South Portland High School

2007 varsity spring sports preview

Baseball

Coach: Tony DiBiase

Last year: The Red Riots finished the year at 6-10 after reaching the West A prelim round.

Players to watch: Seniors Josh Garneau (P), Coleman Findley (P), Montana Colby (3B), Tyler Kelly (1B). Juniors Will Furbush (2B/SS), DJ St. Cyr (P). Sophomores John Carey (2B), Ed Bogdanovich (P), and Chris Gorham (P).

Outlook: The Red Riots will again be in the mix come playoff time this year and that’s just the way they want it.

“We’ve made the playoffs eight years in a row and we want to continue that streak,” said Coach DiBiase. “Pitching and defense will be our strong point. Our defense will be excellent, especially in the infield.

“The key (to the season) will be determined by our ability to hit the ball. If we hit we’ll be one of the top teams in the league.”

Softball

Coach: Jim Hartman

Last year: The Red Riots lost to Biddeford in the West A regional final by a slim 2-1 margin.

Players to watch: Seniors – Christina Aceto (OF/1B), Jackie Rice (3B), Kristina Aceto (OF/P), Jamie Harmon (C). Juniors – Julie DiMatteo (P), Kelsey Flaherty (SS), Kayla Ferrara. Sophomores – Lauren Tuttle (P), Alyssa Thomes (2B), Stephanie Thibeault, and Bethany Harmon.

Outlook: The Red Riots went to the state championship game in 2005 and they narrowly missed out on another opportunity to do the same last spring. This is a talented squad that will be knocking on the door again this season as one of the top teams in the region.

“These girls just love to compete,” said Coach Hartman. “Everyone’s gained from that experience (last year’s regional final loss). It’s on our mind to get over that hump again (and get to the state championship game).”

Boys lacrosse

Coach: Mike Edgar (2nd year)

Last year: The Red Riots were the No. 4 seed in the West A tourney. They topped Thornton in a regional quarterfinal before losing to the eventual state champions from Scarborough in a semifinal.

Players to watch: Seniors John Linscott (MF), Joe Martin (D), Eugene Arsenault (attack), and Sean Murray (MF).

Outlook: “We have a good core of returning players mixed with a lot of younger players.,” said Coach Edgar. “We should be very competitive. We have the largest numbers to date at 47 kids out for the team. In addition we have 50 kids out for grades 3-6.”

Girls lacrosse

Coach: Bethany McCauley (2nd year) and Bill Fenton begins his first year as the junior varsity coach.

Last year: The Red Riots ended the year at 3-8, just missing out on the tournament.

Players to watch: Seniors – Rachel Meyer, Sharon Johnson, Katie Vercoe, Cortney Babbidge, Angela Giordano, Kara McCutcheon. Juniors – Claire Lewis, Sarah Violette, Christina DiSanto, Erin Stilphen, Katherine Ambrose. Sophomores – Amber Creswell, Annie King, Kim Loeffel, Renee LaPlante, Cassie Lyons, Erika Waterhouse.

Freshman – Kate Lagios.

Outlook: “We have a lot of returning players who worked really hard in the off season,” said Coach McCauley. “They are a great group of girls with a strong work ethic and want to be pushed and challenged this year.”

Boys tennis

Coach: Cory Snow (fifth year)

Last year: The Riots had a 3-8 regular season.

Players to watch: According to Coach Snow – “Junior Nick Lagios will likely play singles after a strong first year on the team. Tanner Burgdorf played varsity doubles as a freshman in 2006. He will also contend for a singles spot. Sophomore Baxter Key showed strong promise last year before an injury sidelined him. And senior Taavet Kiidli, a four-year veteran on the team, should work into the varsity mix.”

Outlook: “We lost our top four, and five total out of the seven varsity slots, to graduation, so we have some work to do,” said Coach Snow. “With only two seniors this year, the underclassmen will have to carry the workload and the much of the leadership responsibilities. We may surprise a few teams and compete for the final playoff spot.”

Girls tennis

Coach: Elizabeth Scifres

Last year: The Red Riots reached the West A prelim round as the No. 11 seed.

Players to watch: Lauren Arsenault, Meg Bagley, Becky Braley, Sophie Boyce, Dory Crowley, Albie Gingrich, Kaycee Hendricks,

Brianna Jaro, Meg Lundgren, Patricia Lusty, Courtney Perruzz and

Jessica Perruzzi.

Outlook: The Riots will look to qualify for the post-season once again as they take to the courts with a mixture of veterans and underclassmen.

Boys track

Coach:

Last year:

Athletes to watch:

Girls track

Coach: Bob Zinchuk (21st year)

Last year: 11-3 regular season, third in SMAA conference championship, and 16th in Class A state meet.

Top returning athletes: Seniors – Lindsay Soule (SMAA 300 hurdle champion), Ali Kill (distance), Kathryn Card (100 and 300 hurdles), Cassy Terry (jumps), Ayan Jama (100 and 200). Juniors – Olivia Hendry (distance), Ali Reddy (high jump, 400), Erin Coyne (800), Chanel Cardone (200 and 400), Kendall Morong (distance), Lindsay Boyle (distance). Sophomores – Kirsten Bakke (distance), Abbey Cook (distance, throws), Kim Roast (sprints), Tia Brown (sprints), Meghan Gallagher (triple jump, 400), Adrienne Legere (pole vault).

Outlook: “A great mixture of veterans and novices. We will learn to compete and have fun,” said Coach Zinchuk.

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