Cape Elizabeth Capers Spring Athletes of the Year

Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year:

CAM BROWN, Senior—Baseball

* WMC Class B All-Star, second-team

No matter the circumstance, Cam Brown remained poised and confident.

That comportment and leadership helped the Cape Elizabeth baseball team enjoy yet another solid campaign in 2011 as Brown hit over .400 (in anything but a hitter-friendly ballpark), played superb shortstop and even served as the team’s closer.

For capping his terrific high school career with another memorable campaign, Cam Brown gets The Forecaster’s nod as Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year.

Brown grew up in Cape Elizabeth and soon became a solid three-sport athlete. He was the goalie on the soccer team in the fall, a point guard in basketball in the winter (the Capers went to the state final back in March) and a shortstop and pitcher on the diamond.

This season produced many highlights. Brown had two doubles and three RBI in a win over Fryeburg, two hits in a win versus Gray-New Gloucester, earned a victory in relief against rival Greely, had three hits and a run scored against Falmouth, doubled, singled, scored a run and drove in four in a victory over then-undefeated Yarmouth, crushed a three-run homer at York, had a pair of hits versus Freeport, singled, tripled and drove in a run against Lake Region, scored a run and threw out the potential tying run at home for the final out in a home victory over York and doubled, singled, scored a run, drove in another and if that wasn’t enough, earned the save, in a win over Greely in the finale.

Cape Elizabeth’s hopes of returning to the state final were dashed by Falmouth in the quarterfinals, but Brown ended up hitting .414 for the season with 24 hits (including seven doubles, a triple and a home run) and 15 RBI. He scored 22 times.

Brown, who also plays tennis recreationally, will attend Holy Cross (his first choice) next year, where he plans to try out for soccer and may study business.

Certainly more success awaits him at the next level. Cam Brown, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, was another in a long line of Capers’ diamond stars and he had a senior season to remember.

Coach Chris Hayward’s comment: “Cam is going to be so hard to replace. The ground he covers, the instincts he has, the outcome he produces. He was great to coach for four years. He always listened and worked his hardest to do what was asked of him. He’s what every young player should try to emulate. He’s focused, level headed and very gifted athletically. He put up big numbers playing half his games at a field where the prevailing wind is in from leftfield.”

* 2010 winner: Ben Brewster (Lacrosse)

* 2009 winner: Andrew Guay (Baseball)

* 2008 winner; Zach Belden (Lacrosse)

* 2007 winner: Pat Murphy (Baseball)

* 2006 winner: Evan Bagley (Lacrosse)

* 2005 winner: Brett Brown (Lacrosse)

* 2004 winner: Garret Currier (Tennis)

* 2003 winner: Alex Weaver (Lacrosse)

* 2002 winner: Mike DiFusco (Lacrosse)

Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year

ELIN SONESSON, Junior—Lacrosse

* WMC All-Star, first-team

* Academic All-American

* Team MVP

* Coaches’ Award winner

After a series of agonizing losses to rival Falmouth, including one in last year’s playoffs, Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ lacrosse team finally beat the Yachtsmen when it counted most June 11, in the semifinals of the Western Class B playoffs.

Junior goalie Elin Sonesson was her usual impressive self in that game, making seven clutch saves, but it was revealed afterwards that her performance was actually heroic.

She was playing with a broken thumb.

Add that to her resume of sensational efforts and it’s clear that Cape Elizabeth not only has one of the state’s great goalies, but also a leader who will do anything to see her team victorious.

In light of her strong play all season and her ability to still stand tall even when she was far from 100 percent, Elin Sonesson is The Forecaster’s choice for Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year.

Sonesson grew up in Sweden and came to Cape Elizabeth in the sixth grade. She started playing lacrosse in middle school and didn’t move between the pipes until her sophomore year. She also plays soccer in the fall and skis recreationally in the winter, but lacrosse is where she’s dazzled.

Sonesson made seven saves in an overtime win over Marshwood, stopped eight shots versus Wells, seven against Massabesic, 12 versus Waynflete, 15 against York, 10 in a second win over Wells, 10 versus defending Class B champion NYA (in the Capers’ first win over the Panthers in several seasons) and nine in a narrow victory over Greely.

Cape Elizabeth wound up a solid 9-3 and won its 10th game at Falmouth in the semifinals as this time, the Capers came from behind and held on as Sonesson held the Yachtsmen scoreless the final 12:40.

Sonesson wasn’t 100 percent (or anywhere close) for that one after hurting her thumb previously in practice, but she played on and found out two days later that the thumb was broken. She had to watch the regional final from the sidelines and even though she cheered on a tremendous effort from her replacement, Abby McInerney, Cape Elizabeth fell one goal shy.

Sonesson, who also plays the tuba in the jazz band, did receive plenty of postseason acclaim for her play and figures to have a solid senior season. She hopes to play in college and should have several schools interested.

That’s because she’s capable of anything between the pipes. Elin Sonesson, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year, has set the bar for excellence pretty high and consistently lives up to and exceeds expectations.

Coach Kurt Chapin’s comment: “Elin was our constant all season. We had so many injuries and in some games she was facing 20 to 25 shots. She came up big when we needed her and played solid all season. It really helps to have a goalie that the team is confident in.”

* 2010 winner: Gabe Donahue (Softball)

* 2009 winner: Colleen Martin (Softball)

* 2008 winner: Trish Thibodeau (Softball)

* 2007 winner: Maureen Kertes (Softball)

* 2006 winner: Clare Egan (Track)

* 2005 winner: Elise Moody-Roberts (Track)

* 2004 winner: Dana Riker (Track)

* 2003 winner: Leslie Harrison (Track)

* 2002 winner: Anna Lombard (Lacrosse)

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