Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ tennis team found itself in a very familiar position at press time.

Closing in on another state title.

The three-time defending Class B state champion Capers, who earned the No. 3 seed in Class B South after a 10-2 regular season (which was marred only by a pair of losses to two-time defending Class A champion Falmouth), ousted No. 6 Yarmouth (5-0) in the quarterfinals, then downed No. 2 Morse (4-1) in the semifinals.

In the regional final Thursday at Bates College in Lewiston, Cape Elizabeth squared off against No. 5 York (8-6), a team the Capers beat twice by 5-0 scores in the regular season. 

If, as expected, Cape Elizabeth advances to the state final again, it will battle either Camden Hills (13-1) or Caribou (13-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lewiston High School. The Capers beat the Windjammers, 4-1, in last year’s state match. Cape Elizabeth also downed Camden Hills, 5-0, in the 2014 state final.

The Capers boys had some company at Thursday’s regional finals, as the Cape Elizabeth girls also advanced and Scarborough’s girls returned to that round, hoping to slay the unbeatable dynastic powerhouse from Falmouth.

The Capers, ranked second in Class B South after a 9-3 regular season, had no trouble dispatching two-time defending champion Greely, the No. 7 seed, by a 5-0 score in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Yarmouth, 5-0, in the semifinals to set up a showdown against No. 8 York (9-6) in the regional final. On May 17, host Cape Elizabeth beat the Wildcats, 5-0.

If the Capers make it to states for the first time since winning it all in 2007, they would battle either Waterville (14-0) or Camden Hills (12-2) for the championship.

Scarborough was 12-0 in the regular season, but finished second to Falmouth in Class A South. The Red Storm blanked No. 7 Cheverus, 5-0, in the quarterfinals, then survived No. 3 Gorham, 3-2, in the semifinals to set up a date with the 14-0 Yachtsmen in the regional final. Falmouth entered play Thursday having won eight straight state titles and 139 consecutive matches.

The teams don’t play in the regular season. They did meet each of the past two postseasons, with the Yachtsmen prevailing, 5-0, in the 2014 semifinals and 4-1 in last year’s regional final.

If Scarborough springs the upset, it will square off against either Lewiston (14-0) or Brunswick (13-1) Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Lewiston High School.

Three other local teams saw their season come to an end last week.

Scarborough’s boys, ranked fifth, lost, 4-1, to No. 4 Portland in the Class A South quarterfinals to wind up 9-4.

South Portland’s boys, ranked seventh in Class A South, beat No. 10 Cheverus, 5-0, in the preliminary round, then lost, 5-0, to No. 2 Falmouth in the quarterfinals to finish 9-5, the Red Riots’ best record since the 2003 squad posted the same mark.

South Portland’s girls went in as the No. 9 seed, but lost, 4-1, to No. 8 Deering in the preliminary round to wind up 6-7.

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

Copy the Story Link