The final Western Class A Heal point standings reflected the closeness of the regular season. Unlike recent years, when Deering had a wide margin at the top, this year’s standings were bunched.

Deering downed Cheverus 3-0 on Wednesday to move from third to first, barely ahead of No. 2 Scarborough and No. 3 Bonny Eagle.

Despite losing to Deering, it looked like Cheverus had moved up a spot to No. 7. But that was before the Sanford-Noble game was figured in. Sanford’s 6-0 win enabled Biddeford to finish seventh, dropping the Stags back to eighth.

That means Deering and Cheverus will meet in a quarterfinal next Thursday.

Other quarterfinals Thursday: Biddeford at Scarborough, Bonny Eagle at Windham and South Portland at Westbrook.

 

THORNTON ACADEMY won 10 games this season and didn’t make the Western Class A playoffs. Normally a team that wins 10 is a lock. Bonny Eagle had the same 10-6 record and finished third.

“I think this was one of the better teams we had in terms of kids playing together and being motivated,” said Thornton Coach Greg Paradis. “We had players who could pitch and hit. It would have been fun to be involved. Even though we didn’t make the playoffs, I like the format of eight teams making the playoffs. It makes the regular season more meaningful, which is the way it should be.”

Thornton’s downfall was losing to Westbrook, Cheverus and Scarborough after taking early leads. The Trojans lost to Marshwood and Scarborough in the last week, sealing their fate.

Paradis is stepping down as head coach after 10 seasons to devote more time to furthering his education and to his young family. He is a dean of students at the school.

 

MARSHWOOD WAS one of the league’s hottest teams in the last two-thirds of the season. Until a 9-5 loss to Kennebunk on Wednesday, it won eight of its previous 11 games. Marshwood ended in 10th place.

 

IN WESTERN Class B, No. 1 Cape Elizabeth and No. 2 Yarmouth are the clear leaders. They finished with 15-1 records, losing only to each other.

 

WESTBROOK WILL be at Deering and Bonny Eagle at Scarborough in the Telegram League semifinals at 11 a.m. Saturday.

There’s been a slight change from the original schedule, with the final now scheduled for Scarborough at 3 p.m.

The league is combining its league championship series into one day for the first time because of a Maine Principals’ Association rule that restricts schools to one non-countable date prior to the regional playoffs.

Leagues that don’t have playoffs or teams not in a league playoff can use the date to play an exhibition to prepare for the regionals. Cape Elizabeth and South Portland will play an exhibition Monday.

Prior to the season, teams were allowed five none-countable dates.

 

OXFORD HILLS catcher Matt Verrier has been named the Gatorade Maine Baseball Player of the Year. Verrier, the first winner from Oxford Hills, has a .487 batting average with two home runs and 25 RBI. He signed to play at the University of Maine.

“Verrier has the whole package of skills,” said Scott Annear, head coach of Edward Little.

“He’s great behind the plate with solid mechanics and a great arm. He has excellent power as a hitter and he makes great adjustments.

 

CAPE ELIZABETH and Greely moved their regular-season finale up a day to Tuesday and changed locations.

The Western Maine Conference Class B rivals moved their game to The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach.

The game originally was scheduled Wednesday at Greely.

“Greely called us last Friday and asked if we were interested in playing at The Ballpark,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Chris Hayward. “We said sure. We loved the consistency of the grass and the infield dirt. The lighting was great.”

The Capers downed the Rangers, 5-2.

The Greely baseball boosters paid $250 to rent the field for the night game.

“The kids loved it,” said Greely Coach Derek Soule. “It was a real clean game with only one error. The players really stepped up. I think the environment had something to do with it.

“They’ve done a tremendous job revitalizing the stadium. The playing surface is beautiful. There were no bad hops.”

It was Greely’s second game in less than a week at The Ballpark.

The Rangers beat Traip Academy 8-1 in Old Orchard Beach on May 26.

 

WILL PIERCE of Cape Elizabeth was awarded the Rupert Johnson Award from the Western Maine Board of Umpires as the top player/sportsman in Class B of the Western Maine Conference. Pierce leads the Capers with a .511 batting average. Pierce, who bats third, has four doubles, a triple, 11 RBI and 14 runs.

He also has a 3-0 record as pitcher with 29 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Pierce, a top student, plans to attend Georgetown.

 

CAPE ELIZABETH left-hander Conor Moloney, who has a 3-0 record, hasn’t allowed an earned run in 362/3 innings. He has 44 strikeouts.

 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com