(Ed. Note: For the complete Portland-Deering softball and Waynflete-NYA girls’ lacrosse game stories, see theforecaster.net)

The spring season has gotten underway, on a limited basis, for each school in our coverage area.

While things really began in earnest Monday, some early results turned heads.

Baseball

Portland’s baseball team made the biggest splash to start the season, opening with a 5-3 victory at preseason favorite Marshwood last Thursday. The Bulldogs got a solid combined pitching effort from Dan Marzilli and Ryan Ruhlin and Zack Fortin had three hits to pace the offense. Portland was at defending regional champion Windham Tuesday, hosts Massabesic Thursday and welcomes Thornton Academy Saturday.

Cheverus rallied to beat visiting Biddeford, 4-3, in nine innings, in its first game Friday. Jensen LaPoint had a clutch hit to drive in the tying run in the seventh, Jared Brooks had the game-winning RBI in the ninth and Matt Gedaro earned the win in relief. The Stags went to Bonny Eagle Tuesday and visit Sanford Saturday.

Deering hoped to earn a win to start the Josh Stowell Era, but the Rams lost at Massabesic, 5-3. Deering tried again Tuesday at Gorham. The Rams host Biddeford Thursday and welcome Westbrook Friday.

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Waynflete lost at home to Gray-New Gloucester in its opener, 13-0, in five innings. The Flyers were at Traip Academy Monday and host Old Orchard Beach Friday.

Softball

Portland and Deering squared off in an entertaining softball opener last Wednesday, in a game which poor field conditions moved from Payson Park to Kiley Field. The Bulldogs rode an early home run from Maddie Kennie and a strong all-around game from Taylor Crosby to grab a 7-0 lead, but the Rams battled back and pulled within 7-6 in the sixth. Portland freshman pitcher Sydney Gilbert held on and put the finishing touches on the 9-6 victory.

“It was a little nervewracking at first, but once I settled down, I was fine,” Gilbert said.

“We found a way to win,” Crosby said. “We had to fight for it.”

“We’re just not used to winning yet,” added first-year Bulldogs coach Robbie Ferrante. “We were up 7-0 and then we relaxed. We gave them four or five outs an inning and they didn’t quit. They have a good team over there. The key was we stayed ahead 7-6 and then we got a couple runs.”

The Bulldogs fell to 1-1 Friday after a 12-2 home loss to defending Western A champion Thornton Academy. After going to Noble Monday, Portland hosts Sanford Wednesday and goes to Massabesic Friday.

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Deering, which snapped a 50-game losing streak a year ago, wasn’t disappointed with its effort against Portland.

“The girls battled back,” new Rams coach Anthony DiBiase said. “We can hit. It took a few innings, but we came alive and ran the bases well. Two innings we left girls on second and third. We just didn’t get the breaks.”

Deering evened its record at 1-1 Friday with a dramatic 12-10 victory at Cheverus. The Rams blew an early 7-1 lead, but scored three times in the seventh to win it. Kaylee Helmick earned the win and had a pair of hits. Cierra Burnham, Jade Jordan and Gabby Alveraz also had two hits. Deering was home against Windham Monday, goes to Westbrook Wednesday and plays host to Biddeford Friday.

Cheverus got two hits from Quinn Snyder in the loss to Deering. The Stags went to McAuley Monday and visit Marshwood Wednesday.

McAuley dropped its opener, 5-4, at Marshwood in its first game under new coach Dawn Armandi. The Lions hosted Cheverus Monday, go to Windham Wednesday and play host to Westbrook Friday.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cheverus’ boys’ lacrosse team opened with a decisive 18-4 victory at Deering Friday. Nick Schleh had five goals, while Thomas Lawson added three. The Stags hosted defending Class A champion South Portland Tuesday and welcome Gorham Friday.

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Deering, which got two goals from Nate Richards in the loss to Cheverus, faces Portland Tuesday and Thornton Academy Friday.

Portland opened by handling host Noble, 12-2, as Brady Green scored four times. The Bulldogs fell to 1-1 Friday with a 12-5 home loss to Windham. Portland battles rival Deering Tuesday and goes to Scarborough Friday.

Waynflete lost its opener, 18-6, to visiting Cape Elizabeth. The Flyers went to York Monday and host Fryeburg Academy Friday.

Girls’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s perennially strong girls’ lacrosse team began with a 13-4 win at North Yarmouth Academy April 16. The Flyers rode four first half goals from Isabel Canning to an 8-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Freshman Izzy Burdick scored three times. Waynflete was home against Cheverus Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), has a home showdown versus preseason Class B favorite Kennebunk Thursday  (see theforecaster.net for game story) and goes to Greely Saturday.

Cheverus had its home opener Thursday versus Deering, which was at Mt. Ararat in its opener Tuesday. McAuley hosted Marshwood in its first game Tuesday. Portland opened at Biddeford Tuesday.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements


Portland’s Taylor Crosby steals second as Deering’s Siobhan Densmore takes the throw during last week’s season opener at Kiley Field. Crosby had three hits, two runs, two RBI and two steals in the Bulldogs’ 9-6 victory.


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