Southern edition Spring Coaches of the Year

Boys’ team

Donny Dutton, Cape Elizabeth baseball

File photo

Cape Elizabeth was the team to beat in Class B South for almost the entirety of the 2023 season and while the Capers wound up falling one win shy of playing for a state title, it was a most successful campaign by any measure.

Making Cape Elizabeth’s rise even more impressive it that it came with a first-year coach at the helm and suffice it to say that Donny Dutton made quite an impression, so much so that The Forecaster is naming him our Southern edition Spring Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team.

Dutton stood out as a player at Old Orchard Beach High School and at Thomas College. He spent some time coaching at Old Orchard Beach, then spent seven years as the Capers’ junior varsity coach, before replacing Glenn Reeves as varsity coach this spring.

Cape Elizabeth got to the Class B South semifinals in 2022, after a nine-win regular season.

This spring, with Dutton pushing all the right buttons, getting huge contributions from veterans and newcomers alike, the Capers turned heads from the onset, winning their first eight contests. Several of those victories were memorable, including a one-run victory over reigning regional champion Freeport, on a steal of home in the bottom of the seventh inning, and a pair of one-run wins over rival Greely, including one in 10-innings.

Cape Elizabeth wound up with a record of 12-3-1, its best in 13 seasons, and was the top seed for the Class B South playoffs. There, the Capers eliminated Morse and Fryeburg Academy before finally meeting their match in Yarmouth, which beat them, 4-2, to end a magical season.

“We accomplished a lot this year,” Dutton said. “It’s a great group of kids and it starts with the seniors. I told them for being a first-time varsity coach, I’m glad it was with this group and we have something to build on for the future.”

Ah yes, the future. It’s bright. Very bright. With Donny Dutton, our Southern edition boys’ team Spring Coach of the Year leading the way, look for Cape Elizabeth to contend for titles on an annual basis.

Previous winners:

• 2022 Dan Hanley (South Portland lacrosse)
* 2021 Mike Owens (South Portland baseball)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Mike D’Andrea (Scarborough baseball)
• 2018 Mike Owens (South Portland baseball)
• 2017 Ben Raymond (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2016 Mike D’Andrea (Scarborough baseball)
• 2015 Mike Owens (South Portland baseball)
• 2014 Tom Fiorini (South Portland lacrosse)
• 2013 Andy Strout (Cape Elizabeth tennis)
• 2012 Chris Hayward (Cape Elizabeth baseball)
• 2011 Craig MacDonald (Scarborough tennis)
• 2010 Ben Raymond (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2009 Jim Cronin (Scarborough baseball)
• 2008 Joe Hezlep (Scarborough lacrosse)
• 2007 Craig McDonald (Scarborough tennis)
• 2006 Tobey Farrington (Scarborough lacrosse)
• 2005 Dave Weatherbie (Cape Elizabeth track)
• 2004 Todd Day (Cape Elizabeth baseball)
• 2003 Ben Raymond (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2002 Andy Strout (Cape Elizabeth tennis)

Girls’ team

Drew DiMauro, South Portland/Westbrook softball

Courtesy South Portland High School

It’s challenging enough to take over a new team in the most competitive league in the state and it’s even more of a test when you have to mold two schools into a co-op program on the fly in the process.

Luckily for the South Portland/Westbrook co-op team, Drew DiMauro was up for the challenge and he didn’t just make the squad a contender, he got the most out of some excellent players from both schools and led the team to a season that far eclipsed the expectation of most.

In that light, The Forecaster is naming Drew DiMauro as our Southern edition Spring Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team.

DiMauro had done his share of coaching at the youth level and in his first season as a high school coach, he pieced together a team that had no trouble crushing the ball and with his daughter, junior Andrea DiMauro, leading the way on the mound (another daughter, freshman Rachel DiMauro, was also on the roster), South Portland/Westbrook proved to be a force to be reckoned with.

The squad won its first six games and wound up 12-4, losing only to reigning state champion Biddeford, pitching-rich Kennebunk, eventual champion Windham and Gorham, by a run in a wild regular season-finale.

South Portland/Westbrook would return to Gorham for the quarterfinals and despite digging an early 6-0 hole, showed what it was made of, when it roared all the way back to take a 7-6 lead. Ultimately, the Rams rallied for two runs to win, 8-7, ending South Portland/Westbrook’s season, but what a spirited run it was.

“We feel fulfilled,” DiMauro said, following the playoff ouster. “I’m really proud of how hard they fight and how serious they take it. It’s a special group.”

Look for that group to continue to raise the bar in 2024. With Drew DiMauro, our Southern edition girls’ team Spring Coach of the Year, leading the way, South Portland/Westbrook should be one of the last teams standing next season.

Previous winners:

• 2022 Lincoln MacIsaac (Scarborough tennis)
* 2021 Emily Field (Scarborough lacrosse)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Lincoln MacIsaac (Scarborough tennis)
• 2018 Alex Spark (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2017 Tom Griffin (Scarborough softball)
• 2016 Sarah Boeckel (Cape Elizabeth tennis)
• 2015 Leslie Dyer (South Portland lacrosse)
• 2014 Jeff Perkins (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2013 Tom Griffin (Scarborough softball)
• 2012 Jeff Perkins (Cape Elizabeth lacrosse)
• 2011 Marcia Wood (Scarborough lacrosse)
• 2010 Ralph Aceto (South Portland softball)
• 2009 Ralph Aceto (South Portland softball)
• 2008 Tom Griffin (Scarborough softball)
• 2007 Tom Griffin (Scarborough softball)
• 2006 Joe Henrikson (Cape Elizabeth softball)
• 2005 Jim Hartman (South Portland softball)
• 2004 Susan Ray (Cape Elizabeth tennis)
• 2003 Tom Griffin (Scarborough softball)
• 2002 Jack DiBiase (South Portland softball)