Colby senior infielder Clint Flippo celebrates and gestures towards teammates after he doubled during action against Plymouth State University on Wednesday in Waterville. The Mules, who reached the NCAA Division III tournament last year, have an 11-6 record so far this season. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

WATERVILLE — A year ago, the Colby College baseball team set a new benchmark for its program. The Mules won 29 games, the most in the 2000s, and earned their first trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Now with a young roster — which includes 27 underclassmen and 15 freshmen — the Mules (12-8) are hoping to replicate last season’s success.

“It’s early and we’re young, but we’ve got a lot of good players that are super talented,” said Colby senior infielder Clint Flippo. “I don’t think we’re lacking any talent. We’ve got a bunch of energy and it’s the grittiest team we’ve ever had.”

“It’s more gray hairs for me,” said Colby coach Jesse Woods, who was named D3baseball.com Region 1 Coach of the Year last season. “We’re trying to get these guys experience while also competing and winning games. They’ve done a really good job, and we’ve had guys who’ve stepped up and helped educate some of the younger guys who don’t have the experience.”

32834# 20250402_01colbybColby starting pitcher Matt Mahoney bears down on a Plymouth State University hitter during action Wednesday at Colby College in Waterville. The Mules won 11-9. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Colby went 8-1 in its first nine games, including a doubleheader sweep of the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as wins over Husson University and the University of Southern Maine. The Mules then made their annual spring trip to Florida, going 2-5 against unfamiliar competition, such as Kalamazoo College of Michigan and New York University. Since its return from Florida, Colby has gone 2-2.

“I think we’re coming into (NESCAC play) as a little bit of an underdog, but I think we’re going to surprise some people,” Flippo said.

Last year, the Mules finished 29-12, with a 9-3 record in NESCAC play. The Mules fell short of winning the conference title, but reached the NCAA Division III tournament with an at-large bid for the first time in program history (Colby reached the NCAA Tournament in 1961, before Division III baseball was established, falling 15-1 to the University of Connecticut in the first round). Six players were named to the NESCAC all-conference team, while catcher Cole Palmeri was named the NESCAC Player of the Year and a D3baseball.com All-American.

Palmeri, as well as 10 other Colby seniors, have since graduated. The Mules have eight seniors this season, and Woods is counting on the group to lead the young roster.

“We’ve talked a lot about how those guys just need to talk about their experiences (to the younger players),” Woods said. “They were all one freshmen. The mistakes I’ve seen the young guys make, they made as freshmen four years ago. It’s important that their relationships are strong enough where they can talk to those younger guys about the same experiences that they’ve had. They’ve done a good job with that.”

Flippo added: “It’s been good to get them in the game and play at a high level. They’ve all played at a high level in high school, but it’s kind of a different energy in college. They’re stepping up great. We’re just keeping them calm and getting them excited to play.”

Colby College head coach Jesse Woods and team members greet Myles Gythfeldt, left, after Gythfeldt scored a run during a game against Plymouth State University on Wednesday in Waterville. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Flippo (.429 batting average, 17 runs in 16 games) is the top senior hitter. But it’s actually two freshman who are among the top offensive producers in Colby’s first 17 games: Utility player and pitcher Myles Gythfeldt (.479 average, 18 RBI) and outfielder Corey Aubuchon (.364 average, 15 RBI). The Mules have already shown a penchant for timely hitting this season. In an 11-9 victory last week over non-conference opponent Plymouth (N.H.) State University, the Mules trailed 9-7 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but scored four runs, highlighted by a go-ahead triple by Gythfeldt.

On the pitching staff, senior Ryan Grecco has a 1-2 record with a 5.16 ERA in five starts, striking out 26 batters in 22 2/3 innings. Junior hurler Derek Woods (1.50 ERA, .178 opponent batting average in three starts) has shown promise early in the season.

“After the Florida trip, we just want to get back to playing good, competitive and consistent baseball,” Woods said. “I want us to play consistent against a really good team like Trinity and our first real conference games.

“I’m a real competitive dude, and we talk during the recruiting process that this program wants to compete for championships and play postseason baseball. I think the guys that end up coming here and choose Colby, part of their choice is to play for a competitive program. That still being said, it’s tough to have super high expectations on every single pitch when a guy is seeing that pitch for the first time. It’s a constant managing of emotions that is very challenging. But they’re getting better every day, and some of (the young players) are getting comfortable and not making the same mistakes.”