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Falmouth

FALMOUTH, Me. - After losing two straight years in the state finals, Falmouth “dropped off” last season, losing in the state semifinals.

“We were decimated after the 2017 season,” head coach Kevin Winship reflected. “Everybody from that team went on to play in college.”

But this season is different than 2018, with a large contingent of returnees hoping to get the Yachtsmen back to the finals, and perhaps a first state crown since 2012 in Winship’s third season at the helm.

“Historically we’ve played pretty good defense,” noted Winship, who lost two players from last season to graduation that are now playing sports collegiately in Garret Aube (baseball at Salve Regina) and Griffin Aube (football at New Hampshire). “Defense is where I think we will base ourselves again this year. We should be able to keep teams from scoring a lot of runs. Hopefully our pitching staff throws strikes because we have guys that can make plays.”

Conner Coffin, a .311 hitter last season, will move from second base to shortstop for his junior year with fellow 2020 Josh Lefevere back at third base. Sophomore Sammy Kidder, “a 3-hole hitter with leadoff speed” according to Winship, batted .333 a year ago and returns to center field.

Helping achor the defense is standout catcher Ike Kiely, a 5-8 145-pounder ranked 264th in the New England junior class, Kiely had a.291 batting average last season.

Senior Sam Manganello, who played DH and first base a year ago, brings more experience to the lineup with full-time duties planned at first base this season.

Sophomore Connor Quiet is likely to see action in the middle infield with freshman Brady Coin slated to help wherever needed as a middle infielder, outfielder or right-handed pitcher.

“He’s a good athlete we’ll try to find a place for,” Winship said.

What is known is that Garret Tracy will be the ace on the pitching staff once again. The left-handed senior, who plays right field when not on the mound, finished 5-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 2018.

After Tracy, youth will fill the pitching staff in junior Nick Mancini, sophomores Ben Wilson and Ryan Curran and freshman Bennett Smith. All are right-handers.

“We’ve got a lot of young arms, it’s just a matter of who can pitch at the varsity level,” Winship explained. “It will be good competition to see who can beat who out to get innings.”

While there is some uncertainty with pitching, Winship points to a bigger concern.

“Every year it’s offense,” Winship pointed out about what worries him the most. “Can we score enough runs?”

If so, a Southwestern Maine Activities Association title is a strong possibility at a program Winship has been in charge of for 10 years.

“I tried to bring stability and build a foundation with skills and younger kids,” Winship said about what he has brought to Falmouth. “I’ve tried to teach the kids what it takes at the varsity level.”

With three consecutive trips to the final four, Falmouth has become a program not to be overlooked with Winship in charge.

“Our number one goal is to get into the playoffs,” Winship explained. “Goal number two is to get in the top four to get a bye. Once we’re in, we’ll see what happens. Last year we were a nine seed with no bye and ended up knocking off number one seeded South Portland in the quarterfinals before we lost to Cheverus in the semis. The key this year is can we develop a pitching staff to throw strikes and get guys out.

“With the big senior class we had in 2017, some of these older guys have been around a lot of success with back-to-back title games and then making it to the semis. I think the experience our seniors have had will help tremendously.”