TURNER – Has football overtaken baseball as the national pastime? That might be debatable, but it’s pretty clear that football coaches are taking over KVAC baseball.

Leavitt Area high School has named Dave Bochtler the school’s new varsity baseball coach, replacing Dave Morin, who stepped down after 16 years as coach.

Bochtler is the latest individual with a varsity football coaching background to take the reigns of a baseball program in the KVAC. Darren Hartley, Edward Little’s varsity football coach, has taken over the varsity baseball program, though potentially on an interim basis as Scott Annear takes time off to concentrate on his family and studies.

“It’s kind of funny, me and Darren coaching baseball,” Bochtler said. “Darren and I have known each other since college. He was my assistant offensive line coach when he started at Lewiston and it’s just kind of funny having two football guys doing baseball.”

A native of south Florida, Bochtler went to the University of Maine so he could play both baseball and football, but knee and shoulder injuries ended his baseball career before it began.

Bochtler, a 44-year-old insurance agent, has been an assistant coach in football for 20 years. He has been an offensive line coach at Leavitt during Mike Hathaway’s seven-year stint. For the last 15 years, he’s coached baseball in Turner at various levels, from T-ball to Legion and Babe Ruth.

“I’ve coached these kids growing up, and they’ve always been able to compete and win,’ Bochtler said. “For some reason, when they were getting to the high school, they weren’t performing at the level that they had always been accustomed to.”

“Rather than complain about it, I want to try and do something about it,” he said.

The Hornets finished 2-14 last season, at the bottom of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference standings. Following next season, they will move from Class A to Class B.

“We’re going to put pressure on the other team, be patient at the plate, aggressive on the bases, try to narrow the field defensively, make them hit it where we’re playing, and just be real fundamental,” he said. “I’m not going to make a prediction on how many wins or losses, but we will put pressure on the other team. If we get guys on base, we’re going to be aggressive. Maybe it’s that offensive line coach coming out.”

A committee including administrators and students interviewed four of the five applicants for the position and selected Bochtler, Leavitt athletic director Doug Conn said.

“He’s the one we wanted,” Conn said. “He’s just really energetic and enthusiastic about things and truly motivated. He motivates kids pretty well.”

“I just want to bring some excitment and enthusiasm back to the baseball program,” Bochtler said. “There’s a good history there (including a Class B state championship in 1996). It’s going to be a little challenging with us playing Class A, but if we can compete this year, next year going down to Class B should make it even easier for us.”

Bochtler’s younger brother, Doug, was a right-handed relief pitcher who appeared in 220 games for San Diego, Detroit, Los Angeles and Kansas City between 1995 and 2000. Dave hopes to take advantage of those family ties for the Hornets.

“I have a little help to go to occasionally if I need it,” Bochtler said. “He was Trevor Hoffman’s set-up guy back when the Padres were good. He taught Trevor Hoffman and Johan Santana their change-ups. He runs a training facility for pros (in California) and they fly in to work with him before spring training. We’re trying to figure out a date and time to bring him in to do a clinic for us.”