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

Scarborough’s baseball team has gotten off to a fast start, downing visiting Falmouth (6-4), host Biddeford (3-1) and visiting Marshwood in eight-innings (5-4). Against the Navigators, Ashton Blanchette had two hits, including a two-run triple, and Harrison Griffiths, Erik Swenson and Zak Sanders combined to strand 15 base runners and earn the victory.

“We’re happy with the win,” said Scarborough coach Wes Ridlon. “It was good we were able to grind it out. It doesn’t have to be pretty. We capitalized when we had opportunities.”

In the win over the Tigers, Swenson earned the victory, Blanchette had two hits and Lewis Moynihan drove in the go-ahead run. Against the Hawks, the Red Storm rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it, capped by a Jason Laponis RBI single, then won it in the eighth on a Sanders double. Mason Porter earned the win in relief and also scored the decisive run. Scarborough was at Windham Wednesday, visits Sanford Friday, hosts Bonny Eagle Saturday and goes to Massabesic Monday.

“We just want to get better as the season goes on,” said Ridlon. “We’ll try to throw more strikes, put the ball in play and take advantage of extra outs.

South Portland started by blanking Westbrook, 4-0, as Andrew Heffernan threw a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, scored twice and drove in a run and Richie Gilboy, Nolan Hobbs and Nick Swain all had two hits. The Red Riots then lost in nine-innings at Noble (5-3) before bouncing back to blank host Massabesic (6-0) and visiting Biddeford (7-0). In the setback, Hobbs and Swain both had two hits and Gilboy and Heffernan had RBI, but South Portland let a 3-0 sixth inning lead slip away. Against the Mustangs, Heffernan threw a three-hitter with nine Ks and had an RBI single, while Gilboy added a pair of hits. In the win over the Tigers, Swain earned the victory with six scoreless innings and nine strikeouts. Hobbs had three hits, scored twice and produced an RBI. The Red Riots hosted Deering Thursday, have a key game at Thornton Academy Saturday in a rematch of last year’s regional final, then welcome Windham Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth won its first four games under new coach Don Dutton, beating visiting Old Orchard Beach (7-1), host York (6-4), visiting Fryeburg Academy (7-4) and visiting Freeport (2-1). Against the Seagulls, Curtis Sullivan threw a three-hitter and fanned 10, while Gabe Harmon had four hits and scored three times and Owen Tighe added two hits and two RBI. In the win over the Wildcats, Harmon homered, singled twice, drove in three runs and earned the save. Sullivan earned the victory and Jameson Bryant had two hits. Against the Raiders, Bryant earned the victory, Brady Inman and Andrew Choi each drove in two runs and Ben Altenburg had two hits. In the win over the Falcons, Andrew Libby stole home in the bottom of the seventh inning to end it. The Capers were home versus Mt. Ararat Wednesday, welcome Greely Friday (see our website for game story), visit Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and play host to Wells Monday of next week.

Softball

On the softball diamond, the first-year South Portland/Westbrook co-op team is off to a blistering 4-0 start under new coach Drew DiMauro, averaging 15 runs per contest. The squad opened with a 16-5, six-inning win at Massabesic, then blanked visiting Portland in five-innings (10-0), rolled in five-innings at Bonny Eagle (18-2), then blanked visiting Deering in five-innings (16-0). Against the Mustangs, Andrea DiMauro homered, singled twice, drove in three runs and earned the victory, while Ella Nickerson, Chloe Whitten and Delaney Whitten (who also homered) also had three hits. In the win over the Bulldogs, Baylie Littlefield threw a three-hitter, while Grace Wallace had two hits, including a triple. Against the Scots, Wallace hit a three-run homer, Madison Cole had three hits, DiMauro added two hits with four RBI and picked up the win and Delaney Whitten had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored. In the win over the Rams, Nickerson had four hits, scored three times, drove in three runs and DiMauro added three hits and four RBI while earning the victory. South Portland/Westbrook was at Portland Wednesday, hosts Massabesic Friday, welcomes reigning state champion Biddeford Saturday and goes to Kennebunk Monday of next week.

