Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year:

BEN BREWSTER, Senior—Lacrosse

* All-American

* WMC All-Conference, first team

* Senior All-Star

Watching Ben Brewster on the lacrosse field, one is compelled to believe he’s been playing the game for a long time.

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Guess again.

The 2010 season was only Brewster’s second full-time campaign, but was he ever a quick learner.

The state’s premier defender wreaked havoc all over the field, helped the Capers overcome a slow start and ever-mindful that the Class of 2009 was the first to graduate from Cape Elizabeth without a state title and consumed with avoiding the same fate, led the storied program to its first championship since 2005.

For being a natural leader, a standout and for being at his best on the biggest stage, Ben Brewster is The Forecaster’s selection for Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

Brewster grew up in Cape Elizabeth with soccer as his top sport. He came to lacrosse his sophomore season, but broke his wrist. After emerging as a top player as a junior, Brewster helped the Capers wake up the echoes this spring.

Crediting his soccer background for his easy transition to lacrosse, Brewster simply made life difficult for any opposing player foolish enough to get near him. If the ball wound up on the ground, more often than not he corralled it. He finished the season with 195 ground balls and set up five teammates for goals.

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His leadership and confidence proved even more crucial.

Cape Elizabeth began the year with a lopsided home loss to upstart Falmouth in what everyone believed was a changing of the guard in Western Class B. The Capers would fall a second time to the Yachtsmen and also at Yarmouth, but as the season progressed, their improvement was noticeable and by the end of the regular campaign, especially after a shocking home comeback win over the Clippers, Cape Elizabeth was a trendy pick in some quarters to go all the way.

Brewster and his teammates surrendered just one goal in a semifinal round win over Waynflete, then avenged the two regular season setbacks with a dramatic overtime victory at Falmouth in the regional final, holding the Yachtsmen to just two goals after halftime. In the state final, explosive Yarmouth was also held in check as its All-American, Steven Petrovek, managed to score just twice. Down the stretch, the Clippers were down a goal and had possession, but Brewster and his defensive mates never let them get a good look and the Capers finally, after four long years playing second fiddle, were champions once more.

Brewster earned All-Conference and All-American honors for his efforts. He’s also recognized as one of the top soccer players in the state and played varsity basketball this past winter. He’s spending time this summer the U-18 MCU soccer team, which advanced to the regional championships in West Virginia.

Brewster will attend Bowdoin College in the fall, where he will play soccer and lacrosse. He’s undecided on a major.

One thing we can all decide on is that he was a unique talent, one who will be missed. The likes of Ben Brewster, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year, just don’t come around very often.

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Coach Ben Raymond’s comment: “Ben has been incredible. He’s been the best leader we’ve had in awhile, across the board. Getting younger kids involved, getting early to practice. He wins every sprint. He works really hard to learn the game. He’s just a great defender. He’s a great soccer player and that translates very well. He teaches really well. He’s a huge reason our defense is so good. He makes everything happen.”

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)

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2004 winner: Garret Currier (Tennis)

2003 winner: Alex Weaver (Lacrosse)

2002 winner: Mike DiFusco (Lacrosse)

Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year

GABE DONAHUE, Senior—Softball

* WMC All-Conference, first team

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* Team captain

Gabe Donahue did a little of everything during her time at Cape Elizabeth. She played on a state championship softball team, helped resurrect a long dormant basketball program and this spring, ran the gamut of emotions.

The Capers, who have long been competitors, basically started from scratch in 2010 and lost their first four games. But thanks in large part to Donahue’s contributions, they turned things around, won eight of 11 games and had a shot to grab a playoff spot in the finale at Greely. Despite some golden opportunities, Cape Elizabeth fell short, losing in eight innings, but the season wound up much more successful than expected.

For being a great team leader, clutch hitter and for having a personality that has earned her admiration far from her hometown, Gabe Donahue is The Forecaster’s choice as Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year.

Donahue grew up in Cape Elizabeth, started playing softball at a young age and was a three-sport star in high school (playing field hockey in the fall). Playing third base in the spring, she was on a state champion as a freshman and played for a pair of very competitive squads in 2008 and 2009.

This year would prove to be a challenge, but Donahue did everything she could to keep the Capers relevant, batting .410, hitting .429 with runners in scoring position, playing in all 16 games, while ripping 25 hits, including two doubles and a triple, while driving in 11 runs.

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Donahue, who moved to shortstop this spring, certainly started the season with a flourish, ripping five hits, scoring twice and driving in a run against Falmouth, but the host Capers lost, 13-8. She had two hits versus Gray-New Gloucester’s standout pitcher Laura Getchell, had two hits and an RBI in a win over Poland, tripled in a loss to Wells and closed her career with a three-hit effort in the loss to Greely.

She then earned all-conference recognition.

Donahue was also the vice president of her class, a member of Glee Club and National Honor Society, plays tennis recreationally and is working at the Kettle Cove Ice Cream store this summer, along with the Cape Elizabeth girls’ basketball summer program. She’ll attend Colby College in the fall, where she hopes to play softball. She’s undecided on a major.

There haven’t been many student-athletes that were able to combine greatness and class on the field quite the way this one did. Gabe Donahue, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year, has a lot to be proud of.

Coach Joe Henrikson’s comment: “Gabe has played with us since we won states her freshman year. She helped solidify the infield. She’s the only player in my 12 years who was a single captain. We always had two or three before. She’s a true leader. A great kid, who’s tough as nails. I can’t say enough good things about her.”

2009 winner: Colleen Martin (Softball)

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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)

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2002 winner: Anna Lombard (Lacrosse)

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Brewster

Donahue


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