The spring sports campaign continues to race along and for many teams, more than the half of the regular season schedule will soon be in the rearview mirror.
Cape Elizabeth and South Portland teams have done very well so far on the diamond, field, track and court and you can expect that to continue.
Here’s a look back at the week that was and what’s on tap:
Baseball
Cape Elizabeth’s baseball team was 5-2 and atop the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time after a 4-2 home loss to York and a 6-3 home win over Wells in recent action. In the setback, Charlie Song doubled and tripled. In the victory, Andy Choi, Gabe Harmon and Caiden Hollowell all had two hits with an RBI and Jameson Bryant earned the win, striking out eight. The Capers were at Lake Region Wednesday, visit Yarmouth Friday, Greely Monday and Poland Wednesday of next week.
Reigning state champion South Portland fell to 4-5 and ninth in Class A South after recent losses at Scarborough (5-4) and at home to Massabesic (8-1) and Thornton Academy (5-1). South Portland was one out from victory at the Red Storm, but couldn’t close it out. Jude Charltray had two RBI. Against the Mustangs, Alex Horton and Curtis Metcalf each had a pair of hits. In the loss to the Golden Trojans, Kason Lewis and Corbin Voisine both had two hits.
The Red Riots were at Biddeford Thursday, host Bonny Eagle Saturday and welcome Marshwood Tuesday of next week.
Softball
South Portland’s Olive Manns slides safety into home during last week’s win at Biddeford. Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald
South Portland’s softball team won its first seven games, capped by victories last week over visiting Gorham (2-1) and host Biddeford (10-7). Against the Rams, Phoebe Dodge and Rachel DiMauro hit RBI singles, Ella Nickerson tripled and singled, Andrea DiMauro threw a two-hitter and the Red Riots threw out the potential tying run at home to end it. In the victory over the Tigers, a seven-run third inning was difference. Nickerson doubled, tripled and had two RBI, Andrea DiMauro and Jillian Edgar each produced three hits and Baylie Littlefield came on in relief to slam the door.
“For me, it’s just about staying relaxed and not feeling any pressure,” Littlefield said. “If someone gets a hit, they get a hit. It’s OK. We’ll get the next one. I was telling myself that I’ve got to trust my defense. They’re really good and I believe in them a lot.”
“Don’t overlook us,” said Nickerson. “We’re here to play. We want it. We all trust each other a ton. We’re gritty and we have what it takes.”
“I think we’re enjoying being a sleeping dog, to tell you the truth,” added South Portland coach Drew DiMauro. “Especially being a young group. We’re fine with that.”
The Red Riots’ undefeated run ended last Saturday against visiting Cheverus, which also entered the game without a blemish. The Stags scored four runs off Littlefield in the top of the first and rolled to a 13-0 (five-inning victory). Nickerson belted a triple for South Portland’s lone hit.
“This wasn’t the ideal game we wanted to play with them,” Drew DiMauro said. “We wanted it to be a lot tighter, but we shot ourselves in the foot. We can clean that up. Our girls will bounce back. It’s a 16-game season, not a one-game season.”
Monday, the Red Riots improved to 8-1 by holding off visiting Portland, 6-5. Annalise Soucy had three hits, Nickerson smacked another triple, to go with a single, while Dodge had two hits and Littlefield doubled. South Portland built a 6-0 lead, then held on for dear life to prevail. The Red Riots were at Falmouth Wednesday, host Westbrook Friday and go to Massabesic Tuesday of next week before welcoming Scarborough the following day in a pivotal showdown.
Cape Elizabeth was 2-5 and 11th in Class B South after a 17-2 (five-inning) home loss to reigning state champion York and a 14-11 home win over Wells. In the victory, Finn Gilbert had four hits and scored three runs, while Grace Callahan had three hits and Sophia Chung and Lauren Steinberg added two apiece. The Capers were at Lake Region Wednesday, visit Yarmouth Friday, Greely Monday and Poland Wednesday of next week.
Boys’ lacrosse
Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ lacrosse team stayed undefeated after handling visiting Gorham (17-4) and host Windham (16-5) in recent action. Against the Rams, Keegan Lathrop and Bobby Offit each scored three times. In the win over the Eagles, Lathrop and Offit both scored six times. The Capers (8-0 and first in the Class A Heals) figure to be tested Saturday afternoon at home by Thornton Academy (see our website for game story) and again next Wednesday when Falmouth pays a visit to Hannaford Field.
South Portland improved to 4-2 and fifth in Class A after last week’s 13-10 victory at Brunswick. Beckett Mehlhorn scored five goals and Bryce Gordon and Ian House added three apiece. The Red Riots hosted Biddeford Wednesday, go to reigning Class B champion York Saturday, then return home to meet Thornton Academy Wednesday of next week.
Girls’ lacrosse
Cape Elizabeth’s Libby Hooper fights for a draw during last week’s home loss to Greely. Hoffer photo.
On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth was 4-4 and seventh in the Class A Heals after a 7-2 home loss to two-time reigning Class B champion Greely, a 13-5 win at Thornton Academy and a 6-4 win at Massabesic. Campbell DeGeorge and Kaity Woods each had one goal against the Rangers, but the Capers went over 32 minutes in one stretch without scoring.
“When we get the ball on our stick, we do great things, but when we don’t get that bounce on the circle, you can’t win if you don’t have the ball,” said Capers coach Alex Spark. “We had possessions and moved the ball well and had shots on cage, but they had a couple good saves. We talked about wiping the first two quarters out of our mind and we did awesome in the third and fourth quarters.”
DeGeorge scored five times against the Golden Trojans. Woods led the way with three goals in the win over the Mustangs. The Capers hosted York Thursday and welcome defending Class C champion Freeport Tuesday of next week.
“We’ve talked all season about staying mentally tough, win or lose,” Spark said. “I think that will come in handy come postseason. We’ve had tough games where we haven’t come out on top, but we learned something and got better.”
South Portland fell to 1-5 and 20th in Class A following last week’s 10-3 home loss to Biddeford. Cassidy Clyde, Maddie Fitzherbert and Amelia Saunders all scored once. The Red Riots were at Deering Thursday, then host Portland Tuesday of next week.
Outdoor track
South Portland’s boys’ outdoor track team joined Noble and Sanford at Falmouth for a meet Tuesday. The Red Riots finished first while the girls were second to the host Navigators.
Cape Elizabeth took part in a seven-team meet at Greely. The Capers girls finished third and the boys placed fourth. The Rangers won both meets.
Tennis
Cape Elizabeth’s Gabe Berman will compete in the state singles tennis tournament later this month. File photo.
The state singles tournament will be held May 17, 18 and 20 in Lewiston. Cape Elizabeth’s Gabe Berman and South Portland’s Micah Yarlott qualified for the boys’ field.
In team action, Cape Elizabeth boys were 4-2 and fifth in Class B South at press time after a 3-2 win over Greely and a 3-2 loss to 15-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete in recent action.
The Capers girls were 3-2 and seventh after a 4-1 loss to Waynflete.
In Class A South, South Portland’s boys were 4-4 and eighth following losses to Scarborough (4-1) and Kennebunk (3-2).
The Red Riots girls were 2-4 and 11th in Class A South after losing to Scarborough in their most recent outing, 4-0.
Press Herald staff writer Drew Bonifant contributed to this story.
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