Scarborough is up to its usual tricks under new coach Liz Winslow, who replaced legendary coach Tom Griffin this spring. The Red Storm started with a 5-4 home win over Gorham, then beat visiting Cheverus (7-3), before rallying for a dramatic 6-4 victory at preseason favorite Windham. In the opener, Angelina Pizzella homered and Natalie Moynihan earned the win. Against the Stags, Moynihan doubled, tripled, scored three times and Jamie Kemper and Sasha Ouellette also had multiple hits. In the win over the Eagles, Scarborough was down to its last out when Pizzella tied the game with a two-run single. Alana Sawyer followed with a two-run home run. Moynihan, who earned the victory, drove in two runs and Samantha Cote had three hits. The Red Storm go to Noble Friday, visit Falmouth Saturday, play host to Marshwood Monday and visit Gorham Wednesday of next week.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth started with a 16-3 (five-inning) setback at York, then handed new coach Danica Gleason her first victory, 8-6 over visiting Fryeburg Academy, then her second, 9-8 over visiting Freeport. Against the Raiders, the Capers rallied from a 6-2 deficit, getting three RBI from Elsie Maxwell and two hits and two runs scored from Sophia Chung. In the win over the Falcons, Phoebe Caton had two hits, scored twice and earned the win in relief and Chung tripled. Cape Elizabeth was scheduled to host Mt. Ararat Wednesday and go to Greely Thursday (see our website for game story). The Capers visit Gray-New Gloucester Saturday, host Wells Monday and welcome Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ lacrosse team, the two-time reigning Class A champion, is off to a fast start this spring, winning its first five games. The Capers started with a hard-fought 10-6 home win over South Portland, then downed host Gorham (13-2), visiting Yarmouth (11-6), host Thornton Academy (7-4) and visiting Falmouth (9-7). Against the Red Riots, Sam Cochran scored three times, including the go-ahead strike.

“It’s a first game and it’s good to get it over with,” said longtime Capers’ coach Ben Raymond. “The best part of it is that we competed really hard and the kids worked really hard. It was pretty ugly at times for both teams. I’d guess both teams will be a lot better later in the season.”

In the win over the Clippers, Cape Elizabeth erased a halftime deficit and got four goals from Keegan Lathrop.

“We were more clear about things at halftime and what we wanted to do on the defensive end,” Raymond said. “We hadn’t really prepared an awful lot. We showed up and played.”

Against the Navigators, in a rematch of last year’s state final, seven different players scored, with Bobby Offit and Alex van Huystee leading the way with two goals apiece.

“It’s good to have competitive games,” said Raymond. “It forces our guys to be in pressure situations. We did a pretty good job.”

The Capers hosted Messalonskee Thursday, go to Scarborough Saturday and visit Yarmouth Wednesday of next week.

“(All the top) teams are pretty even,” Raymond said. “All the teams have some strengths. I think Falmouth’s probably the most complete of the teams we’ve played. On any given day, it depends who makes mistakes, who picks up ground balls.”

South Portland started with a 10-6 loss at Cape Elizabeth, then held off host Thornton Academy (5-4) and beat host Massabesic (18-0) and North Yarmouth Academy (13-9) before improving to 4-1 Saturday with a 12-3 home victory over longtime nemesis Scarborough. Against the Capers, Brady Demers had three goals and goalie Ben Kieu made 15 saves, but the Red Riots fell short.

“There’s a lot of positives to take from this,” said South Portland coach Dan Hanley. “We didn’t play our best game. The intensity was there. The guys have looked forward to this since we saw the schedule. We had a tough game here last year and it was motivation to see them to start the season.”

In the win over the Golden Trojans, Lucas Mehlhorn scored twice in the fourth quarter and Kieu stopped 11 shots.

“It’s huge as a confidence-boost for the guys,” said Hanley. “We felt like we should be able to compete. We played two of the top teams at the start and to be right with them and eke out this close game, it’s something to build off.”

Demers had five goals and Beckett Mehlhorn three in the victory over the Panthers. Against the Red Storm, Beckett Mehlhorn had three goals and four assists.

“Last year, they beat us, so our mentality was to get our revenge,” said Beckett Mehlhorn. “Ever since (Cape), we’ve wanted to show we’re one of the best teams in the state.”

“It’s nice to play on this field and we take pride in being great on our grass,” said Hanley. “It’s a rivalry game. I had never beaten them. The guys are always fired up for this one. The score wasn’t close, but it was still competitive and the guys played hard.”

