(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth baseball, Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth, Scarborough-Thornton Academy and South Portland-Cheverus boys’ lacrosse and Scarborough-Waynflete girls’ lacrosse game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

Early returns are promising for spring sports teams. With everyone now underway, here’s a glimpse at what’s happened and what’s to come.

Baseball

Scarborough’s baseball team has benefited mightily from the arrival of Maine Baseball Hall of Famer Mike D’Andrea as coach this spring. After missing the playoffs in 2015, the Red Storm won their first four outings this season, capped by wins over visiting Noble (15-1, in five innings), at Marshwood (4-2) and at home over Windham (2-1, in eight innings). A seven-run second inning helped mercy rule the Knights, as Zoltan Panyi earned the victory, Morgan Pratt had two hits, scored twice and drove in four runs, Tim Carion scored three times and Connor Kelly, Nick Lorello and Mitchell Wedge all scored two runs. In the win over the Hawks, Scarborough rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Josh Reed scattered nine hits to earn the victory and he also had a pair of hits. Lorello scored twice and John Timpson had two RBI. Wedge got the victory against the Eagles, allowing just one run on five hits in eight innings and Jack Hughes drove in Pratt with the winning run. After playing at Biddeford Thursday, the Red Storm host Bonny Eagle Saturday and Tuesday visit Deering, D’Andrea’s old team.

South Portland, the defending Western A champion, won its first first four games, capped by victories over visiting Sanford (7-1), host Westbrook (5-0) and visiting Noble (8-5). Sam Troiano threw a two-hit, 10-strikeout gem against the Spartans and also had two hits and scored twice. Nick Troiano had three hits, Alex Livingston doubled twice and Drew Abramson had two hits and scored twice. Griffin Kelly threw a three-hitter with six Ks against the Blue Blazes. Aaron Radziucz and Sam Troiano paced the offense with two hits apiece. In the win over the Knights, the Red Riots rallied from a 5-3 deficit behind two hits and two RBI from both Zack Johnson and Abramson, who also earned the win with four shutout innings in relief, two hits and two runs from Nick Troiano, two hits from Riley Hasson and two runs scored by Ben Conti. Tuesday, South Portland finally met its match, getting blanked, 4-0, by host Thornton Academy and its ace Ben Lambert, to fall to 4-1. The Red Riots were home with Gorham Wednesday, visit Cheverus Friday and play at Massabesic Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth won its first two games, then lost at home to Falmouth last Wednesday, 8-2, due in large part to eight errors. Marshall Peterson took the loss despite allowing only one earned run. Jack O’Rourke and Dylan Roberts both had two hits. The Capers improved to 3-1 with a 6-3, 10-inning victory at Kennebunk last Friday. Brendan Tinsman was the hero, crushing a three-run homer to end the marathon. Tinsman also earned the win, while Sean Agrodnia got the save. Cape Elizabeth was at Freeport Wednesday, visits Fryeburg Academy Friday, plays at Gray-New Gloucester Monday, then has a home showdown versus two-time defending Class B champion Greely Wednesday of next week.

Greater Portland Christian School was 0-2 at press time after dropping a season-opening doubleheader at Waynflete by 15-5 and 18-5 scores. The Lions go to Rangeley Monday.

Softball

Scarborough’s softball team continues to obliterate the competition. The Red Storm improved to 5-0 with recent bludgeonings of host Deering (34-0, in five innings) and visiting Cheverus (30-0, in five innings) and an 8-0 win at South Portland. Against the Rams, Scarborough had 16- and 12-run innings and got five hits apiece from Chloe Gorey and Maggie Murphy. Chloe Griffin earned the victory with a three-hitter and added three hits of her own. Emily Jefferds also had three hits. In the win over the Stags, the Red Storm had a 23-0 lead after two innings and cruised behind Lilly Volk’s one-hitter. Gorey and Griffin both had four hits and Tori Hale and Kaleigh Scoville hit home runs. Scarborough took a 7-0 lead after two innings at the Red Riots and rode Abbie Murrell’s two-hitter to victory. Gorey, Murrell, Murphy and Scoville all had two hits. The 5-0 Red Storm were at Portland Wednesday and hosted Windham Thursday (wins in both games would give longtime coach Tom Griffin 400 for his career). Scarborough visits Gorham Monday and plays host to South Portland Wednesday of next week.

