SOUTH BERWICK — Kelsey Lessard beat out a two-out grounder down the third-base line as Lauren Sanger scored from third in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday to give Noble a 2-1 win over South Portland in its softball season opener.

Raegan Kelly pitched a complete game for Noble, striking out 14 while outdueling Stephanie Aceto, who had eight strikeouts.

South Portland (0-2) took the lead in the first when Kaylee Whitten reached on an error and scored on a three-base error. Noble tied it in the bottom half, with Kelly doubling and scoring on Kassidy Lessard’s single.

PORTLAND 8, SANFORD 1: Jessica Brown struck out 14 while pitching a five-hitter and Morgan Boyle belted a three-run homer as the Bulldogs opened their season with a win against Sanford in Portland.

Kit Rosmus rapped a two-run single to cap a three-run first inning before Boyle homered in the second to make it 6-1.

The Spartans got their run in the top of the first when Julia Allen singled and scored on Marli Wilson’s double.

BASEBALL

WESTBROOK 5, SANFORD 0: Dylan Francoeur fired a three-hitter and also scored twice to lead the Blue Blazes (1-0) past Sanford (0-2) in Westbrook.

Kyle Champagne scored on a passed ball and Derek Higgins singled home Justin Copetta for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Francoeur, Copetta and Connor Blake each finished with two hits. Leyton Bickford had two of the Spartans’ three singles.

KENNEBUNK 3, FRYEBURG ACADEMY 2: Matt Smith singled home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Rams (1-1) beat the Raiders (0-1) in Kennebunk.

Derek Smith started the winning rally by drawing a walk and stealing second. Bryan Hickey was intentionally walked and Cole Hoffman reached on an attempted sacrifice bunt to load the bases.

CHEVERUS 6, NOBLE 0: Jack Casale limited Noble (0-1) to two hits while striking out six as the Stags (1-0) won in Portland.

Logan McCarthy, the game’s only repeat hitter, scored in the second inning and singled home Maxx St. John in the fourth before the Stags added four runs in the sixth.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

DEERING 20, WESTBROOK 9: Nate Richards scored eight times to raise his career total to 101 goals as the Rams (1-0) beat the Blue Blazes (0-1) in Westbrook.

Omar Contreras and Zach Harvey each added three goals and an assist for the Rams. Nick James also scored three goals and Chase Walter had two.

Grayson Post netted four goals and Ryan Shackley scored three times for Westbrook.

UPDATE: This story was updated on April 21 at 9:10 a.m. to correctly identify Deering High’s Chase Walter.

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