It’s not often in Maine high school baseball when two Division I-bound players oppose each other on the mound.

That was the case last Thursday when defending Class A state champion Cheverus played at Marshwood.

Additional Photos

Cheverus, the reigning Class A baseball state champion, suffered its first loss of the season Thursday, as ace pitcher Louie DiStasio gave up six runs against Marshwood. Photos by John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Luke Fernandes was supposed to be on a 70-pitch count against Cheverus, but he threw 101 pitches and didn’t allow a run after the first inning in Marshwood’s 6-3 victory.

The pitchers were Luke Fernandes of Marshwood and Louie DiStasio of Cheverus. Fernandes is headed to Boston College, and DiStasio is going to the University of Rhode Island, both on scholarship.

DiStasio had the early edge until Fernandes settled down and pitched hitless ball in the middle innings. Marshwood won the battle of projected Telegram League powers, 6-3.

Since dropping its opener, the Hawks have won three straight, with their latest victory, a 3-1 win over Portland on Saturday.

Jack Verrill tossed a three-hitter against Portland.

Verrill, who plays first base when he doesn’t pitch, is headed to the United States Military Academy. He had a three-run homer and a double against the Stags.

Fernandes will likely pitch in college, while DiStasio will probably play the field, although if he keeps improving as a pitcher, he could see some mound duty for the Rams.

Fernandes, who didn’t pitch last year because of a sore arm, threw 101 pitches against Cheverus (3-1).

Coach Eric Fernandes, his father, said before the game that his son was going to be limited to around 70 pitches.

Fernandes said his arm felt fine, which enabled him to pitch into the seventh before Verrill relieved and got the final two outs.

AT A FOUR-WAY track meet Friday at Wells High, the Greely girls dominated the field events on the way to a victory over Gray-New Gloucester, Sacopee Valley and Wells.

Emily Saunders, a freshman, won the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 8 inches; the long jump with a leap of 14-9; and the triple jump with a mark of 32-6½.

Cassidy Storey took first in the shot put (30-0) and discus (90-5), and Emily Curato won the pole vault (7-6).

ENTRIES FOR THE state singles tennis tournament are due Tuesday, with regional qualifying scheduled for May 12.

Both tournaments, if not wide open, certainly have several players with a legitimate shot at the title.

Falmouth sophomore Justin Brogan, the boys’ runner-up last year, already has a win over defending champion Patrick Ordway, a Waynflete junior, by a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Three days later, Cape Elizabeth junior Matt Gilman, a singles semifinalist last spring, knocked off Brogan 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. Both matches were played in cold and windy conditions, but they serve as a reminder of how competitive the top players are with each other.

“Both will play better when conditions improve,” Waynflete Coach Jeff Madore said of Ordway and Brogan.

Lincoln Academy junior Jordan Friedland, a quarterfinalist a year ago who is often mentioned as one of the most improved players this spring, is unbeaten but was extended to three sets by Sam Leeman of Morse. Bonny Eagle senior Tyler Adams, who still hasn’t dropped a set in four years of SMAA action, will also be a factor.

On the girls’ side, runner-up Maisie Silverman, a Brunswick sophomore, opened her season by winning 24 of her first 25 games. If Scarborough senior Kasia Jania isn’t able to play because of her wrist injury, it will be interesting to see whether anyone other than the Falmouth trio of seniors Annie Criscione and Analise Kump and freshman Olivia Leavitt can join Silverman in the semifinals.

SPEAKING OF BRISK early season conditions, Madore said the best advice he ever received came from the sagacious Sonja Frey, who retired last June after 25 years at Gorham High.

“She said bring more clothing to matches than you ever think you will need,” Madore said. “She followed it up by saying, ‘I mean winter clothing.’ “

THE WINDBLOWN TENNIS courts at Cape Elizabeth have a row of 16 pine trees behind the baselines on one side. They might serve as effective barriers if not for the ill-advised decision a few years ago by the town to trim the lower branches, up to a height of six feet.

Capers Coach Andy Strout said one possible solution may be for the green fabric fencing festooned with TD Banknorth logos used for the Beach to Beacon road race to be recycled as windscreens around the tennis courts, now that the race’s main sponsor has changed its name by dropping the ‘north’ to become TD Bank.

— Staff Writers Tom Chard, Deirdre Fleming and Glenn Jordan contributed to this report.

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