(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Kennebunk softball, Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth-Brunswick and South Portland-Yarmouth boys’ lacrosse and Cape Elizabeth-Kennebunk, Cape Elizabeth-Waynflete and Scarborough-Thornton Academy girls’ lacrosse game stories, see theforecaster.net)
The spring sports stretch run has begun and the next couple weeks promise to bring plenty of drama as local teams jockey for playoff spots.
Last week saw no shortage of big games and there are some compelling matchups on tap in the days to come as well.
Here’s a glimpse:
Baseball
South Portland’s baseball team was 8-1 and second to Marshwood in the Western Class A Heal Points standings at press time after a 9-3 home win over Windham and an 11-4 victory at Thornton Academy last week. Henry Curran improved to 4-0 after fanning 12 against the Eagles. In the win over the Golden Trojans, Sam Troiano earned the victory on the mound, had three hits, scored three times and drove in two runs and Jacob Brown had four hits and five RBI. The Red Riots hosted Sanford in a makeup game Wednesday and welcomed Portland Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), host Bonny Eagle Saturday and go to Biddeford Tuesday and Scarborough Thursday of next week.
Speaking of the Red Storm, they improved to 6-4 and 13th after recent home wins over Noble (12-3) and Westbrook (4-1). Nate Wessel earned the win and had a pair of hits against the Knights. Scarborough was at Windham Thursday, hosts Deering Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story), plays at Bonny Eagle next Tuesday and hosts South Portland next Thursday.
Cape Elizabeth was up to third in Western B behind defending state champion Greely and York after improving to 7-4 with wins over visiting Kennebunk (4-1) and Lake Region (8-2). Tim Brigham had two hits, Dylan Roberts drove in a pair of runs and Brendan Tinsman and Nate Ingalls combined on the mound to beat the Rams. The Capers went to Poland Wednesday, visit Wells Friday and host Falmouth Wednesday of next week.
Softball
South Portland’s softball team has caught fire. The Red Riots improved to 8-3 and fifth in the Western A Heals after recent wins over host Cheverus (11-6), visiting Windham (5-3) and host Westbrook (19-9) made it seven victories in a row. Laurine German doubled twice and tripled against the Stags. In the win over the Eagles, German homered, Paige Carter had a key two-run hit and pitcher Stephanie Aceto earned the victory and had two hits. Miranda Gleason hit a home run against the Blue Blazes. South Portland hosted Biddeford in a key tilt Wednesday, goes to Portland Friday night and visits Scarborough Saturday.
Scarborough remained atop the Western A Heals after improving to 10-0 with wins over visiting Deering (15-1), host McAuley (5-1) and host Marshwood (8-0). Sophia Burnham threw a one-hitter against the Rams and had three hits, as did Lilly Volk, and Maggie Murphy and Abbie Murrell hit home runs. Volk threw a two-hit shutout against the Hawks and Brittany Plowman had three hits. The Red Storm hosted Cheverus Wednesday, go to Windham Friday, welcome South Portland Saturday and play host to Westbrook Thursday of next week.
In Western B, Cape Elizabeth was 7-5 and ninth in the Heals at press time after being blanked by visiting Greely (13-0) and beating visiting Kennebunk (12-9) and Lake Region (12-8). In the win over the Rams, Sam Feenstra led the offense with three hits and Nikki Penley and Hannah Saturley added two apiece. Lily Jordan came on in relief to close the door.
“It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win,” said Capers coach Joe Henrikson. “I honestly don’t know what to expect. Some days we come out and play awesome. We hit, pitch well and run a country mile to catch a fly ball. Other days, I don’t know.”
Penley and Tess Haller (who homered) both had three hits and Hannah Saturley hit a home run in the win over the Lakers. Cape Elizabeth went to Poland Wednesday and hosts Falmouth Wednesday of next week.
Boys’ lacrosse
The state’s two defending boys’ lacrosse teams, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, both proved mortal last weekend, but it took more than 48 minutes for it to happen.
The Capers, the two-time defending Class B champion, took a 25-game win streak to defending Eastern A champion Brunswick Saturday morning for what proved to be one of the state’s all-time great games. Playing on the turf at Bowdoin College, Cape Elizabeth fell behind, 5-2, then erupted for seven straight goals to lead, 9-5, at halftime. The Capers couldn’t hold it, however, as the Dragons retook the lead by the end of the third quarter and led, 14-12, but Owen Thoreck twice scored unassisted to force overtime. There, Cape Elizabeth had its chances, but couldn’t finish and Owen Ginty scored to give Brunswick a 15-14 victory. Owen Thoreck had five goals and Griffin Thoreck added four, but it wasn’t enough.
