Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year:

CHARLIE LAPRADE, Sophomore—Baseball

* WMC Class C all-star, first team

The Waynflete baseball program just enjoyed its best season this century and one player led the way with his dominance on the mound and his skill at the plate.

Only a sophomore, Charlie Laprade made his presence felt seemingly every time out, getting clutch hits and making opposing hitters look foolish. He set the tone for the Flyers’ success and most impressively, managed to do so despite playing with a heavy heart.

For such skill and perseverance, Charlie Laprade gets The Forecaster’s nod as Waynflete’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year.

Laprade grew up in Cape Elizabeth as one of four boys in a sports-oriented family. He started playing baseball at a young age, began pitching at age 10 and came to Waynflete in the eighth grade. While he also plays soccer, it’s clear that he’s a special talent on the diamond.

Laprade started the 2011 season in dazzling fashion when he threw a one-hitter and fanned 10 in a victory over Old Orchard Beach. If his pitching wasn’t enough in that game, he also scored a run and stole three bases.

A week later, his world came crashing down when his father, Thomas, passed away at the age of 44. Despite the heartache, Laprade continued to play and took solace in baseball.

“Baseball was my dad’s favorite sport,” Laprade said. “It was normal to keep playing.”

He continued to dominate.

Laprade won three successive starts, stymieing Sacopee twice and Old Orchard Beach once. He had three hits, including a double, in the second win over the Hawks. Laprade singled and doubled in a win over Traip and defeated rival NYA in a pivotal second game of a doubleheader.

In the playoffs, Waynflete beat Wiscasset in the quarterfinals for its first Class C win in that round. Laprade was a big reason why, earning the win on a six-hitter. The team’s run ended with a semifinal round loss to Dirigo, but the Flyers made a big statement.

For the season, Laprade went 6-2 on the mound with a 2.77 ERA. He had a (walks-plus-hits per inning average of 1.04). At the plate, he led the team in on-base percentage (.570), batted .500 and led the team in steals and hits. He only struck out 6 percent of the time.

“It was a great season,” Laprade said. “It was a well-coached team with good senior leadership.”

Laprade calls the curveball his best pitch. He also throws a two- and four-seam fastball and a changeup. When he’s not on the mound, he p lays shortstop and second base. He takes part in community service and plays for the Cape Elizabeth Junior Legion and Frozen Ropes AAU teams. He hopes to play in college.

First, he has two more seasons to impress in high school. If the next two years are anything like this one, Charlie Laprade, Waynflete’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, will have an abundance of college options.

Coach Steve Kautz’s comment: “Charlie certainly deserves the accolades. He is the hardest worker in practice, taking everything seriously from his stretch throw all the way to tee work. One of his stated goals was to help his teammates improve so that we can be a solid team for years to come. As the year went on, he kept that promise by becoming a vocal leader in practice. He cares deeply about his teammates and the program. He’s intense and demands a lot from himself and his teammates. He’s only going to get better as a player and a role model for the younger players.”

2010 winner: Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2009 winner: Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2008 winner: Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2007 winner: David Cutler (lacrosse)

2006 winner: Ben Whipple (tennis)

2005 winner: Reid McMullan (lacrosse)

2004 winner: Matt Lacasse (track)

Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year:

SCOUT HAFFENREFFER, Senior—Lacrosse

WMC All-Star

Senior All-Star

Scout Haffenreffer was the quintessential Waynflete girls’ lacrosse player.

Talented, but not flashy. Capable of dominating, but always willing to defer to her teammates. Always steady and never more so than in the big games, Haffenreffer was a four-year presence for the program which sets the bar for excellence in the state.

This year, on a team that was anything but highly touted back in April, Haffenreffer came up big time and again, got her teammates to believe they could be something special and when the dust settled, the Flyers finished one goal shy of winning yet another championship.

For her skills, selflessness and leadership, Scout Haffenreffer is The Forecaster’s choice for Waynflete’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year.

Haffenreffer spent time at Waynflete at a young age, then returned to the school in seventh grade after her family moved back to Maine from Georgia. She started playing lacrosse in the fifth grade and was a member of the Flyers 2008 and 2009 Class B championship squads. She and her teammates fell short in 2010, losing to NYA in the final, but this year, even after losing standouts Amy Allen and Morgan Woodhouse to graduation, made it to the state final again.

Haffenreffer demonstrated her excellence in a season-opening, surprisingly-easy victory at Falmouth, where she scored once, assisted on three other goals, grabbed seven ground balls and most importantly, dominated in the draw circle, winning 22 of 29 opportunities. She also had three goals in a win over Freeport and won 7 of 12 draws in a victory over Yarmouth.

While sophomores Sadie Cole and Martha Veroneau did most of the team’s scoring, Haffenreffer was content to set them up.

“I’m comfortable in the set-up role,” said Haffenreffer, who finished with 14 goals and 15 assists. “We have good underclassmen. It’s a close-knit team.”

In the playoffs, Haffenreffer had a goal and won 13 draws in a closer-than-expected semifinal round win over Greely and helped the team in non-quantifiable ways against the Rangers, in a palpitating regional final victory over Cape Elizabeth and in a one-goal loss to Yarmouth at states.

A close-knit team had a memorable season.

“My favorite part was spending time with the girls, wanting a similar goal,” Haffenreffer said. “(Coach) Cathie (Connors) cares about each individual a lot. She’s the kindest person ever.”

Haffenreffer helped teach a freshman seminar at Waynflete and is an avid skier and surfer. She will attend Hobart and William Smith College (her first choice) next year, where she plans to play lacrosse. She may pursue art or design.

Her absence will certainly be felt. Scout Haffenreffer, Waynflete’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year, did everything it took for her team to be successful. Her impact won’t soon be forgotten.

Coach Cathie Connors’ comment: “Scout was an incredible team player. She was a leader in defense, crucial in our transition and a patient, solid presence on attack. Scout did a great job taking the draw this season as well. Scout is a selfless player who always worked to help make her teammates better, she was never concerned about her own stats She was a pleasure to coach for four years. She will be missed.”

2010 winner: Morgan Woodhouse (lacrosse)

2009 winner: Christine Ordway (tennis)

2008 winner; Laura Armstrong (lacrosse)

2007 winner: Christine Ordway (tennis)

2006 winner: Christine Ordway (tennis)

2005 winner: Gretchen Koch (lacrosse)

2004 winner: Lily Hoffman (lacrosse)

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Laprade

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