(Ed. Note: For the complete Cheverus-Bonny Eagle, Deering-Scarborough and Portland-South Portland baseball, Waynflete-Yarmouth boys’ lacrosse and Waynflete-Cape Elizabeth girls’ lacrosse game stories, with box scores and photos, see theforecaster.net)

With June on the horizon, it’s time to start crowning spring champions.

Outdoor track has its conference championship meets this weekend, with the state meets to follow June 6.

Tennis will crown individual champions Monday, while the team playoffs start next week.

Baseball, softball and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse are in their final days and teams are vying to make the postseason and are jockeying for optimal seeds.

Here’s a glimpse:

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Baseball

Cheverus’ baseball team found itself third behind South Portland and Falmouth in the Western Class A Heal Points standings at the start of the week after improving to 9-3 last week with home victories over Bonny Eagle (8-5), Deering (10-5) and Massabesic (4-3). Against the Scots, the Stags let a 5-0 lead slip away, but they pulled it out behind a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBI from catcher Logan McCarthy and a strong relief performance from Matt Gedaro, who earned the save.

“We have heart,” Gedaro said. “We play for the team. It’s all about the name on the chest. We were determined to come back and win the game and that’s what we did today.”

“All of our losses have been by one run, but I have to give the guys credit for their resiliency,” said Cheverus coach Mac McKew. “It’s been there. Bonny Eagle battled, but we swung the bats. It’s the best we’ve swung the bats all year. It came at a good time.”

Jared Brooks and Jensen Lapoint both had three hits and three RBI versus the Rams, as Jack Casale got the win in relief and Gedaro earned another save. Against the Mustangs, Alex Jacobs earned the win, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings, and Alex Libby hit a two-run triple.

The Stags were at Portland Tuesday, go to Gorham Thursday, host Windham Saturday, then close the regular season with a showdown at preseason favorite Marshwood June 3.

“We’re all in this together,” said McCarthy. “We believe we can compete with anybody.”

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Portland was 8-4 and sixth after a 3-2 nine-inning home win over Windham and losses at Biddeford (6-3) and South Portland (4-0) last week. The victory was a thriller, as pitcher Charles Barnard retired the first 14 batters he faced, then surrendered two runs in the sixth. The Bulldogs rallied to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth with an unearned run, then finally dispatched Windham’s star hurler Tanner Laberge (who had 18 strikeouts) in the ninth, as John Williams singled, stole second and third and came home on a wild pitch. Ryan Ruhlin earned the win in relief. Williams had two of Portland’s four hits in the loss to the Tigers. The Bulldogs almost didn’t get any hits at all against the Red Riots, as South Portland ace Henry Curran took a no-hitter into the seventh before Jake Knop led off with a single. That was all for Portland’s offense, however, and Dan Marzilli was the hard-luck loser.

“We had to be perfect defensively and both innings they scored, we weren’t,” Bulldogs coach Mike Rutherford lamented. “We came in knowing Curran would be on and that we had to win 1-0 or 2-1. We had to play a perfect game and we didn’t.”

Portland was home with Cheverus Tuesday, welcomes Bonny Eagle Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), has a showdown with Deering Friday, then closes at Sanford June 2.

Deering, which won just 10 games total between 2012-14, guaranteed itself no worse than a .500 season last week. The Rams sandwiched wins at Noble (7-4) and Scarborough (6-1) around a 10-5 setback at Cheverus to improve to 8-5 and ninth in Western A. Against the Knights, James Sinclair got the win, Patrick Viola touched home three times and Nick Bevilacqua scored twice. Viola, Dominick Bernard and Kevin Goldberg all had two hits in the loss to the Stags. At the Red Storm, Sam Luebbert gave up a first inning run, then settled down and went the distance, Sinclair doubled and tripled and Bevilacqua and Ian Westphal both drove in a pair of runs.

“All four years I’ve watched us progress,” Luebbert said. “Not much was expected of us this year, but I think we’ve proved ourselves.”

“My personal goal when the season started was to be .500 and make the playoffs,” first-year Deering coach Josh Stowell said. “I thought that was realistic. Now, I think we can definitely finish better than .500.”