“(The game) had its moments,” Capers coach Ben Raymond said. “It was two really good teams. They knew what they were doing. It would be great to play them every single year. We’d love to play them twice.”
The Capers started a new win streak and improved to 7-1 with a 13-1 home victory over Greely Tuesday (Ben Shea had six goals). Cape Elizabeth (first in Western B) hosts York Friday and visits North Yarmouth Academy Wednesday of next week.
South Portland, the defending Class A champion, survived an overtime thriller last Wednesday, beating host Thornton Academy, 7-6, on Chris Mitchell’s goal. Mitchell finished with three goals. The Red Riots hosted two-time defending Eastern B champion Yarmouth Friday, went overtime again and this time, weren’t as fortunate. South Portland got three goals from Jack Fiorini, but the Clippers tied the score with 15 seconds to play, then won it on Will Garrett’s goal midway through the first overtime.
“We had some great tests this week,” said Red Riots coach Tom Fiorini. “If I was going to lose a game, this is the one I’d lose. They played a great game and we didn’t. We got the ball in overtime, but didn’t even get a chance to go to the cage. We had unlucky breaks.”
South Portland bounced back Tuesday and improved to 7-1 and first in Western A with a 15-5 home win over Deering. Eben Babbidge had four goals and Mitchell added three. The Red Riots go to Portland Friday and host Marshwood Wednesday of next week.
Scarborough improved to 5-3 and third in Western A after home wins over Cheverus (10-9) and Windham (15-12). Against the Stags, Cam Nigro, Cam Thiabult and Sam Ware all had two goals. Nigro, Nate Howard and Sam Neugebauer all had three goals in the victory over the Eagles. The Red Storm (5-1 in their last six games) welcome Marshwood Friday and go to Gorham Wednesday of next week.
Girls’ lacrosse
On the girls’ side, South Portland is moving up the standings. The Red Riots improved to 5-3 and eighth in the Western A Heals after stretching their win streak to four by downing visiting Portland (13-8), host Cony (15-8) and host Deering (17-2). Against the Bulldogs, Mary Cronin scored four times and Maddie Hasson and Aimee LaPlante both had three goals. Cronin had five more goals against Gorham. Abby Letourneau added four. Maddie Hasson scored five times in the win over Deering. South Portland was home with Sanford Thursday, welcomes Windham Tuesday and goes to defending Class A champion Thursday of next week.
Scarborough has hit a rough patch. After starting 4-1, the Red Storm dropped recent games to visiting Thornton Academy (6-5), at defending Class B champion Yarmouth (15-12) and at home to Marshwood (11-6). Against the Golden Trojans, Scarborough hoped to avenge last year’s playoff ouster, but despite getting two goals from Abby Corbin, fell a goal short.
“It was tough for us today,” said Red Storm first-year coach Michaela Wipfler. “I think we came out a little flat. We regained our composure, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to win the game.”
Kaitlin Prince had four goals in the loss to the Clippers and against the Hawks, Prince scored three more, while Bailey Adams scored twice. Scarborough (third in Western A) went to defending Class A champion Massabesic Thursday and host Cheverus Tuesday.
In Western B, Cape Elizabeth was also struggling at press time. Last week, the Capers went to powerhouse Kennebunk and suffered a 15-6 setback. Taylor Herrera and Emma Landes both scored twice, but the Capers suffered a 25 minute, 23 second drought, which proved fatal against arguably the most explosive team in the state.
“We just had some turnovers,” Cape Elizabeth coach Alex Spark lamented. “That’s something we just need to get a hold of and the girls know that. We’ll focus on changing our mistakes before our next game.”
Monday, Cape Elizabeth lost at home to Waynflete, 10-4, to fall to 4-3. Kirsten Rudberg had two goals, but the Capers couldn’t dig out of an early hole.
“We had a tough start,” said Spark. “All the credit to Waynflete. They’re a smart team. They played hard.”
Cape Elizabeth (fifth in Western B) goes to Fryeburg Academy Friday and plays host to Wells Tuesday.
