ORONO, Maine - Head Coach
Nick Derba of Maine Baseball officially announced this year's recruiting class on Friday morning, as the Black Bears will add seven newcomers to the fold in the fall of 2020.
Connor Caverly comes to the University of Maine from South Berwick, Maine. He attended Marshwood High School, playing both quarterback for the football team and catcher for the baseball program. A 6'4, 220-lbs catcher who played his travel baseball for the USA Mavericks, AP Academy, and Team Nike New England, Caverly has played alongside another Black Bear recruit— Quinn McDaniel. Perfect Game ranks Connor the #2 player in the state of Maine and the #1 catcher in the state, while PBR ranks Caverly the #37 player in New England and the #3 catcher in New England. Connor has also received 2019 National High School Baseball Association Pre-Season All American Honors in 2018 and 2019, All-Conference Catcher, 2019 All-State Catcher, 2019 SMAA All-Conference Defensive Catcher, two-time New England Elite Baseball League All Star, and is a Honor Roll student. If that wasn't enough, Connor also was a 2018 and 2019 Unified Basketball Team Volunteer and, as mentioned, a 4 year member of the football team at Marshwood and a captain his senior year.
"Aside from Connor's excellent physical abilities, he brings a blue-collar attitude that is a perfect fit for our program. I expect great things out of him because of his desire to win at all costs. He is a talented young man with high character and an even higher motor." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Quinn McDaniel will also represent his home state, coming to the University of Maine from Eliot, Maine. As mentioned, Quinn attends Marshwood High School with Connor Caverly. Perfect Game ranks Quinn the #1 shortstop in the state of Maine and the #3 player in the state, while PBR ranks Quinn the #19 shortstop in the New England Region.
"Here is what Maine is getting… Both kids have always performed their duties well on and off the field. Other players rally around them and tend to do more with less. They both have the mentality that together everyone tends to achieve more, which makes them ideal leaders. Their attitude is contagious and goes a long way toward creating a team environment that breeds success. They both are the kids that clears the bases with a double to go ahead by one and then come in off the field and picks up the cup in the dugout. You have two future captains heading to Orono." -- David Hoyt USA Mavericks, in reference to both Connor Caverly and Quinn McDaniel
"I would like to congratulate Quinn and Connor for their baseball achievement of becoming scholarship student-athletes at the University of Maine. These fine young men have greatly contributed to our community and come from giving families. They have had great baseball careers at Marshwood and I wish for them a great time as Black Bears." -- Eric Fernandes Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Marshwood High School, in reference to both Connor Caverly and Quinn McDaniel
"Another Marshwood kid that is here to win. He has a high ceiling that has been likened to Mike Fransoso, which is very high praise. I am excited to get Quinn on campus and get him to work. He will be a major contributor while he is here." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Jayson Gonzalez will attend the University of Maine next fall, coming from Rahway, New Jersey. Jayson will graduate from Rahway High School this spring, with Perfect Game ranking him the #14 shortstop in the state of New Jersey and the #84 player across the state, while PBR ranks Jayson the #23 shortstop in the state. Jayson played his summer travel baseball for Untamed Recruits.
"We are so proud of Jayson and excited to see his contributions to the Black Bears. He's a dedicated, mature, hardworking player who loves the game. One of his greatest attributes is the way he helps his teammates get better on and off the field. It was special watching him grow since he was 12 years old in our program." — Ryan McGee Untamed Baseball
"Jayson has been a huge part of our program since his freshman year. He's been a great teammate with an unparalleled work ethic and maturity. Maine Baseball is getting a student-athlete that understands the game at its highest level and will do whatever it takes to personify the program's goals both on and off the field. Everyone is Rahway is excited to follow the next stage of his life and career." — Brad Edwards
"Jayson is a stand out defender that will be an integral part of our infield for years to come. He is a hard worker that fits the mold of a Black Bear. Jayson will help us win on and off the field as he is also a very good student that wants to be the best at everything he does." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Jake Marquez will follow in the footsteps of some great Black Bears in coming from Christopher Columbus High School to the University of Maine. Following players like
Nick Silva (Chicago White Sox),
Danny Casals (Milwaukee Brewers),
Hernen Sardinas (Current Senior and America East First Team Honoree in 2019) and Carlos Linares (Current freshman), Jake will be coming to Orono next fall. Jake stands at 6'2, weighs 185-lbs, and plays both shortstop and third base. Perfect Game ranks Jake the #72 SS in the state of Florida.
