Portland: Spring sports season passes midway point

The home stretch of the spring sports season has begun.

Thanks to cooperative weather, local teams had a full week of action last week and it’s now a full sprint to the finish line, with much still to be determined.

Here’s a glimpse:

Baseball

Cheverus pitcher Brian Connolly delivers to the plate during last week’s home loss to South Portland. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster.

The undefeated run of the Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op baseball team came to an end Friday with a 12-1 (six-inning) home loss to Sacopee Valley. The squad had previously defeated host Old Orchard Beach (5-3) and Maranacook (12-2) and was 8-1 at the start of the week. Against the Seagulls, Cal Nice and Daxton St. Hilaire each had a pair of hits and Jack Byrnes drove in two runs while Tanner Anctil and St. Hilaire combined for the victory on the mound. In the win over the Black Bears, Cooper St. Hilaire had three hits and scored three times and Anctil (three runs scored) and Daxton St. Hilaire added two hits apiece. In the setback, Nice drove in the lone run. Waynflete/NYA (fourth in the Class C South Heal Points standings at press time) was at Traip Academy Monday, goes to Maine Central Institute for a doubleheader Saturday, then plays host to Old Orchard Beach Monday of next week.

In Class A South, Cheverus beat host Sanford, 4-3, last Tuesday, then fell to 6-3 and sixth in the standings after losses to visiting South Portland (12-0, in six-innings) and at Noble (6-3). In the victory, Lucas Soutuyo had two hits and two RBI and Matt Connor earned the win, had two hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. The Stags then made six errors against the Red Riots and managed just one hit.

“The only disappointing part about today wasn’t really the loss, but how we played,” Cheverus coach Tony DiBiase lamented. “A lot of it is our inexperience showed today. We hadn’t been in that situation before. Our defense had been our strong point all season long, but we didn’t play well today. Pitching and defense has been the key. We’re still searching as to who we are as a team. When you play a quality opponent like South Portland, we have to figure that out.”

In the loss to the Knights, Connor had two hits and an RBI, but it wasn’t enough. The Stags were at Scarborough Tuesday, host Gorham Thursday, play at Deering Saturday and welcome reigning Class A state champion Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

“It’s a good group of kids,” DiBiase said. “We have four or five sophomores, a couple juniors who are fitting in and the seniors who are playing, only a couple of them have experience. They’re all learning.”

Portland fell to 1-8 and 15th in Class A South after losses last week at Biddeford (4-3) at Falmouth (10-0, in six-innings) and at home to Sanford (9-4). Against the Tigers, Reegan Buck had two hits and Henry Bibeau drove in a pair of runs. In the loss to the Navigators, Bibeau doubled. Against the Spartans, Liam Fay-LeBlanc had a two-run single. The Bulldogs hoped to snap a six-game skid Monday when Gorham paid a visit. After hosting rival Deering Tuesday, Portland is at Massabesic Thursday, welcomes South Portland Saturday, then visits Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 0-8 and 17th in Class A South following losses at Westbrook (16-6, in five-innings), Bonny Eagle (4-3), Marshwood (10-0, in five-innings) and South Portland (10-0, in five-innings). In the loss to the Blue Blazes, DJ Hooks had three RBI. Against the Scots, the Rams took a 3-2 lead to the seventh, but couldn’t hold on. Avery Lawrence struck out 11 over six innings. Deering hoped to get into the win column Monday when it hosted Massaabesic. After going to Portland Tuesday, the Rams welcome Thornton Academy Thursday and Cheverus Saturday, then play at Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Softball

Cheverus freshman Anna Goodman lines an RBI single during last week’s home loss to Thornton Academy. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster.

Cheverus’ softball team was 4-4 and 10th in the Class A South Heal Points standings following a 15-4 (five-inning) home win over Bonny Eagle and home losses to Thornton Academy (6-3) and South Portland/Westbrook (15-5, in five-innings) last week. In the victory, Anna Goodman earned the win, not allowing an unearned run while striking out eight, and Hailey Lamontagne and Brynn McKenney each hit home runs and drove in three runs. In the loss to the Golden Trojans, Lamontagne hit a two-run home run and Goodman hit a go-ahead single in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Thornton Academy rallied with four runs in the seventh.

“Our group this year is a team, which is great to see,” Stags coach Theresa Arsenault said. “We have great senior leadership and some incoming players who love softball and work hard from start to finish every day. When you see the girls play, you can’t tell what grade they’re in and they’re supporting each other, which is great.”

Against South Portland/Westbrook, Kelsey Cassidy and Ashley Connor both had two hits, but six errors were too much to overcome. Cheverus was at Portland Monday, hosted Gorham Tuesday, welcomes Massabesic Wednesday, visits Kennebunk Friday and plays host to Falmouth Monday of next week.

“We look at how we can get better every day,” Arsenault said. “We have a strong lineup. What can we do to keep improving? We’re learning one game at a time.”

Portland was 3-5 and 11th in Class A South following a wild 19-18 loss at Massabesic, a 13-0 (five-inning) home setback to Kennebunk, a come-from-behind 21-12 win at Falmouth and a 17-3 (five-inning) home loss to Gorham. Against the Mustangs, the Bulldogs couldn’t hold an early 8-1 lead or an 18-13 advantage heading to the bottom of the sixth. Kaitlin Vigue drove in six runs, Ruby Chase had five hits and drove in three runs, Sadie Armstrong had four hits and three RBI and Ainsley McCrum had three hits and three RBI. In the victory, Portland trailed the Navigators, 11-10, heading to the seventh inning before erupting for 11 runs. Armstrong doubled and homered, Hannah Hawkes had three hits, scored three times and drove in five runs and Chase, McCrum and Vigue all had two hits and two RBI. In the loss to Gorham, Armstrong homered, while Chase added two hits and two RBI. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Monday, go to Windham Wednesday, welcome Thornton Academy Friday and travel to Scarborough Monday of next week.

