Auburn, ME - The new-look Mustang Softball Team are preparing for the upcoming spring season. The squad will return just two players from last year's squad; Olivia York (Bethel, ME / Telstar Reg. HS) and Hayley Peterson (Bethel, ME / Telstar Reg. HS). First-year Head Coach, Bruce Robertson will look to turn around the team's 0-11 record just a season ago when the Mustangs batted .126 as a team on their way to scoring just 13 runs. York will return to the Circle for CM after leading the team in innings-pitched in 2017. The right-hander made 11 appearances for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs are five years removed from being Runner Ups for two consecutive seasons in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) 2012-13, and Coach Robertson is building to bring back the winning ways to Auburn. Following a disappointing 2017 campaign, CM has made key additions to the 2018 team.
The infield led by York who will be joined by first-year shortstop Alex Bessey (Jay, ME / Spruce Mountain HS) who was a KVAC 2nd Team All-Star, 1st base Cagney O'Brien (Lincoln Academy / Boothbay Harbor, ME), 2nd base Samantha Belardo (Gateway Reg. HS / Russell, MA), and C Alexandra Sult (Lisbon, ME / Lisbon HS) who was a MVC 1st Team All-Star. The outfield will be anchored by Peterson while she will be joined by first-years Abby Fogg (Buckfield, ME / Buckfield Jr-Sr HS), Mackenzie Abbott (Boothbay Harbor, ME / Richmond HS) and Utility Players Keara Hunter (Wiscasset, ME / Wiscasset HS) and Megan Duval (Jay, ME / Spruce Mountain HS).
According to Coach Robertson, "The outlook for the spring season has been set high as we want to turn things around this year! This team has a strong work ethic, and we have been working hard in the gym and traveling to the Ingersoll Turf Facility for indoor batting and fielding. This team has outstanding chemistry together and they all have great attitudes. They know when we can have fun but also when to turn it on and be serious as well. I'm excited to get on the field and can't wait to see how we handle the competition."
The strengths of this squad will be in pitching and our offensive production. York will again handle the bulk of the Circle time but will be assisted this year by Bessey, who pitched for Spruce Mountain during her high school career. Bessey was not intending to pitch much for the Mustangs but is being thrown into a heavier role after pitcher, Abigail Robertson (Leeds, ME / Leavitt Area HS) tore up her knee just before the season started. "Both pitchers have plenty of pitching time under their belts and will help keep us in games." added Coach Robertson, "We will need our bats to give them a hand and keep us in games. Sult will take command from behind home plate, while she and Fogg will help manufacture runs and add power to the middle of the line-up."
This spring season the Mustangs will have 10 conference games against YSCC-opponents that include College of St. Joseph (VT), New Hampshire Technical College (NHTI), Great Bay Community College (NH), and Southern Maine Community College. The Mustangs will also have a few out of conference games as well. CM will round out its 2018 spring campaign when they compete in the YSCC Championship Tournament at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH starting Thursday, May 3 2018.
Softball begins their season Saturday, April 7th, with a double-header in South Portland (SMCC) against the College of St. Joseph's (VT). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00pm, with the 2nd game beginning immedaitely after.
Stay up to date with exclusive coverage of the softball program by following CMCC Athletics on Twitter (@CMMustangs), Instagram (cmmustangssball) and on Facebook (CM Mustangs).