The Red Riots had dropped three straight at press time, dropping to 1-4 after falling at home to Windham (7-0), at Biddeford (5-1) and at home to Scarborough (8-0). Stephanie Aceto had a pair of hits against the Tigers. South Portland hoped to get back in the win column Wednesday at Bonny Eagle. After hosting Portland Friday, the Red Riots visit Thornton Academy Monday, then go to Scarborough Wednesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth had won three in a row at press time after improving to 4-2 with wins over visiting Falmouth (5-4), at Kennebunk (10-6) and at home over Sacopee Valley (19-9). After letting a 4-1 lead slip away in the top of the seventh against the Yachtsmen, Maggie Baker delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom half. Tess Haller singled, doubled and scored twice. Against the Hawks, the Capers erased a 5-2 deficit with a nine-run third inning. Haller had four hits and drove in four runs, Megan Nicholson had three hits, including a home run, and Maddie Culkin, Jessie Robichaw and Anna Torre all added three hits. Cape Elizabeth was at Freeport Wednesday, has a key test at Fryeburg Academy Friday, goes to Gray-New Gloucester Monday, then welcomes Greely Wednesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ lacrosse team continues to have no peer, although it finally got a stern test. Last week, the Capers rolled at Yarmouth in a state game rematch, 15-5, then blanked visiting Scarborough in impressive fashion, 10-0. Against the Clippers, Cape Elizabeth blew it open with eight goals in the fourth quarter. R.J. Sarka and Owen Thoreck had four goals apiece, while Riley Pillsbury and Connor Thoreck both scored three times.

“(Beating Yarmouth is) huge,” said Sarka, a senior, who went 4-0 at Yarmouth in his high school career. “I’m sure we’ll see them again, at least once, but never losing here means a lot to me.”

“The guys are always excited to play here,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Ben Raymond. “They know what’s at stake in these games. We’re not playing for just tonight, but down the road. Not just homefield, but finding out what the other team can do.”

In the win over the Red Storm, Pillsbury had three goals, Connor Thoreck and Owen Thoreck both scored twice and Finn Raymond also had two goals. Tuesday, the Capers had to scratch and claw to survive host Kennebunk, 9-8, thanks in large part to three goals, including the winner, from Tate Perkins. Cape Elizabeth looks to improve to 5-0 Saturday at Greely. The Capers then have the first of a likely three can’t-miss showdowns with Falmouth this spring when they host the Yachtsmen Wednesday of next week.

Scarborough gave coach Joe Hezlep his 100th career victory last Wednesday when it won at Westbrook, 16-9 (see story). The Red Storm were blanked, 10-0, at Cape Elizabeth Saturday, then bounced back and improved to 4-2 Tuesday with a 14-11 home win over Thornton Academy in a playoff rematch. Sam Neugebauer scored six times, Marc Guerette added four goals and goalie Dominic Joy made 19 critical saves.

“(The Cape game) was very frustrating,” Neugebauer said. “We didn’t execute the way we wanted to. Tonight, we came right back. It’s always a close game with (Thornton). We wanted to come out from the start and take it to them.”

“It got a little frustrating because I think we thought we had it in the bag,” Joy said. “We didn’t keep playing our game and when we play our game, we limit goals.”

“The other night, we couldn’t get shots on cage and Cape makes you pay for mistakes,” added Red Storm coach Joe Hezlep. “We didn’t finish, but tonight we did. We got the looks we wanted and we put shots on cage.”

Scarborough begins the second half of its schedule Friday at Portland, then hosts Deering Tuesday.

Two-time defending Western A champion South Portland got its first win last Wednesday, 15-2, at Biddeford, behind six goals from freshman Cooper Mehlhorn and four from Jack Fiorini. Saturday, the Red Riots fell to 1-2 after a 21-10 loss at Falmouth. South Portland got four goals from Fiorini and was within 9-6 in the third period, but the Yachtsmen exploded for 11 goals in less than six minutes to pull away.

“The wheels just came off the bus,” said Red Riots coach Tom Fiorini. “We didn’t play a great first half, but we were still in the game. All of a sudden, we struggled playing defense. We were in the game at 9-6 and they couldn’t stop us offensively. We just came totally unglued on defense. We did everything we weren’t supposed to do. If we did a better job with the ball, I say we could have played with Falmouth. They couldn’t stop Jack. But we couldn’t win faceoffs and we weren’t aggressive on the ball. They took advantage of our weaknesses.”

South Portland looked to even its record Wednesday when it hosted Cheverus (see theforecaster.net for game story). The Red Riots welcome Marshwood Friday and go to Westbrook Wednesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, South Portland lost its first two games, including a 9-5 home setback to Gorham, then got in the win column Saturday, 12-8 at Brunswick. Mary Cronin scored twice against the Rams, then erupted for five goals in the win over the Dragons. Kayla Brown, Paige Fleming and Jena Leckie all scored twice in the victory. The Red Riots hosted Scarborough Thursday, welcome Bonny Eagle Monday and go to Sanford Tuesday.

