By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

MVMS seventh-grader Pat Naughton slides into third base on a fielder's choice during recent action against McKelvie Middle School, a game the locals won on Tuesday, May 2. (Marc Thaler Photo)

GOFFSTOWN - Nothing has come easy for Mountain View Middle School's baseball club midway through its 10-game Tri-County season. And the experience has been humbling for its players.

According to MVMS head coach Mark Marasca, his group is used to dominating on the diamond. After all, many of the athletes on the 2005 roster were key contributors to the last two 11- and 12-year-old Goffstown Little League All-Star teams, which came close to claiming the '03 and '04 state crowns. Although very talented, Marasca's players have struggled to sustain success in several key areas of the game, particularly at the plate.

"Some of the kids are having a tough time making the transition to this level (of competitive baseball)," Marasca said. "Plus, many of them have the added pressure of being (former) Little League superstars. Most of the kids, they're just not hitting. That's been difficult."

In Little League, Marasca said a handful of pitchers could throw an effective curve ball. Most were just focused on firing fastballs.

The Tri-County competition has given many MVMS hitters fits, Marasca said, because pitchers are bigger and stronger. Plus, they're learning to incorporate multiple off-speed pitches into their arsenals.

"They've faced some good pitchers," the head coach said of his players. "They can hit the fastball - I have no doubt about that. But they start thinking too much about (hitting) curve balls. That's hard. I think as a group, they're pressing."

Despite the team's hitting slump, Mountain View has taken advantage of the free passes. Turning walks into runs has saved the squad from possibly entering the second half of the season without a win, Marasca said.

Beyond the ongoing battle in the box, many MVMS players are still attempting to adjust to competing on a much bigger field.

Athletes who played shortstop in Little League are now right fielders, Marasca said. And catchers who didn't have to throw out many base stealers at the lower level are now finding it difficult to eliminate runners on the base paths.

"There's so much history here (in Goffstown)," said Marasca, referring to the highly successful Mountain View teams of prior seasons. "Last year's team went to the finals again and a lot of (the current players) think it's their birthright (to compete for championships)."

The players aren.t alone in learning how to overcome new obstacles. The head coach is right there with them.

Having mentored several highly successful teams in the last 23 years, Marasca said he never had a team that lost by the 10-run mercy rule until the locals dropped a 13-1 decision earlier this season.

"For me as a coach, I always have to remind myself this is a different team than last year's team," he said. "I have to (tell myself) it's not last year, two years ago, three years ago. "I take a lion's share of the blame, too. We're just not clicking. But we have to stay positive. And I tell these guys we're going to come out of it." Truth be told, the squad's tough start can also be attributed to an element of athletics beyond anyone's control - the injury bug.

Alex Hickey, the team's No. 3 pitcher and starting shortstop, is forced to play first base because of a rotator cuff problem. Hickey's move to the right side of the infield also forced Marasca to put other players in unfamiliar positions on the diamond.

Still, with Danny DeConinck and Robbie Hunt anchoring the pitching staff, and Patrick Naughton filling the third slot, there's hope the club can begin a hot streak.

"They're a good group of kids who work hard and they do want to get better," Marasca said. "It's coming together, but the season is so short. If this were a (high school) varsity season, things would work themselves out."