(Ed. Note: For the complete Cheverus-Scarborough and Deering-South Portland baseball, Cheverus-Falmouth boys’ lacrosse and Waynflete-Scarborough girls’ lacrosse game stories, with box scores and photos, see theforecaster.net)

It feels like the spring sports season has just began, but many teams have already completed half of their schedule. That means that it’s time to start paying attention to the Heal Points and possible playoff positioning with the postseason just a few weeks away.

Here’s a glimpse at what occurred over the past week and how things stand:

Baseball

Portland’s baseball team was up to third in the Western Class A Heal Points standings at the start of the week after improving to 6-1 after victories last week over visiting Scarborough (3-0) and Noble (8-0) and host Gorham (7-3). In the win over the Red Storm, Charles Barnard threw his second straight complete game shutout, allowing just two hits, while striking out seven. John Williams had a pair of hits. Against the Knights, Ryan Ruhlin threw a three-hit shutout, while Williams and George Chaison-Lapine both had two hits. The Bulldogs erupted for seven runs in the third inning. At the Rams, a six-run fifth inning erased a 3-0 deficit. Williams had three hits and Dan Marzilli earned the win. Portland was at Westbrook Tuesday, hosts preseason favorite Marshwood in a key tilt Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes defending regional champion Windham in a playoff rematch Friday and goes to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 4-3 and eighth at press time after falling at home to South Portland (2-1) and Marshwood (15-6) and beating host Bonny Eagle, 5-3. In the loss to the Red Riots, the Rams wasted a strong start from Colby Dame, only managing three hits. Deering led the Hawks, 6-4, heading to the fifth, but Marshwood scored seven runs in that frame and added four in the sixth. Orey Dutton and Kevin Goldberg had two hits apiece, Goldberg and Dominick Bernard both tripled and James Sinclair took the loss. Sam Luebbert pitched a complete game to beat the Scots, as Patrick Viola paced the offense with two hits and two RBI. The Rams were at Thornton Academy Tuesday, host Massabesic Thursday and Gorham Friday and visit Noble Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus sat 4-2 and ninth after sandwiching one-run losses at Westbrook (4-3, in nine innings) and South Portland (1-0) around a 7-1 home victory over Scarborough. Alex Libby was perfect through five innings, but the Stags let a 3-0 lead slip away against the Blue Blazes and fell in extras despite a pair of hits from Jared Brooks. In the win, Jensen Lapoint threw a five-hitter and with the bat, he doubled twice, scored two runs and even stole a base.

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“Coach told us to keep the pressure on them and don’t let up,” Lapoint said. “That was a tough loss against Westbrook. We came out and got a good win today.”

“The boys were focused start to finish,” said Cheverus coach Mac McKew. “We didn’t have the killer instinct against Westbrook and we gave (that game) to them. That’s baseball, especially high school baseball. The key word today was resiliency. We needed to bounce back.”

Against the Red Riots, in a rematch of a thrilling playoff loss from last spring, the Stags fanned 19 times against South Portland ace Henry Curran and Alex Jacobs was the hard-luck loser after giving up just three hits. The Stags were home against Noble Tuesday, welcome Thornton Academy Thursday, visit Biddeford Saturday and play host to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete was 2-4 and 16th in the Heals after a pair of wins over visiting Greater Portland Schools (15-4 in five innings and 22-6 in five innings) and losses at home to Scaopee Valley (17-0 in five innings) and at North Yarmouth Academy (6-2) last week. Tommy Silk homered and singled twice, while Alonzo Antoine earned the first victory against the Lions. In the second, Silk had three more hits and Max Winson added two. The Flyers went to Old Orchard Beach Monday, host Fryeburg Academy Wednesday, welcome Traip Academy Friday, go to NYA Saturday and play host to Sacopee Valley Monday of next week.

Softball

At the start of the week, the only city team that would make the playoffs if they began now was McAuley, which was 4-4 and 12th in the Western A Heals (12 teams qualify). Last week, the Lions won at Biddeford (11-3), edged visiting Portland (3-2), lost at South Portland (9-4), then won at Cheverus (9-0). Against the Bulldogs, Taylor Whaley went the distance, fanning 10, Anya Chase hit a home run and Ally Tillotson scored twice, had two hits and three steals. Whaley singled and tripled in the loss to the Red Riots. Against the Stags, Whaley threw a two-hit shutout and had four hits. McAuley hosted Gorham Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes Bonny Eagle Wednesday, then plays host to powerhouse Scarborough Friday and goes to defending Western A champion Thornton Academy Monday of next week.

