The Colby College baseball team is enjoying a breakout season.

The Mules (21-5) are ranked fourth in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division III poll.

They also just missed out of a top 25 berth in the latest NCAA Division III baseball poll.

“With the players that we have and the kids that we have, you go into the season with some expectations and you hope you just play well,” said head coach Jesse Woods, who is in his sixth year. “This team has been really focused on each other, really focused on itself and just focusing on the recipe that’s shown us success. I joke around with them and say, ‘hey, if the dish tastes good, don’t mess around with the ingredients, just make it the same way again.’ They’ve been able to do that day to day and figure out what the recipe for success is for our particular group.”

The Mules have a .349 team batting average and a .445 on-base percentage. Senior catcher Cole Palmeiri leads the team in batting average (.447), home runs (9) and RBIs (33).

“He’s just a relentless competitor,” Woods said. “He just brings it (at the plate) on every pitch… He works so hard, and it’s great to see that the hard work is paying off because he’s bringing it every day for us.”

Palmeiri is far from the only hitter contributing for Colby. Freshman infielder Patrick Shrake (.414 average, 15 RBIs), junior infielder Clint Flippo (.377, 18 RBIs), senior outfielder Marcus Forrester (.368, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs) and senior infielder Brady O’Brien (.368, 26 RBIs) are also enjoying strong springs.

“Our offense has just continued to show up just about every day,” Woods said. “That doesn’t always happen (in baseball). And we’ve had contributions from so many players. We’ve got a big roster, and a lot of guys have contributed to that success.”

With 12 games left in the regular season, the Mules have a legitimate chance to break 30 wins. Colby has five games apiece remaining against New England Small College Athletic Conference rivals Bowdoin (13-11) and Bates (11-10), as well as games against Eastern Nazarene (6-15-1) and Plymouth State (7-9).

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University of Southern Maine head coach Ed Flaherty announced last week that he will be retiring at the end of the season, after 39 years leading the program. Flaherty, 70, has over 1,100 wins at USM, along with two Division III national titles, in 1991 and 1997. It’s been rare for USM to struggle during a baseball season, but this year, the Huskies are 9-17.

Woods, a Reading, Massachusetts native who had a standout career at Wheaton College, first met Flaherty as a potential USM recruit in high school.

“We had some unbelievable battles with Southern Maine while I was at Wheaton,” Woods said. “Since I’ve got to Colby, just being on the same field with Coach Flaherty was a thrill for me, just because he’s a guy that I looked up to as a mentor in coaching and someone that I just have the utmost respect for. Coach Flaherty has always treated me so well. I’ve had a great relationship with him, even since I was playing at Wheaton.

“He’s someone, if I’m at a high school game in Maine, and he’s there, I sit with, I talk to, ask questions,” Woods continued. “Even if we play against (USM), the pre-game conversations I was able to have with Coach Flaherty are long-lasting memories for me, just because of the respect I have for him. He’s been very helpful to me. If I ask a question, he always gives his honest opinion.”

USM is routinely a non-conference opponent for Colby. This season, the Mules have won both games against USM, including a 13-12 walk-off victory April 10 in Waterville.

“In my time here in Maine, you can’t say Maine baseball without Ed Flaherty,” Woods said. “He’s an icon. I’ll miss all the conversations. I’ll miss seeing him in the dugout across from me. I’ve just really enjoyed being on the same field as him and being able to have a relationship with him, on and off the field. It’s something that has meant so much to me.”

 

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After going 6-21 last season, the University of Maine at Farmington softball team is enjoying a turnaround season. The Beavers are 11-5 overall and 4-0 in the North Atlantic Conference. UMF is second in the NAC East Division, trailing only Husson University (16-4, 4-0 NAC).

Sophomore infielder Maddie Pike (.418, 15 RBIs) has been the Beavers’ top hitter, followed by freshman shortstop Abby Wrinn (.361, 12 RBIs) and freshman outfielder Jojo Daigneault (.352, 10 RBIs).

UMF freshman Mack Bergen (2.65 ERA, 32 strikeouts) and junior Carleigh Schievink (2.76 ERA, 17 strikeouts) have been tough in the circle.

UMF still has several matchups left in its regular season, including doubleheaders against Husson and Bowdoin College. The Beavers travel to Brunswick to play the Polar Bears on Friday.

 

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The Thomas College baseball team (10-11, 6-12 NAC) is at the top of the conference’s East division.

With doubleheaders remaining against Husson and rival UMF (5-18), as well as two doubleheaders against Lesley (14-11) in its regular season, the Terriers have a chance to accomplish a first in program history: Finish with a winning season for consecutive seasons. Last season, the Terriers went 19-17 (13-3 NAC) before falling to Husson in the conference tournament.

Junior infielder Jason Bartlett leads Thomas with a .450 batting average and a .514 on-base percentage. Senior infielder Elijah Morton is hitting .367 and has been nearly perfect on the base paths, with 10 steals in 11 attempts.

Senior Andrew Pruell and junior Jarrad Willette continue to be standouts on the mound. Pruell is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27 innings. Willette has a 2.70 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.

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