South Portland’s Andrew Heffernan threw a complete game against Thornton Academy in the Class A South final, and will get the start against Edward Little in the state championship game. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
CLASS A
Who: Edward Little (12-7) vs. South Portland (16-3)
When: 3 p.m. Tuesday
Where: University of Southern Maine, Gorham
Outlook: South Portland, the No. 2 seed in the South, is back in the state final after winning the 2021 title. In Coach Mike Owens’ 12 seasons, the Red Riots have been to three state finals (losing in 2015) and six regional finals. … With rain forcing postponement of the title games from Saturday to Tuesday, pitch-count restrictions are a non-factor. That means South Portland will start Gatorade Maine Player of the Year Andrew Heffernan (6-2, 0.44 ERA, 89 strikeouts, four walks over 64 innings). Seniors Nolan Hobbs (2.18 ERA) and Nick Swain (5-0, 1 save, 0.89 ERA) are available should Heffernan need help. Those three, along with fellow seniors Johnny Poole (team-high 20 runs), the shortstop and leadoff hitter, and Richie Gilboy (.327 average, 13 RBI), a catcher/third baseman, are the top five hitters in the lineup. Heffernan (.413, nine extra-base hits) and Hobbs (.407) each have driven in 16 runs. Freshman outfielder Hudson Iacuessa (.272, 10 runs, 10 RBI) has helped. … Edward Little was the eighth seed in the North after a 3-5 start to the season but is on a roll, knocking off No. 1 Brewer in a regional quarterfinal and No. 7 Bangor, which had won seven of the past eight regional titles, in the North final. Hard-throwing UConn commit Drew Smith is likely to get the start for the Red Eddies, who are making their first title game appearance since winning Class A in 1992. Smith is prone to wildness (32 walks in 39 1/3 innings, 3.03 ERA). Expect Cassidy Campbell (1.49 ERA), who led the team with 42 1/3 innings, and/or Brady Vincent (5-1, 3.35 ERA) to also pitch. Vincent (.333, 11 RBI), Campbell (.309, 14 runs) and Smith (.286, team-high 13 RBI) have been Edward Little’s top offensive producers, with TJ Kamarz (.345), Kade Masselli (.306) and Eli St. Laurent (.300) lengthening the lineup.
Yarmouth’s Liam Hickey heads into the Class B title game with a 6-2 record and a 0.55 ERA. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer
CLASS B
Who: Yarmouth (14-5) vs. Old Town (16-3)
When: 3 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Mansfield Stadium, Bangor
Outlook: With the postponement from Saturday, Yarmouth gets to start ace Liam Hickey (6-2, 0.55 ERA). Old Town, the 2021 Class B champions, will counter with Mr. Maine Baseball finalist and 2022 Varsity Maine All-State selection Gabe Gifford. Gifford, a senior lefty and UMaine commit, struck out 137 batters in 55 2/3 innings while going 9-0 in 10 starts with a 0.88 ERA. Yarmouth will need to be patient at the plate. Gifford has walked 35 batters. … Yarmouth is making its first Class B final appearance since beating Old Town in 2017. Adam Cheever, the team’s top relief pitcher, and David Swift have led the Clippers’ offense. Cheever is hitting .426, while Swift is batting .429 with 19 RBI and eight extra-base hits, including a three-run homer in the first inning of Yarmouth’s 4-2 win against Cape Elizabeth in the South final. Steve Walsh (.278), leadoff hitter Matt Gautreau (.255, .377 on-base percentage) and catcher Graeme Roux (.263) have also contributed offensively. … Statistically, the Coyotes have the deeper lineup. Five hitters boast on-base percentages above .470 and seven have driven in at least 11 runs. Gifford is hitting .523 (.608 OBP) with six doubles, five triples, a homer and 27 runs, and is 23 for 23 on steal attempts. Jackson Lizotte (.357 average) and Brendan Mahoney (.350, 15 RBI) have extra-base pop. Preston Vose leads Old Town with 16 RBI despite hitting .226.
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