Scarborough won its first two games, 11-9 over visiting Biddeford and 21-15 over visiting Portland, then lost at Waynflete (10-5) at at home to Windham (8-7) to drop to 2-2. Emma Smith erupted for eight goals against the Bulldogs, while Abby Corbin finished with five. Against the Flyers, a goal just before halftime put the Red Storm behind and they couldn’t catch up despite 15 saves from goalie Sami Shoebottom and two goals apiece from Emma Smith and Ellie Smith.

“The girls fought hard from beginning to end today, so there’s no doubt in my mind we can compete with anybody at any level and be successful,” Scarborough coach Stephanie Belanger said. “We have to fight through the obstacles and the challenges and keep our heads in it and keep improving our game.”

Against the Eagles, Ellie Smith had three goals, while Jamie Sargent added a pair. The Red Storm went to South Portland Thursday and welcome Gorham Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth started with home losses against Waynflete (8-7, in overtime) and two-time defending Class B champion Yarmouth (11-6), then got in the win column Saturday with an 8-7 victory at Gorham behind two goals apiece from Mariah Deschino and Susie Graham. The Capers were at Greely Wednesday, host powerhouse Falmouth Friday, welcome Massabesic Monday and go to defending Western B champion Kennebunk Wednesday of next week.

Outdoor track

The outdoor track and field regular season began last week.

Scarborough’s first meet, a three-team meet at Windham which also included Biddeford, was a thriller. The powerhouse boys’ squad won a close decision, 75-69.5 over Biddeford, while the girls were second to the Eagles by 6.5 points.

The boys got wins from Sam Rusak in the 200 (23.16 seconds), long jump (19 feet, 10 inches) and the pole vault (14-6), Andrew Sholl in the 800 (2 minutes, 2.83 seconds), Colin Tardif in the mile (4:38.02), Connor Doherty in the two-mile (10:24.01), Sebastian Osborne in the discus (143-8) and their 4×100 (47.13) and 4×400 (3:47.51) relay teams.

Girls’ first-place finishers included Gaby Panagakos in the 100 (13.32), Maggie Franz in the 200 (29.39), Marisa Carbone in the 800 (2:32.53), Laura Volan in the mile (5:44.63), Ellen Shaw in the 100 hurdles (17.19), Kirsten Dennen in the pole vault (7-6), Elizabeth Gentile in the discus (100-10), Leah Dickman in the javelin (86-8) and their 4×100 (54.92) and 4×400 (4:33.57) relays.

South Portland hosted Bonny Eagle, McAuley and Portland in its opener, where the boys were first and the girls placed second to the Scots.

Boys’ winners included Noah Blake in the 200 (24.5) and 400 (55.84), Steven Smith in the racewalk (7:53.85), Daniel Guiliani in the discus (134-10) and shot put (67-8.5), Gary Maietta in the 100 (11.93), triple jump (39-2) and long jump (19-10), and their 4×800 relay team (10:05.39).

First-place girls included Abby Donahue in the racewalk (9:22.77), Cree Hoyte in the javelin (92-3), Erica Magnuson in the discus (86-0.75), Lingdong Bol in the high jump (4-10) and triple jump (34-0), Jacquelynn Tanguay in the long jump (15-8), and the 4×400 relay team (4:43.36).

Cape Elizabeth started with a five-team meet at York. The Capers boys were second and the girls came in fourth.

Tennis

Cape Elizabeth’s three-time defending Class B state champion boys’ tennis team beat York and North Yarmouth Academy by 5-0 scores to start the season, then lost, 5-0, to two-time defending Class A champion Falmouth. The Capers girls sandwiched 5-0 wins at Lake Region and NYA around a 5-0 loss to eight-time defending state champion Falmouth.

Scarborough’s girls enjoyed recent 5-0 wins over Bonny Eagle, Cheverus and South Portland to improve to 4-0. The boys’ team bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Portland in the opener to defeat Bonny Eagle (5-0), Cheverus (5-0) and South Portland (3-2).

South Portland’s boys got their first victory last Wednesday, 3-2, at Windham, then fell to 1-3 with losses to Portland (5-0) and Scarborough (3-2). The Red Riots girls were 0-4 at press time after recent losses to Windham (3-2), Portland (3-2) and Scarborough (5-0).

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

Sidebar Elements

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Cape Elizabeth shortstop Dylan Roberts makes a play on a ground ball during last week’s home showdown with Falmouth. While Roberts made that play, the Capers made eight errors in an 8-2 loss.

South Portland junior Jake Angell fires a shot during the Red Riots’ 21-10 loss at Falmouth Saturday.

Scarborough junior goalie Sami Shoebottom makes one of her 15 saves during Saturday’s 10-5 loss at Waynflete.

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