The 2023 spring sports season is following a familiar script of far-from-ideal weather interrupted by inspiring performances when local athletes get an opportunity to shine.

With a small sample size in the books, here’s a glimpse at how things look as the calendar flips from April to May:

Baseball

Cheverus’ baseball team opened with a 9-2 victory at Massabesic and after a 3-0 loss at Windham, improved to 2-1 Friday after blanking visiting Kennebunk, 9-0. In the opener, Liam Backman had three hits and three RBI, Jacob Lucier and Chris Murphy drove in two runs apiece and Brian Connolly threw a two-hitter. Against the Rams, Connolly dazzled, throwing a one-hitter, striking out eight and producing three hits at the plate. The Stags were scheduled to host Portland Tuesday, then go to Bonny Eagle Thursday, welcome Westbrook Saturday and visit Sanford Tuesday of next week.

Portland welcomed new coach Kevin Winship with losses at Thornton Academy (6-3) and at home to Bonny Eagle (6-1) before getting in the win column at Windham (6-4). Against the Golden Trojans, Henry Bibeau had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. In the loss to the Scots, Liam Fay-LeBlanc had a pair of hits and Bibeau doubled, but the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome an early deficit.

“We’ve got some guys without a lot of varsity experience,” Winship said. “They’re learning and they’re learning on the hot seat. We made a couple mistakes and it just built from there.”

In the victory, Bibeau had two RBI, Cam Allen, Reegan Buck, Fay-LeBlanc and Joe Mancini also drove in runs, Sam Payne earned the win and Bibeau got the save. Saturday, Portland fell to 1-3 with a 7-1 home loss to Kennebunk. Hunter Temple tripled and singled and Buck had a pair of hits. The Bulldogs were at Cheverus Tuesday, host Gorham Thursday, welcome Marshwood Saturday and travel to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

“The game is just faster than what we’re used to and it’s going to take a little time to settle in and hopefully find some success,” Winship said. “We have a lot of spots to fill.”

Deering started with losses at Kennebunk (9-0) and at home to Biddeford (11-1, in six-innings) and Windham (15-3, in six-innings). Jackson Forrest doubled against Kennebunk, Avery Lawrence doubled against the Tigers and Lawrence had two hits and struck out 11 on the mound in the loss to the Eagles. The Rams hoped to give first-year coach Corey Leach his first win Tuesday at home versus Massabesic. After going to South Portland Thursday, Deering hosts Noble Saturday and visits Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

The Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team took a 4-0 record into the week. The squad opened by edging visiting Richmond (10-9, in eight-innings), then swept a doubleheader from visiting Mt. View (3-2 and 6-0), before handling visiting Maranacook Friday (9-2). In the opener, Tanner Anctil had four hits, Cooper St. Hilaire earned the victory and had three hits and Caden Violette drove in the winning run. Against the Black Bears, Anctil, Jack Byrne and Cal Nice drove in two runs apiece. Waynflete/NYA was home with Traip Academy Monday, visits Richmond Wednesday, welcomes St. Dom’s Friday and goes to Old Orchard Beach next Monday.

Softball

On the softball diamond, Cheverus started with a 7-3 loss at perennial powerhouse Scarborough, then earned its first victory, 10-1, over visiting Noble. In the setback, Anna Goodman and Delia Tremble both doubled. In the win, Haley Lamontagne earned the victory and also had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run, while Bella Napolitano Aberle added a two-run single. The Stags were scheduled to visit Marshwood Monday, host Gorham Wednesday, go to Deering Friday and Falmouth Saturday, then welcome Bonny Eagle next Monday and play host to Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Portland started with a 10-0 loss at South Portland/Westbrook, rallied to win at Deering (9-6), then downed visiting Bonny Eagle (15-7) to improve to 2-1. Against the Rams, the Bulldogs trailed, 6-4, entering the sixth innings but roared back and won thanks to three hits from Hannah Hawkes, who got the win in relief, a home run from Ruby Chase and two hits and two RBI from Sadie Armstrong. In the victory over the Scots, Hawkes had four hits and earned the victory in relief and Hadleigh McPartlan added three hits and drove in five runs. Portland was home versus Gorham Tuesday, welcomes South Portland/Westbrook Wednesday, plays host to reigning Class A champion Biddeford Friday, then visits Massabesic Monday of next week.

Deering was 0-4 at press time after losing at home to Biddeford (11-0) and Portland (9-6) and at Massabesic (19-2, in five-innings) and at South Portland/Westbrook (16-0, in five-innings). Against the Bulldogs, Sophie Hill homered, Kira Siteman hit an RBI double and Izzy Elder and Julia Krush had two hits apiece. Siteman and Ally Brady each had an RBI in the loss to the Mustangs. The Rams were scheduled to host Kennebunk Monday, then play at Falmouth Wednesday, welcome Cheverus Friday and visit Windham Monday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team, the two-time reigning Class C state champion, began with a 6-4 home win over Wells, lost at York (10-7), then improved to 2-1 Friday with a 9-4 win at Freeport. Jacob Woodman, the hero of last year’s state final, scored twice in the win over the Warriors. Against the Wildcats, Liam Anderson had two goals. In the win over the Falcons, Woodman and Nico Kirby paced the attack with two goals each. The Flyers were home versus Greely Monday, welcome Oak Hill Tuesday, then play host to Class A contender South Portland Saturday (see our website for game story).

In Class A, Deering has already tripled last year’s win total en route to a 3-1 start. The Rams started with a flourish, rallying to beat rival Portland, 8-7, at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Andrew Burke scored three times, including the tying and go-ahead goals, while freshman Joey Foley added four goals.

