The University of Maine’s baseball team had a disappointing end to a promising season with nine losses in its last 10 games and a quick exit from the America East tournament it was hosting.
The Black Bears finished fourth and lost to No. 5 Albany 6-4 in the single-elimination portion of the six-team league tournament.
But with six everyday players returning next season, five of whom were in their first seasons at UMaine, the future is bright according to UMaine head coach Nick Derba.
“It wasn’t the season anybody wanted but it was a really good rebuild and we have a good, solid foundation for next year,” said Derba. “We will be a better team next season.”
The Black Bears wound up 20-31 and 13-11 in America East play. They lost five of their last six conference games which cost them a top two finish and a first-round bye for the six-team league tournament.
“We peaked a month ago,” said Derba.
The Black Bears will have to replace All-America East second baseman Myles Sargent, who hit .339 and led the team in runs batted in (42) and slugging percentage (.570) and tied for the team lead in homers (8). They will also lose right fielder Peyton Whitehead (.225-8-25) and utility man Damon Gaither (.298-6 homers, 25 RBIs in 94 at-bats).
But junior center fielder and first team all-conference choice Brody Rasmussen (.307-7-32) headlines the list of returnees. He led the team in runs scored (40), hits (62) and total bases (100).
Freshman third baseman Evan Menzel (.342-4-18) was an All-America East second team and All-Rookie team pick. He led the team in on-base percentage (.447). Freshman left fielder Aidan Bardi (.310-1-14) was also chosen to the All-Rookie team and was second on the team in on-base percentage (.445).
Redshirt junior first baseman Drew Reynolds (.272-4-34, team-leading 14 doubles, 4 triples), junior catcher Dean O’Neill (.271-7-31) and junior shortstop Chris Bear (.271-3-15, team-high 15 stolen bases) also had productive seasons and will be back.
Freshman right fielder Quinn Murphy (.229-0-16) received valuable playing time and will be battling for a starting spot next season.
Rasmussen, Reynolds and Bear are transfers.
Derba pointed out that transfer shortstop-third baseman Albert De La Rosa broke his foot a week before their season-opener and was lost for the season. He hit .390 with 43 runs batted in and only nine strikeouts in 159 at-bats at Cypress College in California in 2024.
“He was going to be a big piece of our offense. He was going to hit second or third for us,” said Derba, who will have him next season.
The pitching staff should be deeper, especially in the bullpen according to Derba.
Redshirt junior lefty Caleb Leys was the league’s Pitcher of the Year with his 5-2 record, 2.69 earned-run average and 74 strikeouts in 67 innings.
But Derba said Leys will get drafted and expects him to sign a pro contract.
Former All-AE first team pitcher Colin Fitzgerald (5-6, 5.68) really struggled over the second half of the season, allowing 28 earned runs over his last 28 ⅔ innings. He is a redshirt junior and Derba said Fitzgerald is likely to transfer or seek a pro contract.
Leys and Fitzgerald didn’t pitch a year ago due to injury.
But three-time All-America East selection Gianni Gambarella, a second-teamer this spring, will return to anchor the pitching staff. He was 5-4 with a 4.88 ERA.
And he will be complemented by Jason Krieger, an All-Rookie team pick two years ago who missed this past season after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Krieger had a team-low 5.26 ERA in 2024 and allowed only two earned runs over his last 11 innings.
The bullpen was inexperienced and, understandably, had its ups and downs. The Black Bears squandered some leads late in games during their late-season swoon.
But redshirt junior Sebastian Holt, sophomore Jason Libby and freshman Tommy Martin received valuable experience to take into next season.
Holt, who had just eight innings of experience entering the season and missed all of last year due to injury, shared the conference lead in saves with seven to go with his 2-2 record and 2.93 ERA. Martin was 1-1 with a 5.04 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 25 innings for former Bangor Christian High School standout Libby was 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA but had three scoreless outings over his last four appearances.
“We will be able to utilize our bullpen more next year and in a better way. We will have more experience and we will have more arms available,” Derba said.
Derba said they are bringing in some good young arms to complement Holt, Martin and Libby and they will also look to add a few from the transfer portal.
“I like our pitching staff for next year and I really like our offense,” said Derba, who added that the incoming freshman class will be the best he has had.