Deering fell to 1-9 and 14th in Class A South after losses at Windham (10-0, in six-innings), at home to Thornton Academy (18-3, in five-innings) and at Scarborough (22-1, in five-innings). Sophie Hill doubled against the Eagles. In the loss to Red Storm, Molly Campbell had a pair of hits. The Rams hosted Noble Monday, go to Marshwood Wednesday, welcome Gorham Friday and visit reigning Class A champion Biddeford Monday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Two-time reigning Class C boys’ lacrosse champion Waynflete improved to 6-2 and second behind Wells in the Heals after wins last week over visiting Lake Region (12-1) and host Windham (11-6). Against the Lakers, Roan Hopkins had four goals, while Haven Savory Kreiss added three goals. In the win over the Eagles, Dana Bigelow led the way with four goals. The Flyers go to Traip Academy Wednesday, host Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and play at Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

In Class A, Portland was 5-4 and seventh after an 8-2 win at Bonny Eagle, a 19-4 setback at Falmouth and a 7-4 home win over Oak Hill, where Andy Marvin scored five goals. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Monday, go to Scarborough Saturday and welcome South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 4-4 and ninth following a 10-4 home loss to Biddeford and a 7-4 victory at Fryeburg Academy last week. The Rams host Cheverus Wednesday, welcome Westbrook Saturday and play host to Windham Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 3-4 and 17th in Class A following wins over visiting Noble (11-4) and at Cony (14-2) last week. The Stags were at Portland Monday, go to Deering Wednesday, visit Windham Saturday, then host Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s Tilsley Kelly protects the ball during last week’s home loss to Greely. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster.

On the girls’ side, Portland continues to impress, improving to 7-1 and 10th in the Heals following recent wins at Lewiston (8-2) and Deering (12-3). Eliza Stein scored four times in the victory over the Blue Devils. Against the Rams, Stein had five goals, while Phoebe Knoll and Emily Seavey added two apiece. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Tuesday (see our website for game story) and welcome Scarborough Saturday.

Cheverus was 4-3 and ninth in Class A after beating host Sanford (14-4) and falling at home to Windham (12-7). In the victory, Reese Belanger and Lucy Johnson both scored five goals, while Sophia St. John added four. The Stags were at Portland Tuesday, host Westbrook Friday and welcome Yarmouth Monday.

Deering fell to 0-7 and 21st in Class A after losses at Biddeford (17-3) and at home to Portland. In the loss to the Tigers, goalie Kyla Elsayem made 11 saves. Shay Rosenthal scored three times against the Bulldogs. The Rams were at Bangor Monday and at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, then visit Noble Thursday before playing at Bonny Eagle Monday of next week.

Waynflete was 1-6 and ninth in Class C following last Wednesday’s 15-9 home loss to Greely. The Flyers nearly erased a five-goal deficit before running out of gas in the second half. Lydia Birknes scored five goals and Tilsley Kelly added three.

“I’m so pysched that we came back,” Waynflete’s longtime coach Cathie Connors said. “I feel like it was a closer game than the score shows. We figured out a lot. We made some big changes being down and we pulled it together. I’m so proud of the girls.”

The Flyers were at Freeport Monday, host Gorham in a critical game Thursday (see our website for game story), then welcome Lake Region Saturday before playing at Fryeburg Academy Monday.

“We’ll keep moving forward,” Connors said. “We need some wins. Hopefully we’ll play like we played the first half today and continue it for the whole game. We have to put it together quick. If we figure it out, it will be sweet.”

Track

Cheverus joined South Portland and Westbrook for a track meet at Gorham last week. The Stags boys and girls each finished third. The Red Riots boys and girls both came in first.

Portland hosted Sanford, Scarborough and Thornton Academy. The Bulldogs boys and girls were each second to the Red Storm.

Tennis

The Western Maine Conference boys’ tennis doubles tournament final wound up an all-Waynflete affair last weekend when Max Shurman and Basil DiBenedetto defeated Jeff Adey and Charlie DiNapoli. Photo courtesy Ross Burdick.

Waynflete’s Max Shurman and Basil DiBenedetto won the Western Maine Conference boys’ tennis doubles championship last weekend, defeating teammates Jeff Adey and Charlie DiNapoli, 3-6, 6-2, 10-8.

The Flyers, the 13-time Class C state champions, entered Monday’s home match versus defending Class B champion Yarmouth on an eight-match win streak after downing Greely and Cape Elizabeth by 4-1 scores last week.

Waynflete’s girls improved to 6-3 after blanking Lake Region and St. Dom’s and beating Cape Elizabeth (3-2) last week.

Portland’s boys improved to 7-2 and extended their win streak to five after recent victories over Sanford (5-0), Scarborough (3-2) and Westbrook (5-0).

The Bulldogs girls dropped 1-8 after a 3-2 loss to Westbrook last Thursday.

Deering’s boys improved to 6-3 after wins last week over Windham (4-1), Bonny Eagle (5-0) and Westbrook (5-0).

The Rams girls fell to 0-9 after a 4-1 loss to Massabesic last Thursday.

Cheverus’ boys fell to 5-4 after a 5-0 loss to undefeated Falmouth last Thursday.

The Stags girls were 3-5 after losing to Falmouth (5-0).