Male:

KEVIN GOLDBERG, Senior-Baseball

  • SMAA all-star, first-team, outfield

  • SMAA All-Academic team

  • Senior All-Star

Goldberg was a key cog at the plate and in the field and helped restore the Rams to prominence this spring.

Goldberg became a Ram at heart long before he suited up for Deering. He recalls going to games during the glory years and was present for the famed “Mark Rogers Game” in 2004, when the Rams downed Mt. Ararat and their Major League baseball-bound ace in front of a packed house at Hadlock Field. 

Goldberg, who also played soccer and Alpine skied in high school, missed his freshman baseball season due to a broken leg, but he made his presence felt in the outfield and on the mound starting as a sophomore. As a junior, Goldberg led Deering in RBI, but the Rams fell just short of the playoffs.

This spring, under new coach and former program standout Josh Stowell, Deering returned to its winning ways and Goldberg came up big on several occasions. After going hitless in a season-opening loss at Massabseic, Goldberg sparked a 9-3 win over Gorham with three hits, two runs scored and a stolen base against Gorham. Goldberg had two hits, three RBI and earned the victory in relief in a come-from-behind win over Biddeford, had three hits, including a triple, and two runs scored in a victory over Westbrook, produced two hits, including another triple, and three RBI in a loss to Marshwood, had two hits in a win over Bonny Eagle, two hits in a win over Gorham, two hits in a loss to Cheverus, two hits, a run and two steals in a win at Scarborough, two hits and two runs scored in a loss to Portland and a hit and a run scored in a season-ending win over Windham.    

Advertisement

For the regular season, Goldberg finished second to teammate Dominick Bernard with a .442 average, led the team with 23 hits, on-base percentage (.547), total bases (28) and walks (11), scored 14 times, tripled twice and drove in seven runs. He was also a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases. Goldberg also made three pitching appearances, going 1-0 in five innings with a 4.20 earned run average. He committed just two errors all year in the outfield.

Deering posted its first winning record since 2011, then downed Cheverus in the preliminary round of the playoffs, 12-2, as Goldberg scored the game’s first run, touched home again and had a pair of hits. The Rams were then ousted in painful fashion by Portland in the semifinals, but Goldberg scored one final run in the process.

“I was a little disappointed that we didn’t make a longer run,” Goldberg said. “We did a lot of good things. I played well and the team did much better than last year.”

Goldberg said that since he’s not blessed with physical gifts, he’s had to find motivation from within to succeed.

“I’m not the biggest or strongest player, so I’ve had to work at everything,” Goldberg said. “I tried to make myself better, faster and stronger. That hard work has paid off on and off the field.”

Goldberg, who is playing American Legion ball this summer with a combined Deering/Cheverus team, was also heavily involved in Student Senate, Unity Project, Key Club and Leadership Group at Deering. He’ll matriculate at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he plans to study engineering. Goldberg plans to attempt to walk on to the baseball team.

Advertisement

Don’t bet against him. Kevin Goldberg, Deering’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, has shown that he’s unstoppable when he’s determined to excel. 

Coach Josh Stowell’s comment: Kevin had a great year. He worked hard during the offseason in the weight room and in the cage. He overcame several injuries his first three years at Deering to put together a great senior season and finish on a high note.”

Previous winners:

2014 Tyler Butler (tennis)

2013 Jared Bell (track)

2012 Karl Rickett (lacrosse)

Advertisement

2011 Carleton Allen (lacrosse)

2010 Sam Balzano (baseball)

2009 Regan Flaherty (baseball)

2008 Taylor Candage (baseball)

2007 Matt Watson (baseball)

2006 Adam Rothbart (lacrosse)

Advertisement

2005 Neall Oliver (tennis)

2004 Ryan Reid (baseball)

Female:

MADDIE ABBOTT, Junior-Tennis

  • SMAA all-star, second-team, singles

  • Co-captain

Abbott spent another successful year at the number one singles spot for the Rams and helped her team reach the playoffs and earn a postseason victory.

Abbott grew up in Portland and started playing tennis at the age of eight. She took over at the number one singles spot as a freshman and hasn’t relinquished it. Abbott made the SMAA all-star team as a sophomore and this spring, going up against the best girls’ tennis players in the area, more than held her own.

Advertisement

Abbott was 4-8 in the regular season, but twice fell in three sets. In a preliminary round match against higher-seeded Cheverus, Abbott went three sets to defeat Ellaina Budri to give Deering a 3-2 win. The Rams were ousted by eventual state champion Falmouth in the quarterfinals as Abbott played her final match of the year against the state’s premier player, Olivia Leavitt.

Abbott trains at Foreside Fitness and Tennis all year. She doesn’t play any other sport.

“I like (tennis),” Abbott said. “It’s an individual sport. It can be hard with the pressure, but I have to rely on myself. I can play my whole life. I have a competitive nature. I like to do well and to improve. I like to play for my school.”

Abbott is much more than just an athlete, she takes voice lessons, plays the viola, will be the senior class co-president and is a member of Deering’s Key Club and is involved in drama. She is in the process of selecting a college and isn’t certain whether or not she’ll play tennis at the next level.

First, as a senior, she’ll look to again be one of the better players around and help the Rams get to the playoffs again. Then, the sky’s the limit for Maddie Abbott, Deering’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year.

Coach Stephanie Doane’s comment: “Maddie is a very positive player and often works with her teammates to help them develop and improve their tennis skills.

Advertisement

Previous winners:

2014 Alexis Elowitch (track)

2013 Rashad Zagon (track)

2012 Veronica Mitchell (lacrosse/track)

2011 Jen Lynch (softball)

2010 Julie Pallozzi (lacrosse)

Advertisement

2009 Melissa Bell (softball)

2008 Lesley Warn (softball)

2007 Chelsea Johnson (lacrosse)

2006 Kate Bustin (softball)

2005 Lesley Warn (softball)

2004 Gina Axelson (softball)

Advertisement

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

Sidebar Elements


Goldberg

Goldberg

Abbott

Abbott


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.