As the championship month of June gets closer and closer, the spring sports season is getting more interesting by the day.
Another week of drama has passed and there is much to look forward to in the days to come.
Here’s a glimpse:
Baseball
Portland pitcher Sam Payne throws a strike during last week’s home win over Windham. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster
Portland’s baseball team has discovered its offense just in time.
The Bulldogs had lost four games in a row entering last week, but a return to Hadlock Field was just what the doctor ordered, as Portland beat visiting Scarborough (4-3), Windham (15-1, in five innings) and Massabesic (21-3, in five innings). Against the Red Storm, in a rematch of the Bulldogs’ playoff upset from last spring, Colby Winship earned the victory, James Gignac had a two-run single and Andrew Brewer’s RBI single produced the winning run. In the win over the Eagles, Brewer hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run and a two-run triple in a 12-run third inning, and he also made a terrific running catch in the outfield. Sam Payne earned the victory.
“This shows how we can really swing the bat,” Brewer said. “We haven’t really proven how we can swing it until today. The ball carried more today and there were more hits.”
“We haven’t had a game like this in a long time,” Portland coach Mike Rutherford said. “It’s actually been years. We had been swinging the bat really well. Even in our losses, we’ve had good at-bats. We just hadn’t had bleeder hits and teams haven’t made mistakes.”
The Bulldogs then erupted even more against the Mustangs, tallying a mindboggling 18 runs in the fourth inning. Grant Crosby had three hits, including a bases-loaded triple. Brewer and Carter Page added three hits apiece. Liam Fay-LeBlanc earned the win. Portland improved to 5-4-1 and was eighth in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time. The Bulldogs were at Bonny Eagle Tuesday, visit Kennebunk Thursday and take on Deering at Hadlock Field Tuesday of next week.
“I knew we wouldn’t be in the top four this year, but I thought we’d be in the next four, and if we finish strong, we’ll be there,” Rutherford said. “We’re not afraid of anybody.”
Speaking of Deering, the Rams got in the win column twice last week. After dropping its first seven contests, Deering sandwiched victories over host Windham (4-3) and visiting Bonny Eagle (6-2) around a 12-0, five-inning home loss to Westbrook. Against the Eagles, the Rams scored three times in the top of the seventh to rally for the victory. Qwest Newhall had a pair of RBI and Conner Coleman earned the win in relief. Deering then had no answers for Blue Blazes ace Bronson Damon, who no-hit them. Coleman took the loss.
“(Westbrook’s) really good and that pitcher is tough,” Rams coach Ryan Martin said. “It’s tough when you don’t get base runners and you can’t score, but our kids do keep fighting and keep playing one pitch at a team. We got better today and that was our goal.”
Deering then knocked off the Scots, as Avery Lawrence earned the victory, striking out eight, and he added a pair of hits. The Rams (2-8 and 15th in Class A South at press time) were at Biddeford Tuesday, visit Massabesic Thursday and meet Portland Tuesday of next week.
“The guys compete and we’re getting better each day,” Martin said. “Progress is night and day from last year to this year. We’re making routine plays, having better at-bats and we’re putting the ball in play more.”
Cheverus was 4-5 and sixth in Class A South at press time following a 5-4 win at Marshwood, a 6-1 home loss to Falmouth and a 13-12 home win over Sanford. Against the Hawks, the Stags scored twice in the seventh for a come-from-behind victory, as Chris Murphy, Richie Tremble and Braeden Watson all had two hits and Peyton Mitchell earned the win in relief. Brian Connolly had a couple hits in the loss to the Navigators. Jacob Lucier took the loss.
“I thought Jacob pitched a very good ballgame,” Cheverus coach Tony DiBiase said. “We didn’t really help him much defensively.”
In the win over the Spartans, the Stags let a seven-run lead slip away, but eked out a victory, as Watson had three hits and Orion Guibord and Noah Kennedy-Jensen had two apiece. Cheverus was at Thornton Academy Tuesday, hosts Scarborough Thursday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), welcomes Windham Saturday and visits Biddeford Tuesday of next week.
In Class C South, the Waynflete-North Yarmouth Academy co-op squad began the week fourth in the Heals at 6-3 beating visiting Old Orchard Beach (7-1) and visiting Maranacook (5-0) and losing at Sacopee Valley (9-5) last week. In the win over the Black Bears, Payton Smith pitched a two-hitter and Daxton St. Hilaire collected three hits. Liam Slocumb had a pair of hits in the setback. Waynflete/NYA was home versus Traip Academy Monday, hosts St. Dom’s Wednesday, welcomes Maine Central Institute for a doubleheader Saturday, then travels to Old Orchard Beach Monday of next week.
Softball
Portland’s softball team snapped a two-game skid last Monday with a 5-3 victory at Massabesic to improve to 6-2 and sixth in Class A South. Hannah Hawkes had a pair of hits and scored twice. The Bulldogs were at South Portland Monday, host Scarborough Thursday, visit Westbrook Friday and welcome Thornton Academy Monday of next week.