"Jake Marquez might be the best third baseman I've coached in my 30 years of coaching. Maine got a true gem. He has dominated every level of baseball that he's played in. There is no better team player on this year's squad at Columbus than Jake Marquez. Jake is a low maintenance, high ceiling player, that will be remembered at both of our schools for years to come. That kid is a coach's dream player." -- Oscar Benitez
"Jake is a kid who has earned everything through hard work and determination. Going into the summer of his sophomore year, he was a kid who was fighting for a spot just to be on the varsity for his junior year as a back up. In a time where kids transfer when things aren't promised to them or guaranteed, Jake worked his butt off and welcomed the challenge and competition. He put together a great summer and fall, and ended up not only making the team, but became the starting 3rd baseman and batting in the third spot in the lineup. He has continued to work hard and improve everyday. His demeanor and the way he carries himself is very pro-like. As a senior, he is one of the leaders of this team. He's a great player, but an even better kid/teammate that his teammates can look up to. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset to Maine." — Alex Meneses
"Jake is a player that found out at an early age that you have to work hard in practice to play good in the games. He understands the process." — Coach Tek, Tekmatic hit club
"Jake has a great arm with lots of range. He has good gap power to all fields and is a plus runner. He has a tremendous work ethic and is a fierce competitor." - Coach Webber, Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Christopher Columbus High School
"Jake will be an impact player for us. He is a high-end defender with a knack for finding the barrel of the bat. His baseball IQ is already very high which is indicative of the program that he is coming from. An excellent student with a work ethic to match, we are bringing in a top-end player and person in Jake." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Colin Plante is from Stoughton, Massachusetts and plays his summer baseball for GBG Northeast, following another GBG turned Black Bear, Andrew Ruggiero (current freshman). Colin is currently a senior at Thayer Academy, with PBR ranking him the #12 outfielder in the New England Region. Colin is the recipient of two First Team ISL Honors and hit 7 home runs this year to lead the ISL. In the past two years, Plante has hit over .400, including a .488 batting average during his sophomore season.
"Colin is one of the most athletic players we've ever had in our GBG Northeast program and he combines his superior athleticism with a competitiveness that is unrivaled. It's been an honor to coach someone of Colin's caliber who has never taken his foot off the gas in his 6 years in our program. His extremely strong work ethic in the batting cage, on the practice field, on the game field, and in the gym will only continue to grow when he arrives at Maine. We couldn't be happier for Colin and his family to be joining a program with a deep history of success like Maine!" — Chris Welch, GBG Hawks Northeast
"Colin brings a football mentality to Mahaney Diamond. He is an excellent athlete that will run through a wall, and will be a guy that you will see a lot of while he is here at Maine. I love his intensity on the field. His mindset and overall character profile are Black Bear through and through." -- Nick Derba, University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Noah Lewis comes to the University of Maine from South Portland, Maine where he attends South Portland High School. Standing 6'2 and weighing 185-lbs, Lewis has played his summer travel baseball for the Maine Lightning, USA Mavericks, and Southern Maine River Rats. Noah ranks the #1 right handed pitcher in Maine and the #4 player in the state as per Perfect Game, and PBR has Noah ranked as the #35 right handed pitcher in the New England Region. This past high school season at South Portland, Noah recorded a 0.28 ERA, going 6-0 on the mound with 51 K's and only 5 walks. Noah was named First Team All-Conference as a pitcher and Second Team All-Conference shortstop, as well as First Team All-State.
"As one of Noah's coaches for the past five years, I've had the opportunity to watch him grow as a player and a person on and off the field. Noah's love of the game combined with an incredible work ethic at all aspects of his game has propelled him to be one of the top all-around players in the region. He has worked his way from a corner position player at a younger age to playing shortstop and pitcher at the top high school and travel baseball programs in the state of Maine. Noah is a bulldog on the mound and loves to compete. He wants the ball in his hands in any big game or situation and will give his teammates and coaches 100% effort to win. In addition to being a top pitcher – he has also spent endless hours in the cages which has propelled him to be a force with the bat as well. He has made himself into a well rounded two-way player - combined with a great attitude - has made him a pleasure to coach. I think the biggest thing in talking about what has made Noah such a great player is that he loves to play…practice or games…he just simply loves to play the game. I know there are several teammates and coaches who look forward to his next chapter at the University of Maine. We are all incredibly proud of him and wish him luck with the Black Bears!" -- Shawn Humphrey
"Noah is a tremendous leader for our program both on and off the field. He has worked extremely hard at perfecting his craft on the mound and has worked even harder in the weight room which was a key to him becoming a Black Bear. Noah is competitive on the mound and wants the ball in big moments. His velocity continues to climb and with an ever-improving breaking ball and a change-up that he can throw at any count, I'm excited to see what the future holds for him." -- Mike Owens, South Portland High School
"Noah is a competitor. A flat out, give me the ball type of guy. A strike-thrower with a high ceiling that reminds a lot of what a Tommy Lawrence was like in high school." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
Tyler Nielsen comes to Maine from Grafton, Massachusetts and currently is a senior at St John's Shrewsbury High School. Measuring 6'3 and 190-lbs as a left-handed pitcher, Tyler played his summer travel baseball for Evolution Baseball. This summer Tyler recorded a 0.80 ERA in 33 innings pitched. Perfect Game ranks Tyler the #6 LHP in the state of Massachusetts and the #34 player overall in the state, while PBR ranks Nielsen the #12 LHP in the New England Region. He has received honors including Preseason Perfect Game All American, All-Tournament Team at 2017 BCS National Championship, 2018 PG Super 25 and 2019 PG Super 25 All-Tournament Team and 2019 Central Mass All-Star Honors.
"A great competitor with a high ceiling, Tyler was a tremendous young man to work with. I expect he'll find great success in Orono." - Coach Phil Price
"Tyler is a long, lanky arm with the chance to be a force to be reckoned with. Mid 80s guy with a very good BB and a CH that is developing quickly. It would not be a surprise to me to see Tyler impact us immediately." -- Nick Derba University of Maine Head Baseball Coach
For all the latest news and updates regarding Maine Baseball, stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com and the social media handle @MaineBaseball on Instagram and Twitter.