Portland beat visiting Deering, 17-4 in five innings, then fell to 2-6 with losses at McAuley (3-2) and Marshwood (5-2). Against the Rams, Isabelle Dimillo hit a grand slam and earned the win, Taylor Crosby and Maddie Kennie also homered and Molly Rickett had four hits. Rickett drove in both runs against the Hawks. After hosting Cheverus Monday, the Bulldogs (ranked 14th in Western A) visit Windham Wednesday, welcome Westbrook Friday and go to Biddeford Monday of next week.

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Deering was 2-6 and 16th after losses last week at Portland (17-4, in five innings), at home to South Portland (10-1) and at Gorham (9-3). Kaylee Helmick had two hits against both the Bulldogs and the Rams. Siobhan Densmore also had two hits versus Gorham. After playing host to Bonny Eagle Monday, Deering goes to Scarborough Wednesday, hosts Thornton Academy Friday and visits Noble Monday.

Cheverus was still seeking its first win at press time. Last week, the Stags fell to 0-7 (and 18th) after losing at home to Windham (20-8), at Westbrook (18-6 in five innings) and at home to Biddeford and McAuley by identical 9-0 margins. Cheverus was at Portland Monday, hosts South Portland Wednesday, visits Gorham Friday and welcomes Bonny Eagle Monday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team bounced back from its loss on Opening Day with four straight wins, including victories last week at NYA (7-5) and Oak Hill (13-6). Ford Malter scored four times against the Raiders. The Flyers  (fourth in the Western B Heals) were home Monday against Freeport, welcome Thornton Academy in a crossover game Saturday and go to Lake Region Tuesday of next week.

In Eastern A, Cheverus won, 19-7, at Bonny Eagle and lost at Falmouth, 16-10, last week to fall to 2-3. Nick Schleh scored five times against the Yachtsmen. Thomas Lawson added three goals.

“I’m very pleased,” Stags coach Bill Bodwell said. “There were times I looked out and we had five freshmen out there. We’re getting better. The defense got better as the game went on. I’m happy with how we played.”

Cheverus (sixth in the Heals) plays at Scarborough Wednesday and hosts Kennebunk Saturday and Noble Tuesday.

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Portland improved to 2-4 and fifth after a 9-3 win at Edward Little Saturday. The Bulldogs snapped a two-game scoreless streak and got four goals from D.J. Cooper. Portland welcomes Oak Hill Friday.

Deering fell to 1-4 after falling at home against Scarborough (16-10) and at Messalonskee (11-4) last week. Brent Rickett had three goals against the Red Storm. The Rams (ninth in the Heals) played at Bonny Eagle Tuesday, host Maranacook Saturday and visit South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, defending Eastern A champion Cheverus lost at home to Messalonskee last Tuesday, 8-7, to start 0-2, then evened its record with 10-8 victories over visiting Windham and host Bonny Eagle. Abby Biegel had three goals and Nicole Pineau and Anne Veroneau both scored twice against the Eagles. In the win over the Scots, Pineau had three goals. The Stags (fourth in the Heals) were at Portland Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), host Massabesic in a state game rematch Thursday, welcome Deering Saturday and play at Thornton Academy Monday.

Portland lost last week at Massabesic (18-11) and at home to Scarborough (17-5), then evened its record at 2-2 with a 13-7 home victory over Cony Saturday. Ella Coose scored six times against the Mustangs, while Merritt Ryan had seven goals in the victory. The Bulldogs (sixth in Eastern A) go to South Portland Thursday and host McAuley Monday.

The Lions got their first win last week, following up a 15-6 home loss to Biddeford Tuesday with a 12-11 triumph at Noble Thursday. Greta DiPierro had three goals against the Tigers. McAuley (ninth in the Heals) was at Westbrook Tuesday, hosts Sanford Thursday, plays at NYA Friday and visits Portland Monday.