Outdoor track
Scarborough joined Marshwood and Portland in an outdoor track meet at Bonny Eagle Monday and both the boys’ and girls’ came in first.
The boys got wins from Griffin Madden in the 110 hurdles (15.69 seconds), Maxim Doiron in the 300 hurdles (44.07), Jerry Kenney in the 200 (23.44), Colin Tardiff in the mile (4 minutes, 36.27 seconds), Connor Doherty in the two-mile (10:42.95), Hugh McSorley in the discus (151 feet-2 inches) and shot put (48-3.5), Edward James in the pole vault (12-0) and their 400 (46.05) and 1,600 (3:40.94) relay teams.
First-place girls included Ellen Shaw in the 100 hurdles (16.34), 300 hurdles (52.64) and the high jump (5-0), Kayla Griffis in the 200 (28.55), Colin Jones in the 800 (2:04.67), Bethany Sholl in the two-mile (11:58.13), Natalie Taylor in the javelin (95-0), Elizabeth Gentile in the discus (97-0), Sarah Rinaldi in the triple jump (32-2.5), Kacey Foerster in the pole vault (8-0) and the 400 (53.89), 1,600 (4:34.50) and 3,200 (11:24.0) relays.
South Portland’s girls hosted Deering, Massabesic and Windham and placed third, getting wins from Lauren Magnuson in the 100 (12.96) and 400 (59.99), Casey Loring in the 800 (2:27.76), Abby Donahue in the racewalk (9:06.99), Michelle Medici in the javelin (104-4) and the shot put (30-11).
The Red Riots boys joined Deering and Massabesic at Windham and came in second. South Portland got wins from Steven Smith in the racewalk (7:47.43), Jake Maloney in the 800 (2:08.79), Daniel Guiliani in the discus (159-3), shot put (66-5) and javelin (136-0), Michael Cuesta in the triple jump (44-6.5) and its 400 relay team (46.54).
Cape Elizabeth hosted Freeport, Kennebunk, Waynflete and Wells last Friday. The Capers girls were second and the boys placed third.
Girls’ winners included Arden Wing in the 100 (13.71), Liv Palma in the mile (5:36.83), Emma Shedd in the two-mile (12:39.10), Eva Brydson in the 400 (1:02.79) and the 800 (2:29.73), Morgan Carpenter in the javelin (84-10) and triple jump (33-9) and the 3,200 relay team (11:00.76).
The boys got wins from Eddie Galvin in the triple jump (42-5) and long jump (20-10) and Devon Stanford in the discus (118-6).
Tennis
The state singles qualifying tournament was held over the weekend. Cape Elizabeth’s Liv Clifford advanced to the Round of 32 with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Greely’s Alex Tebbs. Scarborough’s Megan Nathanson advanced by walkover. Cape Elizabeth’s Katie Gilman beat McAuley’s Siobhan Kenneally, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, to advance. Clifford will be seeded fifth, Nathanson ninth and Gilman 14th when the tournament resumes Friday of next week.
On the boys’ side, Cape Elizabeth’s Michael Mils beat Massabesic’s Andrew Mongiat, 8-0, and York’s Alex Steffenberg, 6-0, 6-0, to advance. Teammate Luke Gilman advanced with wins over Kennebunk’s Joseph Beaudoin, 8-1, and Massabesic’s Kyle Duffy, 6-2, 6-0. Ethan Murphy became the third Caper to advance by beating Kennebunk’s Carter Stone, 8-2, and Yarmouth’s Henry Becker, 6-2, 6-2.
The team regular season is winding down.
Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B boys’ state champion fell to 6-3 after recent losses to defending Class A champion Falmouth and reigning Class C champion Waynflete. Scarborough was 6-3 at press time. South Portland was 5-4 entering Wednesday’s match against Portland.
On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth took a 7-3 record into regular season-ending matches at York and at home versus Yarmouth. Scarborough took an 8-1 mark and a five-match win streak into Wednesday’s match versus McAuley. South Portland was 3-6 at press time.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Sidebar Elements
South Portland goalie T-Moe Hellier fights for a loose ball during the Red Riots’ 7-6 overtime home loss to Yarmouth last Friday.
Scarborough’s Abby Corbin scores a goal during last week’s 6-5 home loss to Thornton Academy.
Cape Elizabeth’s Mustafa Abeshir flings the javelin during a home meet last week. Abeshir came in third in the event.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
