Sanford and South Portland, playoff teams a year ago, both entered the baseball season knowing they’d have to count on some young players to produce. Sanford returned just three players from last year’s team, while South Portland lost three of its top returnees before the season began.
So far, South Portland’s young players have adjusted well to varsity play, while Sanford is still searching for answers.
On Friday, South Portland topped the Redskins 4-1 at Wainwright Field. The game was delayed about 40 minutes because of lightning. The Red Riots improved to 3-1 while the Redskins dropped to 1-4.
In his first start of the season, Chris Gorham tossed a complete game for the Riots, striking out nine while allowing six hits. Ryan Curit singled in the first to knock in sophomore Zach Horton, who reached on a double, to put the Riots on top.
In the third, Horton singled and scored again, coming to the plate on Jon DiBiase’s fielder’s choice. Curit singled and later scored on freshman Brendan Horton’s single to make it 3-0. Brendan Horton tripled with two outs in the fifth and was knocked in on a single from pinch hitter Sam Helmke to give the Riots a 4-0 cushion.
Sanford scored in the sixth as Brett Wallingford doubled to lead off and scored two batters later on Nick Clark’s double to center field. Gorham had retired 10 straight Sanford batters prior to Wallingford’s hit. Clark moved to third on a groundout, but was stranded there as Gorham got a strikeout to end the inning. Sanford stranded runners in scoring position three times in the game.
“We’re struggling hitting the ball right now,” said Sanford coach Mark Boissonneault. “We’re struggling putting the ball in play. We’re getting some kids in scoring position, we’re just not finishing.”
Gorham, who earned a win earlier in the season in relief, is South Portland’s only pitcher who returned with varsity experience. The senior kept the Redskins guessing throughout the afternoon.
“He’s a good pitcher,” said South Portland coach Tony DiBiase. “He’s experienced. He keeps the ball down, moves it around. He knows how to pitch. He’s pitched since his sophomore year. We’re very young. Like I told the kids, it’s going to be a while until we put a lot of runs on the board. We’ve got to really concentrate on our pitching. Our pitching has been excellent all year long.”
Sanford’s pitching has been pretty good in the early going, as well. Besides a 14-2 loss to Marshwood, the Redskins had given up only eight runs in their other three games entering Friday. Against the Riots, Will Collinson started and worked 3.2 innings before being replaced by David Hamilton.
Runs, however, have been tough to come by for the Redskins. They scored 11 in an opening win over Massabesic, but were no-hit in a 1-0 loss to Gorham. They lost to Biddeford 7-6.
“We’re trying to catch up a little bit and learn what it takes to win,” Boissonneault said. “We’re not quite there yet. We’re trying like heck, we’re just not quite there.”
Wallingford and Justin Salls each had two hits for Sanford. Zach Horton had three hits for the Riots. Brendan Horton and Curit both finished with two hits.
South Portland’s first three games were each decided by a run. The Riots beat Portland 6-5, topped Windham 5-4, and fell to Bonny Eagle 5-4.
Tony DiBiase is very pleased with the start, and expects the team to improve as the season goes on.
“I think we’re going to be really good at the end of the year, when you want to be,” the coach said. “The kids will gain experience and understanding and get a little more confidence, which is important for them.”
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