By Matt Stout
Staff Writer

Manchester Memorial’s Matt Skeffington, an Auburn resident and a major part of the Class L state champions, will take his summer cuts for Sweeney Post 2, which is in search of a trip to the American Legion World Series. (Hooksett Banner/Matt Stout)

Prior to the 2002 season, the Sweeney Post 2 Legion baseball team deemed the campaign a rebuilding year. Weeks later, the squad was playing in the Legion World Series.

So excuse coach Paul Lemire if he jumps at the chance to tag his team as rebuilding yet again. Returning just nine players from last year’s team, Lemire said he’s facing bigger questions than he ever has in his 14 years as coach, including that 2002 season when he started five 16-year-olds.

He has just one proven pitcher in Ed Lacourse. His roster includes three 15-year-olds, two pitchers and one non-roster invitee, and he can’t remember a season when he even took one. And though three players can play catcher, Lemire said he could “flip a coin” to decide who’s behind the plate.

Uncertainty is a scary thing. For a team that’s won 26 state titles and is a year removed from an undefeated regular season, it’s just as mysterious.

“This is definitely the first year that I’ve had that big of a question mark,” Lemire said of his pitching. “Usually we have at least two (front-line pitchers), and most seasons I can say, ‘There are my 1-2-3 guys.’ Right now, I’m going to use them all.”

But don’t expect any team in District A to shed a tear for Sweeney, especially after its season-opening 8-2 win over Salem Post 63 Friday, June 16, at Gill Stadium.

Of those nine returning players, seven are starters and all but two played for Class L state champion Manchester Memorial this season.

Chris Chevrefils, one of those unproven pitchers, tossed six shutout innings against Salem, a much improved team expected to make a run at a playoff berth. And Shane Beauchemin, one of those 15-year-olds who will split time between Sweeney and his Babe Ruth team, worked two scoreless innings, striking out the side in one.

One game doesn’t begin to answer season-long questions. But it’s a start.

“We’ll go as far as our pitching takes us,” said Sweeney assistant coach Dave Flurey. “On defense, we’re as good as anyone in the state and we’re going to hit and we’re going to score runs. I don’t know of too many pitchers that are going to shut this lineup down.”

That’s one reason the only rebuilding Sweeney may do this year is in its trophy case. Led by Lacourse and Tyler Howard, the Sweeney lineup includes “nine guys that are all good hitters,” Lemire said. Others expected to carry the load are Auburn’s Matt Skeffington, first-team all-state outfielder Alex Quintal and outfielder Mike Pariseau.

Also helping on the mound will be Candia’s Zach Lemire, Auburn’s Wesley Cotnoir and another 15-year-old, Kyle Morrill.

Paul Lemire said he usually keeps a handful of 16-year-olds to avoid the pitching crunch he now faces, but in past years, he found himself with fewer and fewer spots to accommodate youth. Now he has more than ever, though it hasn’t changed the expectations of the perennial contender.

“We expect to be the top seed going into the state tournament,” Skeffington said. “Hopefully we can win there and go on to bigger things.”