Deering got its first victory last Tuesday, edging visiting Noble, 13-12. The Rams then fell to 1-2 and eighth in Eastern A with a 12-3 loss at Biddeford Thursday. Deering was at Massabesic Tuesday, plays at Windham Thursday, goes to Cheverus Saturday and comes home to face South Portland Tuesday of next week.

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In Western B, longtime power Waynflete was second to Kennebunk at 5-2 after wins at Fryeburg Academy (10-1) and at home over Gould Academy (13-6) and a 7-4 loss at Scarborough last week. Against the Raiders, Izzy Burdick had a game-high four goals. Nina Moore had four goals and Helen Gray-Bauer added three in the victory over Gould. The Flyers fell behind 3-0 at Scarborough just a couple minutes in and while they subsequently shut the Red Storm out for 23 minutes, they never could catch up.

“It was a tough game,” Waynflete coach Cathie Connors said. “That tough start killed us. I should have had them get back on defense from the beginning. That was my bad, not theirs. I wish that I had called a timeout sooner, but Scarborough played beautifully. They’re very good. We’re just not finishing offensively.”

The Flyers host Falmouth Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and go to Cape Elizabeth Monday.

Outdoor track

Cheverus hosted a girls’ outdoor track meet last Monday. The Stags were second to South Portland with Deering placing third, Portland fourth and McAuley fifth.

Cheverus got wins from Emily Turner in the 400 (1 minute, 1.21 seconds) and Milena Opielowski in the long jump (16 feet, 9 inches). Deering’s Neilab Habibzai won the shot put (31-2). McAuley’s Samantha Witkowski took the pole vault (7-6). Portland’s Madison Bolduc was first in the triple jump (34-2).

The boys convened at South Portland last Tuesday, where the Stags were second to the hosts, the Rams came in third and the Bulldogs were fourth.

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Cheverus event winners included Jake Dixon in the 100 (11.68 seconds) and 200 (22.83), James Hannigan in the 400 (53.94), Nick White in the discus (152-9), Jake Schott in the high jump (6-2), Aston Kritzer in the javelin (149-7). Deering’s Paulo DeMarco was first in the 110 hurdles (16.37) and 300 hurdles (42.4), Hany Ramadan took first in the 800 (2:05.12), Yahya Hussein won the mile (4:45.61), Iid Sheikh-Yusuf won the two-mile (10:13.48) and the Rams’ 1,600 (3:38.63) and 3,200 (9:33.73) relay teams also placed first. Portland had no event winners, but Jonathan Bobe was second in the 200 (23.44).

Waynflete joined Kennebunk, NYA and Traip at Greely Friday. The boys were fifth, but got a win from Cody Tiparos in the 200 (24.81). The girls were fifth as well. Ellie Chidsey placed second in the two-mile (12:51.46).

Tennis

Waynflete’s seven-time defending Class C boys’ tennis team improved to 4-1 last week with 5-0 wins over Greely and NYA. The Flyers girls fell to 3-3 after losing last week to Greely and NYA by 5-0 scores.

In Western A, Cheverus’ girls began the week a perfect 5-0, having won every match by a 5-0 score, including victories last week over Westbrook, McAuley and Sanford. The Stags host Portland in a critical battle Wednesday. Cheverus’ boys suffered their first loss, 4-1, to Thornton Academy, then improved to 4-1 with a 5-0 win at Sanford Friday.

Portland’s girls increased their win streak to four with 3-2 victories last week over Thornton Academy, Scarborough and Gorham. The Bulldogs boys dropped their first two matches, then downed Windham, Scarborough and Gorham last week by 3-2 scores to improve to 3-2.

McAuley snapped a three-match losing streak and improved to 2-4 with a 5-0 win over Bonny Eagle Friday.

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Deering’s boys have shaken off an opening match loss and rattled off five straight victories, capped by a 5-0 win at Massabesic. The Rams girls evened their mark at 3-3 after beating South Portland (3-2) and Massabesic (4-1) last week.

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

Sidebar Elements


Cheverus pitcher Jensen Lapoint delivers a strike during the Stags’ 7-1 win over Scarborough last week.

Waynflete’s Haley Johnson fires a shot during the Flyers’ 7-4 loss at Scarborough Saturday.

Waynflete’s Emily Tabb takes part in the racewalk during a meet last week at Greely. Tabb came in third in that event.


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