lowell and Justin Dodge, who have filled in well for Savage and Russell while they’ve been out, seem poised to keep the winning tradition going once the above-mentioned quartet graduates.

“We have good summer programs in town,” Williams said. “The system is really set up well. And the program really plays some good competition over in the Andy Valley league, teams like South Paris, Oxford, Norway, Poland and Mechanic Falls. That really gives us a good start. It’s a great feeder program and it makes a big difference.”