The Freeport High School baseball team entered unfamiliar territory on Tuesday in a Western Maine Class A preliminary contest against ninth-seeded Cape Elizabeth.

The Capers came in two years removed from a State Class B championship appearance, and had been to the big dance three of the past eight seasons, winning the Class B title in 2004.

During the same eight-year period, the Falcons suffered through loss after loss, failing to make the playoffs.

Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to the experienced Capers ended No. 8 Freeport’s Cinderella run to the disappointment of the big home crowd that packed the wall behind the team’s dugout. But, coach Hank Ogilby had nothing but praise for his players, especially his seniors, who before this season compiled a 10-38 record.

“These seniors started as freshmen and had seasons of two and 14, three and 13, and getting 10-run ruled six or seven times a season, basically getting hammered, but these guys never quit and stuck it out. We won 10 games (10-7) this year, and they deserved some success,” said Ogilby.

Long first inning

Freeport starting pitcher Sawyer Williams struggled through a 27-pitch first inning as Cape Elizabeth (9-8) loaded the bases with one out. Max Gore drove a single up the middle, Chris Robicheau doubled off the leftfield wall and Will LeBlond walked.

However, Williams escaped, retiring Sam Kozlowski on an infield fly and Seth Dobieski on a fielder’s choice.

Freeport also threatened in the first. Connor Dietrich singled with one out, but Capers pitcher LeBlond used a quick move to pick off the Falcons runner at first base for the second out. Luke LaMagna and Josh Weirich followed with singles, and Nick Cartmell reached on an error to load the bases. But, LeBlond picked up his second of six strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.

“It could have changed the game with a timely hit, or just putting the bat on the ball there, but he has a really good straight change that not too many guys in the league use,” said Ogilby of LeBlond, who took the game over from there, allowing just two more base runners (a Jared Knighton single and a LaMagna walk) the rest of the way. “He got us thinking a little and lunging at balls. I wanted them swinging, but we were swinging at his pitches early in the count, and you just can’t get behind.”

Cape Elizabeth touched Williams for two runs in the second. Zach Culver led off with a double and scored when Charles Laprade’s long flyball was misplayed for an error. A second Freeport error plated the second run, with Williams throwing 22 more pitches in the frame to give him 49 through two innings.

“Sawyer usually is pretty good at getting ahead of the count, keeping his pitch-count low and getting help from his defense, but today he ran behind in counts, maybe nerves, but a couple unearned runs hurt us,” said Ogilby.

The Capers threatened throughout, leaving 11 runners on base as Williams (4.1 innings, 91 pitches, three runs, one earned, four strikeouts, two walks) and reliever Weirich (2.2, three strikeouts, one walk, one unearned run) pitched out of trouble.

Cape Elizabeth, which visits No. 1 Greely (15-1) on Thursday, tacked on a run in the fourth frame when Gore’s single plated Connor Maguire, who had earlier doubled.

Gore, who was 3- for- 3, scored the final run in the sixth on a wild pitch. Robicheau also had three hits for the Capers, who pounded out 10 hits.

No. 9 Cape Elizabeth 4, No. 8 Freeport 0

Western Maine Class B Prelim
At Freeport High School
Cape Elizabeth — 020 101 0 — 4-10-1
Freeport — 000 000 0 — 0- 4-3
Will LeBlond and Seth Dobieski; Sawyer Williams, Josh
Weirich (5) and Jared Knighton.
Doubles — (CE) Chris Robicheau, Zach Culver, Connor
Maguire; (F) Jared Knighton.
Repeat hitters — (CE) Max Gore (3), Chris Robicheau
(3).
Records — Cape Elizabeth 9-8, Freeport 10-7.
Next — The Capers visit No. 1 Greely on Thursday;
Freeport’s season is concluded.