If you blinked, you might have missed it.
The long-awaited, highly anticipated spring sports season is already halfway finished and there is still plenty of drama, and hopefully even better weather, yet to come.
Here’s a glimpse of where things stand at the midway point:
Baseball
Scarborough’s defending Class A state champion baseball team remained unbeaten at press time, improving to 5-0 after downing visiting Gorham (3-0), host Westbrook (11-1, in five-innings) and host Cheverus (3-1, in eight-innings). Against the Rams, freshman Harrison Griffiths threw a three-hit shutout, striking out five, and Joe Townsend knocked in two runs. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Ryan Gambardella gave up two hits over four innings, T.J. Liponis, Ben Seguin and Ashton Blanchette each hit two-run singles, Thomas Donahue had three hits and three runs scored and Noah Frink added two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Against the Stags, Liponis drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. Peter O’Brien and Ben Seguin each had sacrifice flies. Townsend earned the victory. The Red Storm host Thornton Academy in a doubleheader Friday, go to Westbrook Monday, then welcome South Portland Tuesday of next week.
South Portland bounced back from its lone loss by blanking visiting Falmouth (2-0) and Deering (13-0, in five-innings) to improve to 5-1 on the season. In the win over Falmouth, Bradley McMains threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts, Noah Dreifus had three hits and a run scored and Andrew Heffernan hit an RBI single. Against the Rams, Kenny Carlisle pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out eight. Dreifus, Nolan Hobbs and Heffernan combined for six RBI and six runs scored with two hits apiece. The Red Riots host Bonny Eagle in a doubleheader Saturday and go to Scarborough Tuesday before welcoming Thornton Academy Thursday of next week.
Cape Elizabeth was 3-4 at press time following a 4-2 win at Morse and a 10-0 (five-inning) loss at Yarmouth. In the victory, Hayden Webber fanned seven to earn the win, Curtis Sullivan got the save and Colin Smith had two hits and two runs scored. Against the Clippers, the Capers didn’t manage a hit. Cape Elizabeth welcomes Yarmouth for a doubleheader Friday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story), goes to Greely Tuesday and visits Old Orchard Beach Thursday of next week.
Softball
Scarborough’s Angelina Pizzella throws a strike in a win over Gorham last week. Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald
Scarborough’s three-time reigning Class A champion softball team extended its overall win streak to 65 games and regular season league streak to 110 after defeating visiting Gorham (10-2), host Westbrook (14-2) and visiting Falmouth (15-0, in five-innings) in recent action. Against the Rams, Angelina Pizzella went the distance and also hit a double, Mollie Verreault had two hits and scored twice and Sylvia Foley and A.J. Swett each drove in a pair of runs.
“My turnover drop hasn’t worked that well in a long time and my change-up really was working well,” Pizzella said. “My defense boosted my confidence. I couldn’t be happier with my team behind me. I’ve worked so hard for this and I can’t even describe how happy I am to be here today. ”
“People were expecting us to be not as good as we’ve been in the past because we lost a couple key players, but we have underclassmen coming up who are playing well,” Verreault said. “We have a solid lineup. We are determined to win. We want to keep our streak going.”
“We’ve got strength all the way through the lineup,” longtime Scarborough coach Tom Griffin added. “We’re more than nine deep. We came up with big hits today. We feel like we have a complete lineup.”
Against the Blue Blazes, Jenna Giguere earned the win, Maddie Russo homered and Foley, Giguere, Pizzella and Calynn Gendreau all had multiple hits. In the win over Falmouth, Pizzella and Giguere combined on a shutout and the offense featured three hits and four runs scored by Swett, a double, triple and three RBI from Pizzella, two hits and three RBI from Roy and two hits from Samantha Cote.
Scarborough took a 5-0 mark to Cheverus Wednesday, hosts Thornton Academy for a doubleheader Friday, visits Westbrook Monday and plays host to South Portland Wednesday and undefeated Biddeford Friday of next week (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game stories).
“We’ve got a lot to prove this year,” Griffin said. “We have a chip on our shoulders. Everyone wants to knock us off. The kids are determined that it doesn’t happen.”
South Portland has started the season alternating wins and losses and was 3-3 after splitting a home doubleheader versus Thornton Academy last Saturday, winning the opener, 5-4, and losing the nightcap, 15-6. In the win, Delaney Whitten’s two-run single capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh. Ella Nickerson had two hits, including a triple, in the setback. The Red Riots hosted Deering Wednesday, welcome Bonny Eagle for a doubleheader Saturday and have a big test at Scarborough Wednesday of next week.
Cape Elizabeth improved to 7-0 and has outscored the opposition, 98-2, after recent shutout wins over host Morse (8-0) and Yarmouth (12-0, in five-innings). Against the Shipbuilders, Kathryne Clay had three hits, Kat Callahan drove in three runs and Anna Cornell struck out 12. In the win over the Clippers, Cornell had three RBI and struck out eight. The Capers look to stay perfect when they host Yarmouth in a doubleheader Friday. After visiting Greely Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth plays at Old Orchard Beach Thursday.