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The Rams were home with Sanford Tuesday, host Portland Friday and close the regular season at defending regional champion Windham Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete was 3-11 and 15th (only 12 teams make the playoffs) after losses at home to Sacopee Valley (4-1) and Old Orchard Beach (17-4) and at Traip Academy (8-4). Nick Hagler, Josh Lodish and Tommy Silk all had two hits in the loss to the Hawks. Tommy Silk tripled and Peterson Silk had a pair of hits versus the Rangers. The Flyers were at Sacopee Valley Tuesday and close Wednesday with a home game versus North Yarmouth Academy.

Softball

At press time, all four city softball teams were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, although there was still time for that to change.

McAuley began the week 5-9 and 14th in the Western Class A Heal Points standings, but only 12 teams qualify. Last week, the Lions suffered losses at defending regional champion Thornton Academy (8-2), at home to Noble (6-5) and most frustrating of all, 5-4 in eight innings, at Sanford, as McAuley let a seventh inning lead slip away. The Lions host Massabesic Wednesday and go to Deering for the finale Friday.

The Rams were 2-12 and 16th after losses last week at Noble (11-4), at home to Sanford (12-0 in five innings) and at Massabesic (8-0). Kaylee Helmick had three hits versus the Knights and Siobhan Densmore had Deering’s lone hit against the Spartans. The Rams hosted Marshwood Monday and close at home versus McAuley Friday.

Portland was 3-10 and 17th at press time following a 7-3 loss at Biddeford and a 9-6 home loss to South Portland. Taylor Crosby had two hits versus the Tigers. Crosby drove in two runs and Morgan Boyle had three hits against the Red Riots. After going to Gorham Wednesday, the Bulldogs host Bonny Eagle Thursday and close at undefeated, top-ranked Scarborough Monday.

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Cheverus fell to 1-12 and 18th after home losses to Bonny Eagle (9-4) and Thornton Academy (12-5) and a 13-0 five inning home loss to Scarborough last week. Sydney Levesque and Rylee Day both had multiple hits against the Scots. Margaret Rigney doubled and tripled in the loss to the Golden Trojans. The Stags go to Noble Wednesday, host Sanford Friday and close at Massabesic June 3.

Boys’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team began the week 6-3 and fifth in the Western B Heals after a 23-4 win at Lake Region and a 9-1 loss at Yarmouth last week. Harry Baker-Connick scored seven times, Ford Malter finished with six goals and Cooper Chap added four in the victory. In the setback, Chap had the lone goal and goalie Graham Ratner made eight saves.

“We were a little thinner than usual today,” Flyers coach Dan Thomsen said. “(Yarmouth has) a good defense and their goalie is awesome and it’s hard to go against that.”

Waynflete hosts Wells Wednesday, welcomes York Saturday and closes the regular season at Freeport Tuesday.

In Eastern A, Cheverus was 4-5 and fifth after home wins over Noble (15-1) and Westbrook (18-11). Nick Schleh had five goals and Max Coffin added four against the Knights. The Stags go to Portland Wednesday, visit Marshwood Friday and close at home versus Thornton Academy June 3.

Speaking of Portland, the Bulldogs were clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot at press time. Last week, Portland won at home over Bonny Eagle, 15-6, then fell at home to defending Class A champion South Portland, 12-2. D.J. Cooper had five goals in the victory. The Bulldogs (4-5) host Cheverus Wednesday, go to Massabesic Friday and close at Marshwood Tuesday.

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Deering was ninth at 2-6 after a 15-5 loss at South Portland last week. The Rams host Windham Wednesday, welcome Noble Friday and close at Westbrook Tuesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, perennial powerhouse Waynflete got a much needed win last Monday when it went to Cape Elizabeth and led from start to finish in a 10-4 victory, as the Flyers snapped a two-game slide. Izzy Burdick, Helen Gray-Bauer, Christian Rowe and Beata Vest all had two goals, while goalie Charlotte Majercik made six huge saves.

“We came out a little flat in our losses,” Rowe said. “We decided this would be the game to turn it around.”

“This means everything,” Majercik said. “We knew we had to come back and give it everything. I felt the connection on the field.”

“Balance and focus were big today,” Vest said. “We’ve worked really well in practice.”

“The girls really fought today,” added Flyers coach Cathie Connors. “That’s my team. I’m psyched. We needed this win.”

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Waynflete (6-3 and fifth in the Western B Heals) was home with defending Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes York Friday and closes the regular season at Freeport Tuesday.

