All the eight teams in the Western Maine Class A baseball playoffs, which begin today, have at least 10 wins. That alone could make for some exciting games and an everyone-has-a-chance- to-win-it mentality.

The scenario is nearly the same in Western Class B, which has three quarterfinals today. Seven of the eight teams have 10 or more wins.

The quest for state baseball championships begins with regional quarterfinals.

“There’s a lot of balance and I think it could be real exciting,” said Cheverus Coach Mac McKew.

The top-seeded Stags (14-2) host No. 8 Thornton Academy (10-6) at 4 p.m. Cheverus edged the Golden Trojans 5-4 in the second game of the regular season

“We have complete respect for Thornton Academy,” said Mc- Kew. “I expect a very competitive game.”

Cheverus enters the postseason on a high with two extra- inning wins over Westbrook last week. The first gave the Stags the top seed in the playoffs. The second came in the Telegram League championship game.

Left-hander Harry Ridge (3-0) is the likely starter for Cheverus. In the regular-season game with Thornton, Ridge relieved in the seventh and struck out the last two batters with the tying and winning runs on base.

Cheverus has a lot of pitching depth. Ridge gets the start because he has pitched against more playoff teams than the rest of the staff.

“Harry has pitched in more of the bigger games,” said McKew.

The Stags also can produce plenty of offense. Joey Royer has a team-leading .512 batting average; Nick Lops is batting .452 with 21 RBI, second in the league; leadoff hitter Louie DiStasio has a .418 average with 20 runs scored; and Peter Potthoff, who is batting .391, had the winning hit against Westbrook last Saturday.

No. 5 South Portland plays at No. 4 Scarborough, No. 6 Marshwood and No. 3 Deering play at USM’s field in Gorham and No. 7 Biddeford plays at No. 2 Westbrook.

Westbrook, the preseason favorite, will be looking to regroup and get to the regional final for the second straight year.

The Blue Blazes’ pitching took a hit with an arm injury to left-hander Scott Heath, who won’t pitch in the postseason.

The Blazes are hoping right-handers Sean Murphy and Matt Weimer come up big and that their offense produces well in the playoffs.

Deering moved its game from Hadlock Field to USM because of a conflict with the Portland Sea Dogs.

Cape Elizabeth Coach Chris Hayward summed up the start of the Class B playoffs.

“Now we enter the wide-open playoffs. Any team can beat the other one,” he said. “I think 1 through 8 could win it.

“You have to respect everyone and play your game. We need to make the plays we’re supposed to make, put the bat on the ball and be at the top of our game.”

No. 3 Cape Elizabeth and No. 6 Falmouth split two regular-season games, each winning on the road.

“I think we’re peaking,” said Falmouth Coach Kevin Winship. “We finished the season with wins over Cape, Yarmouth and Wells.

In today’s other Class B quarterfinals, No. 8 Gray-New Gloucester will play at No. 1 Yarmouth and No. 7 Maranacook of Readfield will play at No. 2 Greely.

Greely and Yarmouth tied for first place in the Heal point standings, but the Clippers won a coin flip to get the top spot.

Greely Coach Derek Soule also said it’s wide open, unlike a year ago when Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth each were 15-1 in the regular season. Two wins later, they met for the regional title, with the Capers winning.

“There’s a track record that shows anyone can beat anyone else,” Soule said. 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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