By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

Scarborough senior Ian Ramsdell is a rare breed: in a family full of Boston Red Sox fans, his loyalty lies with the New York Yankees. 

“In fourth grade, one of my friends was a Yankees fan, and I couldn’t stay loyal [to the Red Sox],” he said.

Ramsdell said he constantly debates his sister, Samantha, on whose team is playing better.

A third baseman on the Red Storm baseball team, Ramsdell said he patterns his hitting after his favorite player, Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

The result: a .490 batting average last season, the highest average in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association, garnering all-conference honors.

Although Ramsdell said he is happy with his average, he was hoping to finish last season at .500. He entered the final game last season against Westbrook with a .520 average, and, after having one hit in his first three at-bats in the game, he stepped in the batter’s box for his fourth and final at-bat, his season average exactly at .500.

“It was a hit and run, I hit it up the middle and the shortstop stole my hit,” Ramsdell said.

Ramsdell said he has always been a good hitter, from tee ball, to when he was the “home run champ,” in little league. He attributes part of his success to his parents. His father Lee was an all-state tennis player at South Portland High School and his mother Bridget was an all-state softball player when she attended Scarborough High School. Ramsdell said hand-eye coordination runs in the family.

Ramsdell spends time hitting and getting instruction at Frozen Ropes, an indoor baseball facility located in Portland.

“I think [hitting] comes pretty natural,” he said.

Ramsdell said when he steps up to the plate to hit, he tries not to think too much – besides keeping track of the pitch count – and tries to stay as relaxed as possible. He said he always expects pitchers to throw the ball to the outside of the plate, where the ball is harder to hit. If the ball is pitched on the inside of the plate toward Ramsdell, he said he has an easier time making contact.

Ramsdell said he is still fairly new to playing third base, as he spent a lot of his baseball career as a second baseman. He said there are differences between the two positions, including charging in on bunts and being closer to the hitter, meaning he has to have quicker reflexes for fast ground balls and line drives. He said field conditions also play a factor.

“In Maine, you don’t get friendly hops,” he said.

While Ramsdell would like to hit .500 this year, he said he doesn’t feel he has to have that high of a batting average for the Red Storm to win. He said everyone on the team is capable of hitting .300, and he said the team will need to focus on defense to improve this season, as they struggled with errors last season.

The Red Storm finished the 2008 season with an 8-8 record and a preliminary round loss in the playoffs to the Portland Bulldogs.

Ramsdell is looking forward to playing against Deering, the defending Class A state champions, but said he also hopes Scarborough will “get revenge” against Portland for the loss in the playoffs.

Ramsdell has been a member of two successful teams this season, as he played for the soccer team in the fall and was a triple jumper with the indoor track team during winter. Both teams finished the season with state championships.

Ramsdell is still looking to win his first state title with the baseball team.

“I think we have a great chance this year,” he said. “I don’t think teams show us a lot of respect, but we’ll get some recognition. It would be nice to win as a senior.”

An honor roll student, Ramsdell said he will attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte next year. He said he would like to follow his grandfather and his uncle as chiropractors. 

Ramsdell said he has kept in touch with the baseball coaches at UNC-Charlotte, a Division I program. He said he will try to make the team as a walk-on next season, but said he will play club baseball if he doesn’t make the team.

The Red Storm begin their season on the road 11 a.m. April 25 against the Gorham Rams.