In Eastern A, Portland began the week fifth at 4-4 after home wins last week over McAuley (17-5) and Windham (9-6). Merritt Ryan had four goals and Isabel Stehli added three against the Lions. Ryan had six more against the Eagles. The Bulldogs hosted Thornton Academy Tuesday, go to Bonny Eagle Thursday, visit Edward Little Saturday and close at Deering Tuesday of next week.

Defending regional champion Cheverus was 3-5 and sixth following a 4-3 loss at Thornton Academy and a 14-2 home setback to Marshwood. Anne Veroneau scored twice against the Golden Trojans. The Stags went to Scarborough Tuesday, host Gorham Thursday, welcome Deering Saturday and close at McAuley Wednesday of next week.

Speaking of the Lions, they were 3-5 and ninth in Eastern A press time (only eight teams make the playoffs). McAuley lost last week at Portland (17-5) and at home to Gorham (19-5). Allison Tardiff had two goals versus the Bulldogs. After going to Deering Tuesday, the Lions visit Windham Thursday, play at Lincoln Academy Saturday, then close at home versus Cheverus Wednesday of next week.

Deering was 11th at 2-5 after a 17-2 home loss to South Portland and a 13-10 home win over Westbrook. The Rams hosted McAuley Tuesday, visit Sanford Thursday and Cheverus Thursday, then close at home versus Portland Tuesday of next week.

Outdoor track

City outdoor track and field teams converged upon South Portland for Friday’s Cumberland County Championship meet.

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Cheverus’ boys were second to Scarborough, while Deering placed fourth and Portland was eighth. The Stags got wins from Jacob Schott in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches), Nick White in the discus (162-3), Jake Dixon in the 200 (22.67 seconds) and 400 (50.35) and their 4×400 relay team (3 minutes, 31.02 seconds), The Rams got a win from Paulo DeMarco in the 300 hurdles (51.11).

In the girls’ meet, won by South Portland, Cheverus came in third, Deering was seventh, Portland finished eighth and McAuley placed ninth. The Stags got wins from Milena Opielowski in the long jump (16-00.25) and Emily Grinnell in the discus (102-5). The Bulldogs got a first-place finish from Madison Bolduc in the triple jump (34-8).

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association and Western Maine Conference championship meets are Saturday.

Tennis

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association held its doubles championships last weekend. Deering’s tandem of Kelvin Huynh and Jason Thach won the title.

In the girls’ competition, Portland”s Hallie Repeta and Maggie Denekas got to the semifinals before losing to Scarborough’s Jenny Hermann and Bryce Nitchman.

The singles tournament resumes Friday at Colby College in Waterville.

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Portland’s Margot Andreasen is seeded 11th in the girls’ draw. Cheverus’ Natalie Mavor and Waynflete’s Lexi Epstein will also take part.

On the boys’ side, Waynflete’s Isaac Salas is seeded second. Deering’s Conor Doane, Portland’s Peter Barry and Waynflete’s Brandon Amgelio also qualified.

The tournament continues Saturday in Waterville, then culminates Monday at Bates College in Lewiston.

The team tournament starts Tuesday of next week with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are Thursday, June 4.

Entering play this week, Portland’s girls were 10-1 and second behind Windham in the Western A Heals. Cheverus was 8-3 and seventh, McAuley sat 5-6 and ninth and Deering was 4-7 and 10th. All four squads appeared playoff-bound. Four-time defending Class C champion Waynflete was battling for a playoff spot at press time, being ranked ninth (only eight teams qualify) with a 4-7 mark heading into Wednesday’s finale versus Fryeburg Academy.

On the boys’ side, seven-time Class C champion Waynflete was second to Hall-Dale at 10-1 after Friday’s 3-2 home win over reigning Class A champion Falmouth. In Western A, Deering went 10-2 in the regular season and was seeded third at press time in Western A. Portland (7-4) and Cheverus (8-3) were fourth and fifth respectively.

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

Sidebar Elements


Cheverus’ Chris Billings dives into home with a run during the Stags’ 8-5 home win over Bonny Eagle last week.

Waynflete’s Helen Gray-Bauer (1) and Ali Pope congratulate goalie Charlotte Majercik after the Flyers’ 10-4 win at Cape Elizabeth last week.


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