Like clockwork, Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ tennis team brought home more hardware last week.

The Capers won their third straight Class B championship and their record-setting 16th overall crown after downing Morse in the regional final and Camden Hills in the state final.

Cape Elizabeth, ranked second in Western B after a 9-3 regular season (marred only by two losses to eventual repeat Class A champion Falmouth and another to now eight-time Class C champion Waynflete) blanked No. 7 Greely in the quarterfinals, 5-0, then outlasted upset-minded third-ranked Fryeburg Academy in its toughest match, a 3-2 semifinal round victory. Last Wednesday, at Bates College in Lewiston, the Capers ousted top-ranked Morse, 4-1, as Michael Mills and Luke Gilman won their singles matches and Parker Dinsmore and Matt Chipman (first doubles) and Conner Sullivan and Jimmy Salerno (second doubles) prevailed in straight sets. Only Ethan Murphy, at third singles, dropped a close match.

Saturday, Cape Elizabeth handled Camden Hills, 4-1, although both doubles matches were tight. Mills rolled at first singles, 6-2, 6-0, over Austin Pohlman. Gilman defeated Josiah Krul, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2 doubles. Murphy (the hero of the Capers’ basketball championship back in February) capped his memorable school year with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Matt Morse at third singles. Sullivan and Salerno were 6-7 (0), 6-4, 6-4 winners over Josiah Simko and Alex Forcillo at second doubles. Dinsmore and Chipman dropped their first doubles match to Jared Garske and Colby Arau, 6-4, 2-6, 4-6.

“This was a sweet one,” said longtime Cape Elizabeth coach Andy Strout. “This year’s match was very similar to last year, when we also played Camden. We knew that doubles was going to be a battle and it certainly was. Singles really came down to Ethan Murphy, who has consistently worked so hard point-by-point. He just hustles all over the court and always seems to out works his opponents.

“We’d lost four to graduation and a bunch of seniors really stepped forward along with the addition of Michael Mills. We also had great leadership from our captain, Luke Gilman. I’m very proud of these kids who worked hard day-in and day-out. Also this put us above Lewiston and South Portland for the most championships.”

The Capers finished 13-3 and don’t be surprised if they make another title run in 2016.

Scarborough’s girls also reached the regional final.

The Red Storm, ranked fourth in Western A, beat No. 5 Thornton Academy, 4-1, in the quarterfinals and upset top-ranked Windham, 4-1, in the semifinals to earn a right to play the unbeatable team, Falmouth, the No. 2 seed, which entered the regional final on a 123-match win streak.

The Yachtsmen would make it 124 in a row with a 4-1 victory, but Scarborough got a point from its second doubles tandem of Ashley Levesque and Kristen Levesque in a tiebreaker.

The Red Storm finished 13-2.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements

---

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ tennis team celebrated yet another state title last weekend.

Copy the Story Link