UMF Department of Athletics

Coaches Roster Schedule Statistics Photos Honors Archive

Meader Leads Young and Talented Group of Beavers into Action

The 2006 UMF baseball team will look to regroup after a disappointing 2005 season. Returning 13 letterwinners and 5 starters from last year’s team, it also welcomes 10 freshmen to a roster with a single senior this season.

“You never really know what your team is going to look like once the season begins," said head coach Dick Meader. "You spend a lot of time preparing and sorting through the mix in the fall and you hope that when the spring comes around you don't have to go back and revisit some of those things. I am really proud of what we have and the kind of work ethic that these new guys have shown.”

“If we have guys that decide to step up in the spring, I am excited about the kind of club we could be. The first thing we will need to do with this team is be patient. We could be starting as many as four freshmen in the line-up at one time, but there are a lot of intangibles with this ball club that I feel good about. Only experience will help this team right now.

The Beavers will put their youthful talent to the test, when they open the season March 25^th at WPI (Worcester, MA) at noon.

Starting Pitching: Sophomores Jared Wales (New Gloucester, ME) Ben Saviello (Wilton, ME) and Jake Turner (Jay, ME) will anchor the Beavers young pitching staff for the upcoming 2006 season. Wales lead the team in wins, ERA, and strikeouts in 2005 and finished second in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) with a 1.59 ERA. Saviello started five games last season and all of them where in conference play. He also had very strong summer and fall season and will look to continue that this spring. Turner was second on the team in wins and third on the team in ERA and strikeouts and will look to build off a solid freshmen season. The other spots in the rotation will be filled up by a group of freshmen. Patrick Howell (Noblebro, ME), an All-Conference player his senior year, had a great fall and will contribute right away. Dan Hemdal (Nashua, NH) helped lead his team to a State Championship his senior year and showed great promise during the fall while lefty Craig Pendleton LHP (Aurndell ME) will also be in the mix to start games this season.

Relief Pitching: The lone junior on the staff, RHP Scott Hastings (Thomaston, Me Georges Valley) led the Beavers in appearances last season and was third in the conference in ERA. The Beavers also return sophomore LHP Kyle Feltis (Noblebro, ME), who served as the Beavers’ closer last season. Freshmen RHP Andrew Bellmore (Monmouth, ME) will look to develop as the year goes on. Freshmen Chip Burhman, Cody Stackpole, Greg Melason, and Ryan DiPompo – all two-way players - will all add depth to the Beavers’ bullpen.

Infield: The infield will be capably anchored by starting shortstop sophomore Jake Turner who led the team in extra base hits last season and brings a 12-game errorless streak into the 2006 campaign. Aaron Wolfe was Turner’s double play partner last year at second, and leads all returnees in RBI. Junior Brody Artes will add depth to the infield. For the first time in four years, the Beavers will have a new face at first base. The departure of All-Conference performer Justin Quimby opens a spot for either junior Pete McLaughlin, who led team in on-base percentage and played in every game last season, or sophomore Dan Stefanilo. Both McLaughlin and Stefanilo have shown good offensive punch since arriving on campus but defense will determine the starter. The starting job at third base is coming down to freshmen Chip Burhman and Greg Melanson. Junior catcher Tom Danylik returns to his starting role for the third straight season, but will have plenty of competition from freshman Tyler Hanson, a former standout at Sanford High School. Sophomore Travis Rowell will add depth behind the plate.

Outfield: None of the starting positions have been set in stone but Beavers fans should be able to feel good not only about the quality of defensive play in the outfield but offensively as well. Devin Gill returns as the starting centerfielder. Gill emerged last year as one of the top defensive outfielders in the NAC Conference and led the team in stolen bases. The other returning starter in the outfield is sophomore right fielder Corey Provencer who was second on the team last season in stolen bases. The other outfield spot remains a battle between two talented freshmen in Ryan DiPompo and Cody Stackpole. Both are very good athletes and will both contribute right away.

“Anytime you have three players that played centerfield in high school and are now playing together in the outfield, it is a very good thing,” said Meader.

Beaver Newcomers:

Pat Howell, Nobleboro, ME RHP, 6-2/180
A right-handed pitcher with a high upside possesses a great breaking ball to go along with a power arm. Pitched for Lincoln Academy while in High School he was 1^st team all KVAC his senior year. Coach Meader on Howell: Pat is a very good athlete. We like him as a pitcher mostly. He has a breaking ball that can be very good. With his body, athleticism and work ethic we feel Pat has a bright future for us.

Cody Stackpole Sanford, ME, OF/RHP, 6-0/185
An athletic and versatile player possesses great speed and power right-handed hitter, and was a all conference player his senior year. Coach Meader on Cody: "We are excited about Cody’s future. He is a terrific athlete and really impressed us with the way he swings the bat. We certainly believe he can make an immediate impact on our program."

Tyler Hanson, Sanford, ME C, 6-0/185
An athletic Right-handed hitting catcher from the Sanford High School: Coach Meader on Hanson: "Tyler is very athletic. He has a very strong arm and he has pop in his bat, but what we like about Tyler the most is he plays so hard. He plays the game 100 miles an hour and he plays the game with passion. He will be a great addition to our program."

Dan Hemdal Nashua NH , RHP, 6-2/195
His senior year he helped lead his team to a State Championship. Coach Meader on Dan: "Dan has great makeup and instincts for the game. He comes from a great high school program. He is very strong and has a great work ethic.

Chip Burhman Winthrop, ME, RHP/3B, 6-2/200
One of the best athletes to come to UMF in many years. Played in the Maine Senior All-Star game and was also a 1^st Team All-Conference Selection, also played in the Lobster Bowl (Senior All-Star football game) and was the Team MVP his senior year in basketball. Coach Meader on Chip: "Chip is a great athlete as well as a great student. He has a very good glove and nice arm at third. With his body and athleticism he will only get better. He has a very bright future a head of him."

Craig Pendleton Saco, ME. , LHP, 6’3/185
Coach Meader on Craig: "What we love about Craig is that he is a competitor. He has great makeup and a great mound presence. He comes from a great high school program at Thornton Academy and Craig has pitched in some big playoffs games. With additional strength and development, at 6-3, Craig will be an exciting one to watch in a Beaver uniform."

Andy Bellmore, Monmouth, ME RHP, 6’1/175
A very good athlete with a high upside. Coach Meader on Andy: “Andy is one of those kids that showed great desire, commitment and dedication to the game. We love his competitive drive and the ability to get better.

Ryan DiPompo, Jay, ME OF/RHP, 6’1/175

Ryan is a player who comes from Jay High School and knows how to win. A three-sport athlete has won two state titles in baseball and basketball and won conference title in baseball and regional title in football. Was 1^st team All-Conference in baseball his Junior and Senior Year, played in the Maine Senior All-Star game. A 4-year starter for Jay Coach Chris Bessey who has produced some of the top players and teams in the area over the last ten years.

Greg Melanson Littleton, NH 3B/RHP 6’2 185

Greg transferred to UMF from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, a Division I school. Prior to his time at UWM, he was a four year starter at Littleton High School, Where he led his team to the playoffs his senior year. He was a FirstTeam All-State pick in New Hampshire his senior year.