Cole Payne has been a machine on the mound for Bangor Christian this year.
The senior pitcher has gone 10-1 so far this season and struck out more than 100 hitters while leading the Patriots to the Class D state championship game Saturday.
The Mr. Baseball finalist has been rightly recognized as one of the top senior players across the state. And he’s done it by “just throwing strikes, knowing my stuff will play against any hitter,” Payne said after Bangor Christian took home the North regional title Tuesday.
Executing pitches has been key for Payne.
“Like my coach told me, let every pitch be a masterpiece,” he said. “Put it in the right spots, and just compete.”
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Payne fanned nine hitters in a no decision Tuesday when Bangor Christian came back to beat Machias in the regional championship. He gave up two early runs in the first inning, but then closed the door on Machias for four-straight scoreless frames before the Bulldogs picked up another two in the sixth. Only two of those four runs were earned for Payne.
“For him to settle down and pitch well, that’s why he’s our player of the year, for sure,” Bangor Christian coach Tim Collins said after the regional win.
Payne’s dominance didn’t happen overnight, or surprise other coaches in the league. Several other teams’ coaches highlighted him at the start of the season as someone they weren’t looking forward to facing.
“I’m really happy I could live up to the hype, so to speak,” Payne said Tuesday when told about that input.
He did that in part by getting in the weight room during the offseason, and learning from another Bangor Christian ace who came before him.
Earlier in the season, Collins explained how Payne was able to observe as an underclassmen and learn from former Patriot Jason Libby, who was named Mr. Baseball two years ago.
“And I think he saw what it required to be the team’s ace,” said Collins, who stressed that offseason work in the weight room. “He’s put the work in. And so I’m really proud of him.”
Collins, Payne and the rest of the Patriots team will face off against South regional champion St. Dominic of Auburn at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. That state championship, like the North regional championship, will be held at the University of Maine in Orono.
And like the regional game, Payne wants the ball in his hand.
Collins was feeling “elated” after Tuesday’s win, but realistic that the state championship would provide a significant challenge regardless of who the Patriots had to play. At that point, St. Dominic hadn’t yet beaten Richmond to take the Class D South crown.
“I felt like today was a very even game. I feel like against the South it’s going to take our absolute best, because those two teams are loaded,” Collins said Tuesday.