The Red Riots hosted Deering Wednesday, go to two-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete Saturday (see our website for game story) and welcome Windham Tuesday of next week.

“We’re viewed as a top team in the state and we know we’re going to get everyone’s best game,” Hanley said. “That’s an adjustment for the group from two years ago that was the underdog every game. We’re learning to focus on us more than just focusing on the opponent.”

Scarborough started with losses at Marshwood (9-4) and Brunswick (13-7) and at home to Windham (14-5). After a 15-5 win at Deering, the Red Storm fell to 1-4 after a 12-3 loss at South Portland. Olin Pedersen scored twice and goalie Ben Kerbel made 18 saves against the Red Riots, but Scarborough turned the ball over 34 times.

“This year is about growing and learning and developing,” Red Storm coach Zach Barrett said. “I don’t know how many times we’ll have to make the mistakes to learn from them. We know we’re making them and the guys are getting frustrated, but I hope we learn from them and grow from them.”

Scarborough was home versus Bonny Eagle Wednesday, welcomes Cape Elizabeth Saturday and plays host to Gorham Wednesday of next week.

“At this point, we really hope to get into the playoffs,” Barrett said. “It would be a good experience for the younger guys.”

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Scarborough started with a 12-7 home loss to Thornton Academy. Fiona Betters and Jaya Sahney both scored twice, but the Red Storm couldn’t erase an early deficit in Taylor Colangelo’s debut as coach.

“It’s a good starting point for us,” Colangelo said. “I’m not mad at the result. The girls fought.”

Scarborough then held off visiting Waynflete (14-11), lost at Windham (11-5), downed host Bonny Eagle (14-6) and Tuesday fell to 2-3 after a 10-7 home loss to Gorham. Olivia O’Brien had four goals in the win over the Scots. Against the Rams, Molly Henderson scored five times. The Red Storm play at Yarmouth Friday and host Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

“I love the girls,” said Colangelo. “They bring the energy all the time. As a new coach, it’s about creating a culture and making sure that they love each other on the field just as much as they do off the field. They support each other. They have good energy. That’s something you can’t teach.”

Cape Elizabeth started with losses at Yarmouth (14-3) and Gorham (9-8), then beat visiting Massabesic (6-5) before falling to 1-3 with an 11-10 home loss to York Tuesday. In the win, Phoebe Altenburg scored twice and Laura Clark had a goal and three assists. The Capers host two-time reigning Class A champion Kennebunk, riding a 38-game win streak, Friday, then go to Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

South Portland started with a 9-8 setback at Lake Region, then lost at home to Sanford (8-3), at Morse (11-9), at home to Cheverus (16-2) and York (16-5) and at Portland (12-3). Lauren Steady scored twice against the Spartans. Rain Jordan and Amelia Saunders both had two goals in the loss to the Wildcats. Against the Bulldogs, Jordan scored twice and goalie Jenna Trafford made 15 saves. The Red Riots go to Thornton Academy Friday and host Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Outdoor track

On the track, Scarborough’s highly-touted boys and girls swept a four-team meet Monday, defeating Gorham, Kennebunk and Noble.

South Portland hosted Scarborough and Bonny Eagle to open the season. The Red Riots boys were first with the Red Storm finishing third. Scarborough’s girls came in first and South Portland placed second.

Cape Elizabeth hosted Freeport, Lake Region, NYA, Poland and St. Dom’s. The Capers boys and girls both finished third (Freeport was first).

Tennis

Scarborough’s girls’ tennis team started with wins over Gorham (4-1) and Deering (5-0).

The Red Storm boys also beat Gorham and Deering to start the season, edging each team, 3-2.

South Portland’s boys opened with wins over Cheverus (3-2) and Biddeford (3-0) and after losing to Deering (4-1) and Kennebunk (4-1), downed Windham (5-0) and Gorham (3-2).

The Red Riots girls blanked Deering and Biddeford and lost to Cheverus (3-2) and Gorham (3-2).

Cape Elizabeth’s boys were 3-2 at press time, beating Greely (4-1), NYA (4-1) and Lake Region (5-0) and losing only to two-time Class B champion Yarmouth (4-1) and 13-time Class C champion Waynflete (3-2).

The Capers started with losses to Greely (4-1) and Waynflete (3-2), then defeated NYA (5-0) and Yarmouth (3-2).

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

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