Cheverus was 2-5 and 10th in Class A South following a 13-0 (five-inning) home loss to Windham and a 9-0 home victory over Bonny Eagle. After managing just one hit against the Eagles, the Stags hit a pair of home runs versus the Scots, as Kali England and Kadynne Smith went deep. Ashley Connor threw a one-hitter for the victory. Cheverus was home versus Falmouth Monday and home against Thornton Academy Tuesday, goes to Deering Wednesday, hosts red-hot Kennebunk Friday and visits Gorham Monday of next week.
Deering fell to 0-9 and 15th in Class A South after being beaten by visiting Westbrook (17-4, in six innings), host Bonny Eagle (21-2, in five innings) and visiting Biddeford (31-0, in five innings) last week. The Rams host Cheverus Wednesday and welcome Gorham Friday, then play at Falmouth Monday.
Boys’ lacrosse
Waynflete’s reigning Class C state champion boys’ lacrosse team beat visiting Lake Region, 15-1, last Tuesday, then fell to 3-4 and sixth in the Heals with an 8-3 home loss to Windham. In the win, Seth Cloutier scored seven goals and Jacob Woodman added three. The Flyers were home versus Traip Academy Tuesday, visit Fryeburg Academy Wednesday, go to Gray-New Gloucester/Poland Friday and return home next Monday to battle two-time defending Class B champion Yarmouth.
In Class A North, Portland was 2-5 and fourth following losses at Bangor (9-4) and at home to reigning Class A North champion Falmouth (13-2). The Bulldogs hope to snap a five-game skid Wednesday at South Portland, go to Deering Friday and host Scarborough Saturday.
Deering got in the win column Friday, holding off visiting Fryeburg Academy, 4-3, to improve to 1-5 and seventh in Class A North. Andrew Burke scored all four goals and goalie Aidan Foss made 22 saves. The Rams hosted Cheverus Tuesday, welcome Portland Friday and go to Windham Tuesday of next week.
Cheverus was 2-5 and eighth in Class A North after losses to visiting Cony (16-11) and at Noble (12-9). After visiting Deering Tuesday, the Stags welcome Windham Friday and go to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.
Girls’ lacrosse
Waynflete sophomore Morgan Earls defends Freeport junior Kate Tracy during the Falcons’ 6-4 victory Friday. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster
On the girls’ side, Waynflete, the reigning Class C champion, had a tough week, in more ways than one. On the field, the Flyers fell at Greely (12-4) and at home to Freeport (6-4) in a rematch of last year’s state game, but of far greater importance, the team lost senior standout Jesse Connors to a broken ankle against the Rangers, and as a result, Waynflete’s leading scorer and heart and soul will be sidelined the rest of the season. Tilsley Kelly scored twice in both losses. Against the Falcons, the Flyers played valiantly, as Morgan Earls and Lolie Millspaugh also scored and goalie Emily Girard stopped seven shots, but they fell just short.
“I’m very proud,” Waynflete coach Cathie Connors said. “The girls played so hard today. To play this well with all the changes we had to make, I thought it would take longer, so this is beyond my wildest dreams. We just said, ‘This is what we have to do’ and we did it. We made some changes in practice and all the girls listened. None of us feel like we’re done. We’re all going to pull together. We have 16 able bodies right now and we can do it.”
The Flyers (4-3 and fifth in the Class C Heals) hope to get back on track Wednesday at Gray-New Gloucester. Waynflete hosts reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and welcomes St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.
“We just have to keep on keeping on,” Connors said. “Hopefully we play (Freeport) again. That’s the goal. This is a huge confidence boost.”
In Class A North, Cheverus was 5-3 and fourth following a 10-9 overtime loss at Windham last week. Riley O’Mara had five goals and Lucy Johnson added three. The Stags host Portland Wednesday and go to Westbrook Monday.
Deering fell at home to Biddeford last Tuesday, 18-3, then improved to 2-5 and eighth in Class A North with a 10-9 victory at Portland Friday. The Rams host Noble Wednesday and welcome Bonny Eagle Friday.
Portland fell to 1-6 and ninth in Class A North following a 10-9 home loss to Deering Friday. The Bulldogs are at Cheverus Wednesday and visit Scarborough Friday.
Outdoor track
On the track, Deering and Portland did battle along with Westbrook last Thursday at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The Bulldogs boys and girls each finished first and the Rams boys and girls were both third.
Cheverus hosted Kennebunk and Thornton Academy last week. The Stags boys and girls both finished third.
Tennis
Waynflete’s boys’ tennis team, the 13-time reigning state champion, evened its record at 4-4 after a 4-1 home win over York Friday.
The Flyers girls were also 4-4 after beating Greely and York by 3-2 scores last week.
Portland’s boys improved to 7-2 after downing Gorham (4-1) and South Portland (3-2) last week.
The Bulldogs girls fell to 1-8 after losing to Gorham (5-0) and South Portland (4-1) last week.
Deering’s boys brought a 3-2 record into Monday’s match against defending Class A champion Kennebunk.
The Rams girls earned the first victory Thursday, improving to 1-7 after a 5-0 win over Westbrook.
Cheverus’ boys stretched their win streak to four matches and improved to 6-2 after downing South Portland (3-2) and Sanford (5-0) last week.
The Stags girls were 5-3 after a 5-0 win over South Portland and a 4-1 loss to Scarborough.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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