“It was huge,” said Deering coach Geoff Arris after the Rams beat the Bulldogs for the first time since May 2, 2017. “Winning a game was kind of new to us, that feeling alone was something special, but winning against Portland is gigantic to us. It was really exciting from top to bottom, the excitement on the kids’ faces when we were counting down those last 10 seconds of the game and everyone was losing their minds.”

Deering then defeated visiting Traip Academy, 11-5, as Burke had five goals and a pair of assists and Vinny Cavallaro stopped 10 shots. After a 15-5 home loss to Scarborough, the Rams won at Maranacook, 15-8, as Burke had six goals and five assists and Foley added four goals, Corbin Burke had two and Trip Marston scored once and had three assists. After visiting powerhouse South Portland Wednesday, the Rams host Mt. Ararat Saturday, then welcome Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Portland split its first four outings, sandwiching losses to visiting Deering (8-7) and at Thornton Academy (15-3) around victories over visiting Mt. Blue (8-6) and host Cony (16-3). Against the Cougars, Ben Littel, Andy Marvin and Harry Rubin all scored twice. In the win over Cony, Louis Thurston led the way with five goals and three assists, Brady Toher contributed four goals and three assists, Rubin had a goal and five assists and goalie Clyde Spencer made seven saves. The Bulldogs go to Gorham Wednesday, play at Cheverus Saturday, then visit Bonny Eagle Monday of next week.

Cheverus started 2-1, rolling over host Westbrook in the opener (20-8), then downing visiting Massabesic (9-5) before losing at Camden Hills Saturday (9-8). TJ Saulter scored nine goals in the first three games, while Matt Hahn added seven and Luke McNabb contributed six. The Stags are at Freeport Thursday, host Portland Saturday and welcome Noble Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Portland, which won just twice in 2022, has returned to form, already eclipsing last year’s win total with three victories in its first four outings. The Bulldogs started with an 8-7 win at Thornton Academy and after falling at home to Windham (15-10), beat host Massabesic (9-7) and Bonny Eagle (8-4). Against the Golden Trojans, Elizabeth Littel scored four goals, while Phoebe Knoll added two, including the winner. Eva Smith made eight saves. At the Mustangs, Littel again led the way with five goals, while Knoll and Eliza Stein each added two goals. In the win over the Scots, Knoll had four goals and Stein added a pair, while Smith made seven saves. Portland hosted South Portland Tuesday, welcomes Waynflete Friday and goes to Lewiston Monday.

Cheverus won its first four outings, holding off visiting Marshwood (18-15), rolling at Lake Region (17-2), at home over Deering (17-4) and at South Portland (16-2). In the opener, Lucy Johnson led the way with six goals, Sophia St. John scored three goals and added four assists, Taylor Krieger scored three times and Elle Cooney made 20 saves. The Stags had a showdown at Falmouth Tuesday (see our website for game story) and visit Gorham Thursday.

Deering lost its first three games, 11-10 to visiting Edward Little, 17-4 at Cheverus and 7-5 at home to Westbrook. The Rams hosted Windham Tuesday, welcome Cony Friday and go to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete was also seeking its first win at press time after starting with losses to visiting NYA (14-8), host Scarborough (14-11) and host Wells (7-5). Tilsley Kelly scored four times against the Panthers, but the Flyers couldn’t stop their second half surge.

“We did a lot of good things for a first game, but the yellow cards hurt us, we had too many turnovers and didn’t win draws,” said longtime Waynflete coach Cathie Connors. “A lot of that is fixable. When they went to a stall, we couldn’t respond. We haven’t had a lot of time to work on things.”

Kelly then scored seven goals in the loss to the Red Storm. Against the Warriors, Lydia Birknes had three goals and Kelly added a pair. The Flyers were at Class A power Yarmouth Monday, host Traip Academy Wednesday and visit Portland Friday.

“We just need more experience,” Connors said.

Outdoor track

On the track, Portland’s girls won the Sanford Relays last week, while Deering tied for sixth.

Portland’s boys were second behind South Portland while Deering placed eighth.

The Bulldogs were second combined, behind South Portland, while the Rams finished eighth.

Cheverus’ girls were second and the boys third at a four-team meet at Sanford last week.

Tennis

Waynflete’s perennial Class C state champion boys’ tennis team, seeking a 14th straight crown this season, started with a 4-1 loss to two-time Class B champion Yarmouth, then defeated Greely and Cape Elizabeth by 3-2 scores.

Waynflete’s girls, who got to the state final a year ago, opened with a 5-0 loss to Greely, then edged Cape Elizabeth, 3-2, and lost to Yarmouth, 3-2.

Portland’s boys won their first two matches, 4-1 over Gorham and 5-0 over Marshwood, then lost to Kennebunk (3-2) and Falmouth (5-0).

Portland’s girls dropped their first four matches, to Gorham (5-0), Marshwood (4-1), Sanford (5-0) and Falmouth (5-0).

Deering’s boys split their first four outings, beating Sanford and South Portland by 4-1 scores, while losing to Scarborough (3-2) and Thornton Academy (5-0).

Deering’s girls lost their first four matches, to Sanford (5-0), South Portland (4-0), Windham (5-0) and Thornton Academy (5-0).

Cheverus’ boys were 3-2 at press time after beating Westbrook, Bonny Eagle and Marshwood by 4-1 scores and losing to South Portland (3-2) and Thornton Academy (5-0).

The Stags girls began the week 2-2 after beating South Portland (3-2) and Westbrook (4-1) and losing to Thornton Academy and Bonny Eagle by a 3-2 score.

Press Herald staff writer Drew Bonifant contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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