Baseball

Coach: Jim Cronin (3rd season)

Last year’s record: 8-8-lost an extra-inning game to Portland in the prelim round

Key players: Senior captains-Chris Bernard-P, Bernard averaged .392 in 2008 with a 4-3 record and a 2.83 ERA and Jimmy Rouse-SS/OF/P, batted .333 in 2008 and led the team with eight stolen bases.

Seniors: Ian Ramsdell-3B/OF, won 2008 SMAA batting title with a .490 avg. and Neal Ravin-OF. Juniors: Jacob Rutt-C/P Rutt hit .548 in just nine games last year; Andrew Myers-P; Brendan Sullivan-OF/2B, hit .319 and made no errors and made SMAA all-rookie team as an outfielder.

Season outlook: While he was satisfied with his team’s offense last season, Cronin said the Red Storm’s defense was problematic at times and he said he would be stressing defense this season. “We lost some close games last year because of defense,” he said.

Cronin said he has an experienced team and is optimistic about the Storm’s chances in the playoffs this season. “We have all our core players back from last year and we have some solid younger players,” he said. “We want to improve on our record from last year and go deeper into the playoffs and with this group of guys, I think we can get it done. They are serious baseball players, the kind of guys who love to play the game.”

Softball

Coach: Tom Griffin (20th season)

Last year’s record: 20-1, SMAA champions, lost 3-1 to Biddeford in the Western Maine finals.

Key players: Catie Funk (senior)-3B, SMAA player of the year – All-State selection

Melissa Dellatorre (junior)-P, SMAA pitcher of the year – All-State selection

Heather Carrier (junior) C-SMAA All-Star catcher

Season outlook: With both the SMAA player and pitcher of the year returning to the Red Storm this season, and an infusion of some fresh, young talent, the Scarborough softball team will once again be one of the top contenders in Class A this season. Last year, the Storm came up short of the regional title and Griffin said the team wants to get over that hump this season. “We feel that we have the talent to compete for a state championship,” Griffin said. “We have most of the team back from last year and we have added some talented freshman to the team.

Griffin said he believes the Storm can be a better offensive team than it was last season and he feels the team is more athletic than it was last year, which will help as the Storm will be facing a demanding schedule this year.

Boys lacrosse

Coach: Joe Hezlep (2nd season)

Last year’s record: 14-2, won the Class A state championship

Key players: Seniors: Jake Barrett, attack-first team All-Conference in 2008; Brenden Ham, attack; Danny Clark, midfield- first team All-Conference in 2008; Jimmy Soules, midfield; James Wright, midfield and Peter Tuma, defense.

Season outlook: Defending a state title is never an easy task, especially when you lose 16 seniors to graduation, but Hezlep said the Red Storm will have the experience to go far once again this spring, especially since even with all the graduation losses, the team still has many experienced players. “We return many key players from last year’s team and will look to them early and often to set the tone for this year’s team,” Hezlep said. “We should go as far as the senior leadership will take us.”

One position of concern is goaltender. Last year’s goalie, Joe Kennedy, has graduated, and Hezelp said the position is “wide open” this season.

Girls lacrosse

Coach: Marcia Wood (5th season)

Last year’s record: 12-3, lost in overtime to Kennebunk in the Western Maine finals

Key players: Senior captains: Erin McElwain-midfield, Chelsea Barrett-midfield and Megan Cowie. Juniors: Ellie Morin-midfield (2008 2nd team All-Conference), Lindsay Hagerman-attack (led team in scoring in 2007 and 2008) and Jackie Morin-defense (2008 All-Conference honorable mention).

Season outlook: The Red Storm have had pretty successful seasons over the past few years, reaching the Western Maine championship game the past three years in a row. However, the Storm haven’t been able to get past the regional championship, losing two consecutive one-goal games. With the boys winning the state title last year, the girls lacrosse team wants a trophy of their own and Wood said the team’s goal is to get back to the regional title game and then go one step further.

