Class A

Lewiston won its first regional crown in 61 years in 2011 and has the talent back to make the wait for the next one a lot shorter. Ace Corbin Hyde returns to anchor a staff otherwise short on varsity experience but battle tested on the mound and at the plate during Gayton Post’s American Legion state title run last summer.

Led by the dynamic triumvirate of Nate Blais, Josh Delong and Luke Farrago, rival Edward Little could join Erskine Academy, Bangor and Cony in challenging the Blue Devils.  A deep and experienced pitching staff led by Bradley Jackson will be the strength of Mt. Blue. Oxford Hills went into rebuilding mode last year after its 2010 state title and should be a factor once the playoffs start if the young talent backing all-conference senior Brandon Campbell develops.

Class B

Defending Western Maine champion Greely is heavily favored to come out of the Western Maine Conference and win its fourth regional title in six years. Gray-New Gloucester, led by new coach Brad Smith and one of the top pitchers in the WMC, Kyle Nielsen, will be one of the more aggressive teams in the conference in a possible return to the playoffs. Poland is progressing toward its traditional spot among the conference contenders with a young nucleus.

Leavitt has come painfully close to the playoffs the last two seasons but could get over the hump this year with a nucleus of players who had a lot of success in football and basketball this year. Josh Bunker anchors a deep pitching staff. Oak Hill, the last Western Maine champion to come out of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference (2007) boasts one of the top pitchers in Class B in Josh Martin.

The Mountain Valley Conference got shut out of the Class B playoffs last year, a rarity Spruce Mountain and Mountain Valley hope not to repeat. Spruce Mountain  lost all-conference catcher and cleanup hitter Brandon Hodges (wrist injury) for the season. The Phoenix have questions at his spot and in the outfield but have a solid infield led by Ben Keene and Jake Bessey.  Mountain Valley has just three seniors, but Izaak Mills and and Adam Volkernick give the Falcons a solid front of the pitching rotation.

Class C

With the division format scrapped, the MVC will be renewing some old rivalries and making some new ones. St. Dom’s has been the king of Class C each of the last four odd-numbered years (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011). The Saints have the talent to even things up this year with a pitching staff led by Jimmy Theriault. Joe Bryant, Drew Gosselin and Zak Johnson add plenty of big-game experience.

Telstar has seven starters back and an eighth, catcher Kurt Morgan, who would have started last year but was sidelined by a broken hand. Dan Whitney is the hard-throwing ace of a strong staff and leads a potent lineup which also includes 2011 all-MVC selections Corey Howard and Drew Wilson. Defending MVC champion Dirigo has most of its nucleus back, too, including ace Ben Holmes and a strong lineup featuring T.J. Frost, Chad Snowman and Caleb Turner.

Monmouth would have been a good candidate to join St. Dom’s, Telstar and Dirigo among the Western C elite, but two key players, sophomores Brandon Goff and D.J. McHugh, will likely miss the season with injuries and leave big holes in the lineup, pitching rotation and middle infield. The Mustangs could still be dangerous, especially when ace Kyle Fletcher is on the mound. Lisbon returns five key players and has a lot of versatility on the roster, but the rotation behind No. 1 pitcher Ryan Riordan and the offense both have question marks. With Tyler Reeve anchoring the pitching staff, Winthrop could improve upon last year’s playoff showing (quarterfinals). Mt. Abram will once again have one of the youngest teams in the conference but could gain confidence with a strong start that includes St. Dom’s and Telstar in the first four games.

Class D

Greenville pounded Katahdin, 17-3, for the 2011 state title and had to bid farewell to only four starters at graduation.  It could be an all-Laker final again in Western D as Rangeley graduated just one starter. Numbers are still down, though, and they will need to keep everyone healthy, but senior pitchers Eric White and Darren Jannace and senior catcher Alex Morton will make the Lakers a tough out. Low on experience last year, Buckfield couldn’t quite keep pace with both Lakers. A more grizzled nucleus should be better prepared to compete with the top teams in Western D.

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