Richmond’s Ben Gardner throws a ball against the wall during a drill during a recent practice at Richmond High School (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
RICHMOND — When a defending state champion high school baseball team has 10 returning players, including five starters, it seems safe to assume another run at the title is possible.
While another run seems likely for the Richmond Bobcats, the path getting there may not be as clear. Three key losses from last year’s state champs in Class D are their top-two starters (Zach Small and Matt Rines) and starting catcher (Trystin Shea).
Heading into his 22nd year coaching, Ryan Gardner likes the make up of his squad, with a mixture of returning players and some new faces.
“This is a good group,” the Bobcats coach said. “I am pretty confident I can take any of these kids and put them on the field and we wouldn’t miss a beat. I don’t just have 14 players on the team, I have 14 baseball players. I have athletes and great team speed.”
Still, the battery losses have the Bobcats trying to discover who they are as the season opener nears.
“After losing a lot of key seniors, this team will have to find its own identity and work hard if they want to continue our successes from the previous year,” added Gardner.
Gardner, who also led Richmond to a state championship in 2010, anticipates the returning players will bring their experiences of postseason play to the team. Prior to last year’s championship, the Bobcats lost in the South regional final to Searsport and to Valley in the quarterfinals in 2016.
“Those kids put in so much extra time those two weeks of playoffs last year,” Gardner said. “They hit more balls and fielded more balls than I’ve ever had any team do, they loved to work, and they weren’t afraid to work.
“These kids aren’t afraid to work either. They saw how much our seniors just wanted it and they were willing to work for it.
Richmond senior Daniel Stewart eyes the ball as he prepares to lay down a bunt during a drill during a recent practice at Richmond High School (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
Hopefully they take that work ethic and keep it going.”
Senior Danny Stewart likes his team’s chemistry and is eager to start the year, while understanding lessons can be learned from winning it all a year ago.
“We’re working hard and we’re enjoying it. Everyone loves baseball and we’re having fun.” Stewart, who will spend time both behind the plate and on the mound, said. “We try to do the same thing we’ve done. Everyone is going to have to contribute.
“It was a great feeling to win, so you want to get that feeling back again. You don’t want to take any game for granted. It’s harder to do it a second time because you have a target on your back, but I think it’s made us hungrier.”
Despite the loss of their valuable seniors, the experience in the playoffs on the field will also have the Bobcats ready when the time comes.
“It gets us a little more comfortable in those bigger games than we used to be,” junior Ben Gardner said of playing in postseason games. “We’ve got to play as a team. We lost some very good seniors, so we will need to find some guys in our rotation to step up and win us some games.”
Richmond’s Nick Adams sizes up the ball that sits on a tee during a recent practice at Richmond High School. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
The Richmond coach notes his team’s defense should be one of their strengths due to the fact they have players what have played a lot of baseball at different levels, as well as the Bobcats’ depth in pitching.
“Our defense is strong, we have some players with some experience,” Coach Gardner said. “We have seven pitchers and we plan to use them all.”
Once the season begins, Richmond will once again play a tough schedule with a combination of class C and Class D schools. Missing from this year’s schedule will be Rangeley and North Yarmouth Academy, both not fielding a varsity team this spring. NYA players will join Waynflete and will be added to Richmond’s slate this year.
“Our schedule is harder this year than it’s been in years,” the Richmond coach said. “We’ve got Waynflete twice, Old Orchard Beach, Sacopee Valley and St. Dom’s. We have to play that kind of schedule as Searsport has a similar one.”
St. Dom’s was the only one of those previously mentioned teams that they faced last season, and nearly beat the perennial powerhouse, falling 2-1.
“It’s important to have a tough schedule because you go into the season more ready,” added Ben Gardner.
Until the season opener, scheduled for Friday at Waynflete/NYA, the Bobcats will continue putting the work in with throwing, fielding and hitting drills inside the gymnasium at Richmond High School, sort of.
Along with the school’s softball team, they are unable to use the batting cage inside the gym. It was discovered recently that the supports that hold the wire cables that hang the net were not structurally sound.
As a result, MTN Sports and Fitness has opened its doors to both teams for some of the practices. The facility, located down the road from the high school in Richmond, has a field house with an open space and batting cages that allows the teams to work in a safe environment.
The Richmond High School baseball team is prepared to defend their State D title from a year ago. Pictured from left to right, Daniel Stewart, Adam Beaulieu and Ben Gardner all have a smile during a fielding drill at a recenty practice. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
“It’s been great being able to use the facilities,” added Ryan Gardner. “We’re fortunate to have that kind of space in our community.”
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