Troy Black has experienced the exhilarating highs and devastating lows that come with playing baseball during his four-year career at the University of Maine.
It has been his ability to maintain an even keel that has enabled him to enjoy considerable success over the course of 188 games.
Black credits his father, Chris Black, with teaching him some important intangibles.
“When I was little, I played on some horrible teams,” Troy Black said. “I think my dad was a key influence on me trying to stay level-headed whether I had successes or if I failed.
“My dad loves baseball,” he added. “He never pressured me, but he was always there to play catch or hit ground balls.”
The senior shortstop from Mississauga, Ontario, hopes to provide poise on Thursday as UMaine begins the America East Baseball Championship at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Fourth-seeded UMaine (24-27) takes on No. 1 Stony Brook (33-16) in the 2 p.m. opener of the four-team, double-elimination tournament. The winner earns America East’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“I think we’re gelling together, and we’re playing our best baseball at the end of the season,” Black said. “We’re all pretty excited.”
Black, one of eight seniors and four co-captains on this year’s club, has been a mainstay throughout his career.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound middle infielder is UMaine’s No. 2 hitter with a .324 average. He leads the team in at-bats (210), runs scored (29), hits (68), stolen bases (15) and total bases (90).
“He’s been one of the most consistent players I’ve ever coached,” said UMaine coach Steve Trimper. “He’s very low-maintenance. He shows up, works hard, completes his routines in practice, and he carries it over to the games.”
Black has shown versatility filling a variety of roles for the Black Bears — both at the plate and in the field.
Most recently, he has been batting fifth in the order. However, Black has occupied the leadoff spot and the No. 2 position after spending his first two seasons plaguing opposing pitchers at the bottom of the order.
In spite of being moved around fairly often, Black has produced. He boasts a .343 career batting average with 219 hits and 88 runs batted in.
“If he’s 0-for-7 with five strikeouts, he comes up to the plate with the mentality that he’s going to win the game for us,” Trimper said. “He usually gets the clutch hit.”
“Honestly, it’s thinking about baseball as more of a mental game than as a physical one,” Black said in trying to explain his consistency.
He praised his father’s efforts teaching him about the importance of not getting too high or too low emotionally, and imparting a passion for baseball.
“His father has really done a good job, that’s where he got that mentality of competitiveness, winning, not giving up,” Trimper said.
Black also has been a threat for UMaine with his speed on the basepaths. He is 15-for-19 in stolen bases this spring and 52-for-63 (83 percent) in his career.
On the defensive side, Black lined up during his first three seasons at second base, across from all-conference shortstop Mike Fransoso. This year, with Fransoso off to the minor leagues and fluctuating personnel in Orono, Black has played 31 of 51 games at shortstop.
The two-time, all-league second team pick, who was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2011, admits there are different challenges playing short as opposed to second base.
“I really don’t have the arm strength to play shortstop as some of the other guys, but I pride myself in being sure-handed,” said Black, who has made 11 errors this season — only one in the last 27 games.
Black is part of a low-key group of seniors, but Trimper said his demeanor should not be misconstrued.
“He’s very positive, but he’s a very competitive guy,” Trimper said. “He does not like to lose.”
With the end of his baseball career looming as UMaine opens the tournament, Black plans on having fun and playing hard.
“We’re [the seniors] going out there and playing for the love of the game one more time,” Black said. “I’m going to play my heart out, because I don’t know if I’m going to get to do it again.”