Statistically speaking, OT’s Hoogterp rules PVC Class B baseball ranks

Old Town High School star Eric Hoogterp is headed to the University of Southern Maine this fall with an eye toward playing on the Huskies’ basketball team.

It’s a more than reasonable goal given his resume in the sport — the 6-foot-2 guard was a Mr. Basketball semifinalist and Bangor Daily News All-Maine honoree last winter after leading the Coyotes to an 18-2 record and a berth in the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals.

That, of course, came one year after he helped coach Brian McDormand’s club win Old Town’s first state championship in boys basketball since 1991.

But don’t be surprised if Hoogterp also gets a call from longtime USM baseball coach Ed Flaherty upon his arrival at the Gorham campus come September based on his ongoing senior season for the Coyotes in that sport.

Hoogterp has utterly ruled the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B ranks this spring, enough to be named not only the league’s player of the year but also its co-pitcher of the year with Ellsworth senior Conor Maguire.

Hoogterp, a pitcher-shortstop, led the PVC B in eight different statistical categories this spring while helping coach Brad Goody’s club finish 16-0 and rank as the lone remaining unbeaten baseball team in the state regardless of class.

Offensively he posted league bests in batting average (.611), hits (33), singles (21), doubles (12), runs scored (25) and stolen bases (18 of 19) while ranking third with 21 RBIs.

He also did not strike out in 61 plate appearances — which at least ties for the PVC Class B best in that category.

Hoogterp compiled a 4-0 record on the mound with a PVC-best 0.67 earned run average, 39 strikeouts and 19 hits allowed in 31⅓ innings this spring. The right-hander’s strikeout total was good for third in the conference.

He shared PVC B pitching honors with Maguire, who went 5-3 with a 1.63 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 56 innings for 9-7 Ellsworth.

Old Town, which drew a preliminary-round bye as the No. 1 team in Eastern B, is scheduled to face the winner of the 8-9 prelim between Ellsworth and Erskine Academy of South China in Thursday’s regional quarterfinals.

Mark Chevalier of Foxcroft Academy, who guided the Ponies to a 12-4 regular-season record good for fourth place in Eastern B, was named the PVC Class B coach of the year.

Ernie Clark

About Ernie Clark

I'm a veteran sportswriter who has worked with the Bangor Daily News for more than a decade. A four-time Maine Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, my coverage areas range from high school sports to mixed martial arts.