Eastern A

Defending state champion Messalonskee and most of the power in the KVAC reside in the North Division. Bangor and Hampden Academy also have the talent to contend. But someone from the South could surprise come tournament time. Oxford Hills will be difficult to keep off the scoreboard. If the young pitching that showed promise last year has developed, the Vikings will be a clear favorite out of the South. Lewiston has held that distinction in recent years, but the nucleus has graduated and coach Todd Cifelli is gone. Still, the Blue Devils have some talent that has been biding its time, learning from the success of its predecessors and is eager to show what it can do. Dave Jordan, who built Poland into a contender in Class B and was an influential member of Cifelli’s coaching staff, takes the reigns. Like Oxford Hills, Edward Little is looking for its pitching to make the leap after showing flashes in 2012. The Red Eddies have a dynamic roster with a lot of interchangeable parts and are a candidate to make a significant jump from last year’s No. 9 seed. Former Searsport coach Dave Pepin is the new coach at Mt. Blue. He led Searsport to Class C titles in 2006 and 2008 and inherits a rebuilding program (23 of 30 players in the program are freshmen or sophomores). The talent and experience on the mound and behind the plate is solid, however, so the Cougars should be competitive.

Players to watch: Edward Little — Nate Pushard  (P/3B), John Simpson (P/SS); Lewiston — Eddie Emerson (P/1B/OF); Alex Small (C); Mt. Blue — Cam Abbott (P), Andrew Pratt (C); Oxford Hills — Matt Beauchesne (P/SS), Jordan Croteau (C).

Western B

Greely is the consensus favorite and the Western Maine Conference should maintain its stranglehold on the region (eight of the last nine champions). Gray-New Gloucester and Poland will navigate a tough conference schedule with young but promising teams that could be playing better than their records by the end of the year. The Patriots lost six starters and four pitchers, but ace Kyle Nielsen will make them dangerous when he’s on the bump. A talented junior class will lead the Knights, who could get back to the playoffs if some of them develop into dependable pitchers. Leavitt made its first playoff appearance in 14 years last year and has the pitching to emerge from the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference with another postseason berth. The Mountain Valley Conference welcomes a third Class B team in Oak Hill. The Raiders have a new coach in Matt Bray, but not much else has changed from their KVAC days. Pitching and small-ball will be the keys to their success. Spruce Mountain has the speed to play more small ball this season, too, plus some power to take advantage of Griffin Field’s cozy confines. The question is how the pitching will shake out beyond ace Payton Kennison. Mountain Valley has a solid No. 1, too, in Adam Volkernick, with question marks after that. Six senior starters return to give the Falcons a formidable lineup, though.

Gray-New Gloucester — Kevin Cavallaro (3B), Kyle Nielsen (P); Leavitt — Josh Bunker (P), Mitch Davis (P); Mountain Valley — Adam Volkernick (P/SS), Ryan Nicols (P/OF); Oak Hill — Parker Asselin (P/3B); Brady Dion (2B/OF), Ryan Riordan (P/SS); Poland — Kaleb Bridgham (OF/1B/P), Jake Simard (3B/P); Spruce Mountain — Brandon Hodges (C), Payton Kennison (P/2B).

Western C

Defending state champion Dirigo has seven starters back. But the Cougars lost their top two pitchers and starting catcher. Still, coach Ryan Palmer is optimistic about the arms he has available and thinks his offense and defense could be even better than last year. It’s an odd-numbered year, which historically has meant numerological nirvana for St. Dom’s. The Saints have won the state title every odd-numbered year since 2005. The Saints have the pitching to keep the biennial streak alive. But they are young and one of their top hitters, Drew Gosselin, transferred to Leavitt. Monmouth returns all but one starter from last year and has a couple of key juniors returning from injuries that kept them sidelined for 2012. Experience and consistency could make the Mustangs the most improved team in the conference. Winthrop will have one of the more balanced teams offensively and defensively, but the Ramblers will need someone to emerge as the go-to guy on their young pitching staff. Mt. Abram expects to improve, returning seven starters to what is still a fairly young roster (two seniors). Telstar graduated all but one regular starter from last year’s regional finalist. The Rebels still have a lot of seniors, but not much experience. Lisbon is in rebuilding mode, too, after losing seven of nine starters to graduation or transfer.

Dirigo — T.J. Frost (P/OF), Chad Snowman (P); Lisbon —Kyle Bourget (P/SS), Brandon Hovey (1B); Monmouth — Billy Cummings (C), Kyle Fletcher (P/OF), Mt. Abram —Ethan Boyd (OF), Jay Chenard (INF/P); St. Dom’s — Zak Johnson (P/SS), Jimmy Theriault (P/SS); Telstar — Logan Bartlett (P), Kurt Morgan (C/P); Winthrop — Jared Hanson (P/C/SS), Drew Stratton (OF).

Western D

Buckfield enjoyed a dominating run through the East-West Conference and its first regional title in 15 years in 2012. The Bucks have a leadership void to fill after graduating seven seniors. They still have several key members of their nucleus back, including Jonah Williams, who tossed a one-hitter in the regional championship game. Garrett Hamann is also back to lend support on the mound, and Dalton Hart will join Williams as important bats in the lineup. If the pitchers throw strikes and the defense gels, the Bucks will be in the hunt again, along with Valley, which lost just two senior starters. Greenville, Forest Hills and Richmond could also be factors. Rangeley will not field a team this year due to lack of players.