One concern for Scarborough this season will be defense. Wood said that the team graduated all but one of their defenders from last season, so a big focus of the team’s preseason will be defense and getting the new players used to the system.

Boys tennis

Coach: Craig McDonald (9th season)

Last year’s record: 13-2, lost to Cheverus in Western Maine finals

Key players:

Senior Nick Tolman, first team SMAA singles, lost in round of 16 in state singles tournament.

Adam Saltz and Tim Przybylowicz: returning No. 1 and No. 3 singles players for the team last year.

E.J. Conceison and Zach Porter, the team played No. 2 doubles last year, and they are looking to compete for the No. 1 doubles spot.

Season outlook: McDonald said the main concern for the Storm this season is who will play No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Once that gets decided, Scarborough can concentrate on getting past the regional finals and compete for a state championship this year. McDonald said as long as the team gives a strong effort in each and every match, they’ll be tough to beat. “(Our goals are) to give 100 percent every day, have great chemistry, and take one match at a time. The rest will take care of itself,” McDonald said.

Girls tennis

Coach: Lincoln MacIsaac

Last year’s record: 11-1, No. 4 seed in Class A tournament-lost to No. 5 Gorham in quarterfinals

Season outlook: The Storm’s girls tennis team has been a program on the rise for the past few seasons. In 2008, the team finished 11-1 a huge improvement over Scarborough’s 6-6 record in 2007 and a big jump up from a three-win season in 2006. The Storm’s season ended sooner than expected last year with a loss to Gorham in the quarterfinals, but Scarborough should be able to build on that success and go deeper into the state tournament this year.

Boys track

Coach: Derek Veilleux (6th season)

Last year’s record: Undefeated in the regular season, third at the SMAA championships, 10th at state championship meet.

Key athletes:

Brad Nakanishi, senior, pole vault, 300 meters, 4×400 hurdles indoor state champion; Sam Chick, senior, 800 meter, triple jump, 4×400, Defending 800 meter champ; Nate Hathaway, junior, mile, 4×400 state runner-up indoors/third in outdoor in 2008; Brian Woodbury, senior, shot put, discus; Eddie Manning, senior, fifth in discus in 2008; Craig Robinson, senior, eighth in two-mile in 2008; Nick Morris, freshman, 4×800, 800 meters; Tom Pogar, senior, 4×800, 800, ran on school record-breaking team in 2008; Billy Gorman, senior, shot put; Tom Hague, sophomore, 4×800; Sean Griffin, junior, two-mile; Zach Brown, sophomore, two-mile and Ross Thomas, junior, high jump.

Season outlook: Veilleux said the early-spring weather has been a concern as he wants to avoid any injuries due to muddy and slippery conditions outside. Weather concerns aside, Veilleux said the team is looking to build off a successful winter indoor season with an eye on a state title this spring. “Our goal as always is to finish the season at the state meet with our best performances, hopefully that will be enough to take home the title,” Veilleux said.

Girls track

Coach: Ron Kelly (32nd season)

Last year’s record: 12-1 regular season, second at conference meet, won third consecutive state championship

Key athletes: Whitney Chamberlain, senior; Meghan Summerson, senior; Christy Manning, junior; Jenny Snyder, junior; Emilia Scheemaker, sophomore; Sarah Dugas, sophomore; Rachelle Greene, sophomore; Abby Chick, sophomore; Brittany Bona, freshman; Haela Booth-Howe, freshman; Nicole Kirk, freshman; Emily Tolman, freshman and Andrea Tolman, freshman.

Season outlook: The Red Storm have build a track dynasty, winning three consecutive outdoor state championships as well as five consecutive indoor state titles. This year will prove to be no exception as the Storm will once again be the team to beat in Class A. Kelly said he expects to battle for the top spot at the state meet with teams such as Brunswick and Edward Little.

With 30 freshmen on the team, Kelly said he is looking to develop his young talent as well as developing depth in the throws, race walk, distance and jumps to keep Scarborough’s championship streak alive.

Copy the Story Link