No. 1 Cape held a narrow advantage – 1-0 on a Nate Ingalls run – over No. 3 Greely for a long stretch to open Tuesday, June 16’s, B West Regional Final at Saint Joseph’s College. But the Rangers tied things up in the fifth to force extra innings, and when they pulled ahead with a pair in the eighth, the Capers couldn’t find a response, and Greely grabbed the W 3-1.

“We had our chances,” said Cape head coach Andrew Wood. “I’m pretty happy with the way the kids have been playing. We just ran into a good team; they’ve been here before, they’re pretty experienced. So, tough one, but that’s the way it goes.”

Ingalls belted a gorgeous drive deep, a double to the left-center wall, in the bottom of the first to spark the Capers’ attack. He reached third when Brendan Tinsman’s grounder rode the left-field line to force a just-late, 5-3 throw, then crossed home when Tim Brigham grounded out.

If the inning was any indication, Cape would post a solid offense performance. Alas, the Rangers held them silent after that, and scored one of their own in the fifth to tie things up.

And things stayed tied up through regulation and into the eighth, when Greely’s Will Bryant blasted a standing triple to distant right field. Bryant touched home on the Rangers’ very next batter, Cal Soule, who flew out to center, but gave Bryant plenty of time to tag up and dash 90 feet. 2-1.

Greely’s Chaz Reade soon after, walking onto first and venturing round the bases on a pair of passed balls, prompting the Capers to juggle their pitching. They successfully averted any more damage to the scoreboard, but couldn’t find their own swings in the bottom of the inning and ultimately succumbed.

Ingalls went 1-3 with a double and a run; Brigham went 1-3 with a double and the RBI. Ingalls also started on the mound for the Capers, but Tinsman replaced him in the top of the seventh. Tinsman gave up the fatal runs, so he takes the loss.

Wood praised both his pitchers, especially Ingalls. “That’s a hell of a job pitching for someone who hasn’t been out there the past couple weeks.”

The upset closes Cape’s season at 13-6. It’s a bummer of a turn for the Capers, of course – but taking the long view, they have much to be proud of. After all, they won just four games last year, and missed the playoffs by two slots. To completely reverse their fortunes inside 12 months is an accomplishment Wood and his boys can celebrate, while looking optimistically forward to 2016.

“Last year, we were pretty young, with only three seniors,” said Wood. “[This year,] all those senior leaders stepped up big all throughout the playoffs. The big one that stands out is Tim Brigham. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he kind of carried us for a little while. Same with Mike Best – all those kids. They’re just a great group.”

Greely moved on to face Camden Hills in Saturday’s Class B State Championship, where they no-hit the Windjammers to emerge victorious 10-0 in five innings.

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Caper Brendan Tinsman can’t quite avoid the tag at home plate early in his team’s outing against Greely on Wednesday.Capers shortstop Aaron Dobieski tags Greely’s Chaz Reade as Reade tries for third.Nate Ingalls started on the mound for Cape Elizabeth, and performed well against a Greely team that eventually run-ruled their opponent in the State Final.The Capers’ first baseman, Bryce Hewitt, catches out Greely runner Miles Shields.

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