Boys’ lacrosse
Scarborough’s Tae Delaware takes a shot during last week’s win over Kennebunk. Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald
Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ lacrosse team took a 4-0 record into Thursday’s game at Greely. The Capers’ most recent victory was a 22-10 win at York last Tuesday, as Archie McEvoy scored seven goals and Keegan Lathrop added five goals. Cape Elizabeth is at Yarmouth Friday, hosts Freeport in a makeup game Monday and visits two-time reigning Class A champion Thornton Academy Tuesday.
Scarborough was 5-1 at press time after bouncing back from its lone loss, an overtime setback at Falmouth, with wins over visiting Kennebunk (12-2) and at South Portland (14-7). Against the Rams, after a scoreless first quarter, the Red Storm came to life and pulled away behind five goals from Finn Pedersen, four from Tae Delaware and a strong defensive effort.
“Our start means a lot,” Pedersen said. “We’re just focusing on one game at a time and trying to win that game.”
“The Falmouth game definitely fueled us tonight,” said defensive standout Alex Callahan. “Losing in OT hurts. We’ll build off it.”
“Our defense has really come together,” Scarborough coach Zach Barrett added. “They’re playing at an incredible level. I think they’re playing at a level way above a high school level. I credit our assistant coach, Ty Souder, for that. He’s done incredible work with those guys. Props to the D guys.”
In the win over the Red Riots, Owen Leadley and Sam Rumelhart each scored three times. The Red Storm welcomed Thornton Academy Thursday night (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and play host to Windham Thursday of next week.
“We’re still struggling with playing at a top level all game,” Barrett said. “The guys need to breed a little more confidence, which I think is coming. We need guys knowing they can step up and take the reins. We’re having some fun.”
South Portland fell to 0-8 after recent losses at Windham (13-5) and Falmouth (14-2) and at home to Scarborough (14-7). In the loss to the Eagles, Brady Frank had a pair of goals. Against the Red Storm, Nick Tolan scored three goals. The Red Riots hope to get in the win column Friday at Kennebunk. South Portland hosts Falmouth Thursday of next week.
Girls’ lacrosse
Scarborough’s girls’ lacrosse team, which won just once in 2019, bounced back from its lone loss by defeating visiting Portland (13-4) and Westbrook (16-0) to improve to 6-1 on the season. Against the Bulldogs, Natalie Bilodeau scored four goals, while Darby Stolz and Paige Spooner each finished with three.
“It’s so exciting,” Stolz said. “It’s been such a nice transition to finally getting some wins this year. I think our cohesion has been the difference. We work well together.”
“Not being perfect is OK, but this is a pretty good feeling,” said Red Storm coach Emily Field. “We’re working on being a team and passing up and down the field and tonight we played a beautiful game. The girls have worked so incredibly hard.”
In the win over the Blue Blazes, Bilodeau and Spooner led the way with three goals apiece. Scarborough was at Greely Wednesday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and welcomes South Portland Tuesday of next week.
“We have to keep working together,” Field said. “We have to keep doing what works for us. We have to practice like we play and make each other better. There are always small areas we can work on.”
South Portland dropped to 3-3 after losing at undefeated Kennebunk (15-2) and at home to Gorham (11-5). Abby Trefsger and Kate Von Seggern each scored twice against Gorham. The Red Riots look to go back over the .500 mark when they host Deering Friday. A trip to Scarborough looms Tuesday.
Cape Elizabeth, the two-time reigning Class B champion, took a 1-4 mark to two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth Wednesday. The Capers visit Freeport Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and host Lake Region Wednesday of next week.
Tennis
The qualifying rounds of the state singles tennis tournament were held last weekend.
Cape Elizabeth’s Blair Hollyday and Caroline Gentile and Scarborough’s Amber Woods all advanced on the girls’ side, while Cape Elizabeth’s Eben Harrison advanced in the boys’ competition.
Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ team improved to 6-0 after recent wins over Greely (3-2), Yarmouth (4-1) and Lake Region (5-0).
The Capers boys earned their first win and improved to 1-4 Monday with a 5-0 victory over Lake Region.
Scarborough’s girls improved to 5-1 after 5-0 wins last week over Bonny Eagle and South Portland and Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over Thornton Academy.
The Red Storm boys were 2-4 following wins over South Portland (3-2) and Bonny Eagle (5-0) and losses to Marshwood (3-2) and Thornton Academy (5-0).
South Portland’s boys improved to 3-5 Tuesday after a 3-2 win at Westbrook.
The Red Riots girls improved to 3-5 Tuesday as well, with a 5-0 victory over Westbrook.
Track
Cape Elizabeth’s track team hosted Greely and Yarmouth in a meet last week. The Capers boys and girls both finished first.
Scarborough’s boys and girls downed Westbrook.
South Portland’s boys and girls both defeated Biddeford.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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