By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

Scarborough High School senior Chris Bernard said he knows he’s a wanted man on and off the baseball field.

“I know I have a target on my back,” Bernard said. “People want to beat me.”

Bernard, a 6-foot, 1-inch tall pitcher for the Red Storm baseball team said he’s ready to begin the 2009 season. The Red Storm finished last season with an 8-8 regular season record and a loss to the Portland Bulldogs in the preliminary round of the playoffs.

“I’ve been waiting all winter [for baseball to start],” Bernard said. 

Bernard said the team didn’t have a good start to their season last year, but began to play better as the season progressed. He said the team had a successful summer playing American Legion ball, as they were able to defeat the Nova Seafood team, comprised of players from Deering High School, who won the Class A State Championship last season.

Bernard, a captain for the baseball team this season, said most of the starters from 2008 have returned, and the team is looking to have a better 2009 season.

“We’re not looking to just get into the playoffs, we’re looking to make a run [at the Class A State Championship] too,” Bernard said.

He said a team he looks forward to playing is Deering, as he said he has friends who play for the Rams baseball team. 

Bernard said teams try to rattle him during games by cheering on teammates who are hitting against him, but he said when he’s on the mound, he is “zoned in.”

“When I’m dialed in, I’m dialed in. Nothing can faze me,” Bernard said. “As a pitcher, you have to focus on what you’re doing, not on errors or run support. What happens, happens.”

Bernard’s individual play has earned him an athletic scholarship at the University of Maine at Orono beginning this fall. Bernard said he chose UMaine over Bryant University, Wheaton College, Franklin Pierce College, the University of Southern Maine and Saint Joseph’s College because of the opportunity to play Division I baseball and he said he also likes UMaine’s head coach Steve Trimper and pitching coach Aaron Izaryk. 

He said he was also attracted to UMaine because of their new baseball facilities and said it’s a “source of pride” to play for a state college. Bernard said the recruiting process with UMaine began last summer, after he played in an underclassmen all-star game. 

“It seemed like the best fit for me,” Bernard said.

As of press time, the Black Bears had a 12-9 record for the season, and have five Maine-born players on its 30-player roster, according to the school Web site.

Bernard said he spent the winter lifting weights four days a week, focusing his work on his lower body, which helps with his pitching. Bernard said he also stretches five to six days a week and plays “long toss” four days a week to keep his arm loose.

When he is not lifting weights, Bernard said he works on hitting in the batting cage and pitches one bullpen session a week, about 30 to 40 pitches, working on his four pitches – a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He said his goal is to gain more velocity, or speed, on his fastball and more command of his other pitches. Bernard said his fastball currently clocks at 89 miles-per-hour.

He said he had a setback during basketball season, when he broke his wrist, forcing him to miss half of the season. Bernard said he has fully recovered.

On days when he’s not pitching during the baseball season, Bernard said he plays at any position he’s needed, having played both in the outfield and shortstop last season. He said he will likely play first base this season, to save his arm from throwing the baseball at longer distances, which he would do if he were playing in the outfield or at shortstop.

Bernard said his love for baseball came after trying various sports.

“My parents had me play everything,” Bernard said. “I played football until freshman year, basketball all my life. Baseball was the most fun.”

He said he doesn’t know exactly when he began pitching, but he said he took an immediate liking to it. He said he still enjoys playing in the field and hitting when he is not pitching.

Bernard said he tries to pattern his pitching from current and former Boston Red Sox pitchers Jon Lester and Pedro Martinez, respectively.

Benard said he was accepted into the UMaine Business School, but is currently undecided about his future career. He said he would like to go as far as he can with baseball, possibly even a professional career.