With the spring season a bit more than halfway complete, there are clear frontrunners in both baseball and softball. The Deering High baseball team and the Scarborough softball team are the lone undefeated teams in their respective sports and neither has budged from their spots atop the Power Rankings this season.

Deering got its biggest win of the season at the start of the week, pulling away from the Westbrook Blue Blazes to win 7-2 in what could have been a preview of the Western Maine regional final. The Blazes bounced back well from their first loss of the season, however, cruising past South Portland and Sanford, then upending Bonny Eagle on the road to complete a busy week.

In softball, Scarborough got a stern test on Friday, needing 10 innings to put away Gorham, 2-1. The Red Storm had rarely been challenged this season, but games like that pitchers’ duel between Scarborough’s Melissa Dellatorre and Gorham’s Kelsey Crowe should become more common down a difficult homestretch and into the tournament.

For games played through May 16

Baseball Front Five:

1. Deering: Last season, the Rams had three wins over Westbrook by a total of four runs during their undefeated state title run. The first meeting between the teams this season resulted in a more decisive 7-2 win for Deering as its potent lineup capitalized on a couple Blazes’ defensive miscues to break open a tie game in the fifth inning. After that one, the Rams mercy ruled Kennebunk (11-1), topped Cheverus (8-5) and defeated Gorham (12-4).

2. Westbrook: The Blue Blazes didn’t dwell on the Deering loss, getting back to their winning ways with an impressive 11-2 win over South Portland the next day. After thrashing Sanford 11-0, they got another big win, topping Bonny Eagle 5-2 in Standish. They could very well run the table to lock up a top-two seed entering the tournament.

3. Scarborough: The Red Storm had an excellent week, posting one-run wins over Portland and Bonny Eagle while also topping Massabesic and Noble. Chris Bernard continues to dominate on the mound and at the plate. He’s 5-0 and has only given up one run this season. He’s also leading the league with a .700 batting average that includes eight doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI. Jake Rutt was impressive in his first start of the season, pitching a complete game five-hitter in the win over Bonny Eagle. If he can continue to be a reliable No. 2 starter to compliment Bernard, the Storm will be dangerous in the tournament.

4. Cheverus: The Stags make their first appearance in the top five after posting wins over Bonny Eagle, Gorham and South Portland during the week. Their three losses this season have come to the three teams ranked above them, and they were competitive against both Westbrook and Deering. While the lineup may not strike fear in opposing pitchers, the Stags have received good pitching, allowing three runs or less in seven of their nine games.

5. Bonny Eagle: The Scots tumble out of the No. 3 spot after a tough week. After a 6-0 start, Bonny Eagle has lost three straight, falling to Cheverus, Scarborough and Westbrook. They should be able to right the ship over the next few games. Some Heal Point-worthy games remain on the schedule (including a visit to Deering in the second-to-last game), so the Scots will have a chance to improve their positioning before the playoffs.

Rest of the pack: Marshwood sandwiched a loss to Gorham between wins over Portland and Windham this week to move to 6-3. The Hawks have a tough schedule the rest of the way with Deering, Bonny Eagle, Scarborough and South Portland still left. … South Portland fell out of the No. 5 spot after losses to Westbrook and Cheverus, but could be moving back up, as it is through the toughest part of its schedule. … Thornton Academy hasn’t lost in four games (three wins and a rain-forced tie) and is starting to make its move. … After a walk-off win over Windham to start the week, Biddeford lost three straight. … Windham topped Sanford 8-0 for its first win, and then tied Thornton its next time out. … Sanford topped Kennebunk for its second win of the season. … Massabesic is the league’s only remaining winless team.

Softball Front Five:

1. Scarborough: Freshman Abby Rutt singled to score Jenn Colpitts with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Red Storm over Gorham, 2-1, in a well-played game by both teams. The Storm had been rolling over many of its opponents, with five wins by 12 runs or more, but the team knew it was in for a tough one against Gorham, a top contender. With Biddeford, South Portland, Thornton and Cheverus still to play, the Storm will likely get a few more close ones before the season is done.

2. Biddeford: The defending champs are playing well, having won five straight. A showdown this week against Gorham should be another good game, and one that will have a big impact on the Heal Points. Scarborough is slated to visit the Tigers on May 26 looking to avenge last year’s loss in the Western Maine finals, the Storm’s only setback of the season.

3. Gorham: The Rams drop a spot after falling to Scarborough, but showed they can compete with the best. They hadn’t faced a lot of power pitchers in the early going, so seeing Dellatorre should be good for the Gorham bats. They managed seven hits off her, which is something to build on.

4. South Portland: The Red Riots won three games during the week and have now won seven in a row and move up the rankings from fifth to fourth. The schedule begins to get tough this week with a trip to Gorham on Friday. Games against Scarborough and Biddeford close the year. The Riots’ strong start should give the young squad the confidence to compete with anyone.

5. Bonny Eagle: After a 1-3 start, the Scots have won five in a row, including big wins this week over Kennebunk and Deering. They are gaining steam for the final weeks of the regular season when the teams above them will be beating up on each other.

Rest of the pack: Losses to Marshwood and Gorham during the week drop Thornton out of the top five. … Kennebunk broke a three-game losing skid during which it did not score a run with a 6-0 win over McAuley. … Deering’s 4-0 win over Cheverus shows that the Rams could still be a factor. … Portland picked up its first win of the year, defeating Westbrook. … A handful of teams are bunched up with between one and three wins, including Westbrook, Noble, Massabesic, Windham, McAuley and Sanford. If any of them can string together a hot streak to close the year, they could end up in the postseason.

Each week during the regular season, Current Publishing sports reporter Tom Minervino will compile his SMAA Baseball and Softball Power Rankings based on stats, performance and his observations and conversations. The rankings will be posted on keepmecurrent.com each Monday morning and will run in Current Publishing’s six weekly papers later in the week.

Agree? Disagree? Think Minervino has gone mad? Let him know. Send comments and questions to tminervino@keepmecurrent.com.

Copy the Story Link