Don’t look now, but the University of Maine baseball team is 17-14 overall. More importantly, they’re atop the America East standings at 8-3, after sweeping a weekend series against Binghamton University.
Junior third baseman Eric White has been pivotal to the Black Bears’ success. After earning a starting spot this season at third base, White exploded onto the scene in UMaine’s home opening weekend against Albany. He hit .545 for the Black Bears, with five runs scored and two RBIs, and added a double to go along with a pair of successful stolen base attempts. But White brings more to the table than just his bat: He finished the weekend a perfect 12 for 12 on chances in the field, helping UMaine take two out of three from Albany.
In fact, White was the third Black Bear to be named Player of the Week this year.
“I just got to thank everyone that has helped me get to this point and my coaches that always pushed me hard: If you work hard, good things will happen” said the 5-foot-8-inch, 150-pound White in response to the conference honor.
White has certainly put in his time to earn a starting spot for the Black Bears. In 2011 he appeared in 32 games and batted .221 with 15 hits, including a six-game hit streak. In 2012 he regressed a little, seeing action in 18 games while making nine starts and hitting .189 with four runs scored and six RBIs for the season. White had an idea he would be in the lineup this Spring, but wasn’t sure he would be able to start at third base. His coming out party against Albany solidified his role for this baseball team. White has already played in 26 games this season, starting 22 of them, and is hitting .225 — a number that is increasing — with eight RBIs and 14 runs scored.
“I had an idea that I would be in the lineup, but I didn’t know where I would be playing,” White said. “Playing third base is where I have played almost all of my life, so it is nice to settle in there.”
White is one of four UMaine baseball players from the state of Maine — he was raised in Brewer, which is only 20 minutes away from Orono — and enjoys playing in his backyard at the college level.
“It’s a lot of fun, growing up in this area, playing for UMaine,” White said. “It’s something I have dreamed about since I was a little kid, while coming up and watching these guys play. I feel comfortable here with my friends and family being able to come.”
White feels the encouragement from his coaches, peers and family was a major contributor helped him reach the level he is at today.
“It was a lot of support from my family and my coaches growing up,” White said. “They pushed me and told me I was a good player growing up. I bought into that and tried to work hard to get to this point, and it is kind of a dream come true growing up around here and playing for Maine.”
White continued his hot streak this past weekend against Binghamton, going 2-3 in the series opener with a run scored in a 5-2 Black Bears victory. He would go 0-4 in the second game, a 3-2 victory for UMaine, but continued to play errorless ball in the field, assisting the Black Bears in a big conference win.
“I’m not doing anything different out there,” White said. “I’m just trying to keep my head on my shoulders and keep swinging the bat. Balls will start falling in eventually.”
White says the key to this Black Bears team is their great defense. The Black Bears currently sit second in the league in fielding percentage at .965 percent and third in runs allowed.
White and the Black Bears will play again on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Mahaney Diamond as they take on Thomas College.