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Thornton Academy

SACO, Me. -  For the first time in eight years, Thornton Academy advanced past the first round of the playoffs in 2018.

Second-year head coach Jason Lariviere is hoping that success is a sign of what is to come in the future for a program that began in the 1890s, but has not had a state title in the past quarter century.

“We hope to build off some positive momentum gained in 2018 and learn from our experience going to the quarterfinals,” Lariviere said. “The key to our success is a fairly young pitching staff developing confidence and having command of their pitches.”

A trio of returning standouts, Camron Seymour, Luke Chessie and Tim Smith, are being counted on to contribute on the mound.

Seymour, a 5-9 200-pound left-handed hitting Southern Maine commit, batted .326 with seven doubles and a team-high 16 RBIs. Also a catcher, the right-hander has topped at 88 mph on the hill. Chelssie, a shortstop and pitcher signed with Bowdoin College, threw the most innings for Thornton Academy last year, fanning 25 in 31 innings with a 1-2 record and a 2.25 ERA. Smith, a middle infielder with a .984 fielding percentage last year, was second on the Golden Trojans in RBIs with 15 and could also pitch this year.

“We have a fairly young pitching staff with only Luke having over 10 innings pitched in 2018,” Larivere explained. “We will need to rely on others to pick up innings this year.”

Seniors Ryan Penney, Patrick Sawyer, Ben Ham and Luke Ham are in the group of potential pitchers this season. Penney will also play outfield with DH/catcher Calvin Christoforo, outfielder Cameron Cross and freshman infielder/pitcher Cody Bowker others being counted on by Lariviere..

“We have a group with good senior leadership that will make us better on the field,” Lariviere noted.

Kolby Lambert (Franklin Pierce), Brogan Searle-Belanger (Maine) and Jacob Lapluma (St. Joseph’s College) all must be replaced from a 10-6 squad  that lost to eventual state runner-up Gorham in the quarterfinals.

“Another key to our success will be good situational hitting which we struggled with in 2018,” Lariviere said. “We need to work to make sure we’re good fundamental hitters this year.”

The Thornton Academy coach looks for his team to make some noise this year, both in the Class A South League and the playoffs.

“In New England hitting is not great with the cold, so pitching is the thing,” Lariviere said. “Last year we were ranked number one and there was a lot of pressure. We had a good year but we could have done better, and I could have done better, too.

“This year being my second year, I know what to expect more and I know the players a lot better,” continued the 45-year-old head coach, who was drafted and played in the Cardinals’ organization from 1995-2000. “We have good chemistry with a lot of good players. There’s a nice mix of seniors and younger players that can make an impact. Our goal is to win a state championship.”