The fun has begun for everyone and the short and sweet spring sports season promises to be triumphant across the board.

Whether the sport is baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis or track, local athletes have already made a mark.

Here’s a glimpse:

Baseball

South Portland’s baseball team is off to a perfect 5-0 start. After opening with a 7-0 home win over Thornton Academy, the Red Riots last week downed host Sanford (8-3) and Westbrook (7-2) and visiting Noble (6-2), then Tuesday, won at Deering, 2-1. Ace Henry Curran spun a three-hit, six-strikeout performance to beat the Blue Blazes, as Matt Beecher had two hits, Sam Solomon drove in two runs and Anthony Degifico had two hits and two RBI. Against the Knights, Griffin Kelley threw a complete game and Degifico had two hits and three RBI. In the win over the Rams at Hadlock Field, Nick Troiano doubled in Sam Troiano in the first and after Jacob Brown tripled in the second, Hayden Owen’s sacrifice fly proved to be the difference. Sam Troiano pitched three innings, then was replaced by Brad Sowerby, who made his first appearance and got the victory. Curran slammed the door in the sixth and seventh innings to earn the save.

“It was a little weird (coming in to relieve), but I knew it was coming,” Curran said. “I didn’t prepare differently. I’m always mentally focused before I go out.”

“This was the first game we’ve had that start to end was really tight,” said South Portland coach Mike Owens. “We expected a battle.”

The Red Riots host Cheverus Saturday and play at preseason favorite Marshwood Tuesday.

Scarborough opened with a 5-3 win at Westbrook, then last week, beat host Noble (10-5) and fell at home to Gorham (5-4) and Marshwood (5-0). Tuesday, the Red Storm dropped to 2-3 with a 3-0 loss at Portland. Scarborough rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the Rams, but gave up a run in the seventh. Jack Hughes had two hits in defeat. Ben Irish had two hits versus the Hawks. Mitchell Wedge was the hard-luck loser against the Bulldogs, throwing a complete game and only allowing two earned runs. The Red Storm committed five errors. Scarborough hoped to snap its three-game losing streak and 15-inning scoreless drought when it went to Cheverus Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story). Saturday, the Red Storm host Sanford. Tuesday, they go to Massabesic.

Cape Elizabeth was 2-2 entering Wednesday’s home game versus Freeport. The Capers opened with a 6-5 loss at Kennebunk and a 4-3 win at Yarmouth, then Wednesday of last week, rallied for a dramatic 9-6 victory at Falmouth. Freshman phenom Brendan Tinsman hit the first home run of his career and walked with the bases loaded to tie the game during a six-run, seventh inning rally. Matt Riggle’s squeeze bunt put Cape Elizabeth ahead and Aaron Dobieski’s third hit accounted for the final score. Marshall Peterson gutted out the win and Dobieski had three RBI.

“It was fun,” Tinsman said. “Falmouth’s a really good team, so this gives us momentum.”

“I love playing in great games like this against a phenomenal Class A team,” Dobieski said. “We look forward to playing them every year. This is huge.”

“It means a lot to the program,” added Capers coach Andrew Wood. “I don’t know if we deserved to win, but we hung in and got them rattled. I think our guys always fight to the end.”

Cape Elizabeth lost, 1-0, at home to York Friday despite three hits from Nate Ingalls. The Capers visit Fryeburg Academy Friday, host Yarmouth Saturday, visit Gray-New Gloucester Monday and welcome defending Class B champion Greely Wednesday. 

Softball

Scarborough’s powerhouse softball team remained undefeated Monday despite a scare from the team which knocked the Red Storm out of last year’s playoffs. Scarborough opened by drubbing host South Portland (26-0, in five innings) and after handling visiting Gorham (9-2), blanked host Bonny Eagle (5-0, behind Abbie Murrell’s one-hitter, Lilly Volk’s home run and a three-run double from Sophia Burnham). Monday, the Red Storm hosted Thornton Academy and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Chloe Gorey’s first home run.

“I thought it was a double when I hit it and I was excited for an extra base hit,” Gorey said. “I was running hard. I was so surprised. I’ve never hit one before.”

After the Golden Trojans drew even in the fourth, Scarborough scored a run on a Volk squeeze bunt and another on a Gorey RBI single, but Thornton Academy tied the game with a home run in the sixth. Then, in the bottom half, Hannah Ricker dashed home after Kaleigh Scoville blooped a single and was thrown out at second. Volk slammed the door in the seventh and the Red Storm held on, 4-3.

“We’ve been ready for this game, for a game against a team at our level,” Volk said. “We showed what we can do.”

“We expected (a game like this),” said longtime Scarborough coach Tom Griffin. “They’re a good team, but we executed. We got hits and moved runners when we needed to move runners. We put the ball in play. It was a character builder. We’ll learn from it.”

The 4-0 Red Storm were at Noble Wednesday, host Sanford Saturday, go to Massabesic Monday and welcome Deering Wednesday of next week.

After falling at home to Scarborough (26-0, in five innings) and at Thornton Academy (11-4) to start the year, South Portland is hitting its stride. Last Wednesday, the Red Riots gave new coach Alexis Garrison her first victory, 6-1, over visiting Noble, behind a three-run triple from Paige Carter. After falling at Sanford (3-2, despite a two-run homer from Carter and a double and strong pitching effort from Stephanie Aceto), South Portland improved to 2-3 Monday by downing visiting Massabesic, 9-6, as Laurine German singled, tripled and homered and Kaitlin Bouchard had three hits and drove in five runs. The Red Riots were at Deering Wednesday, visit McAuley Friday, play host to Marshwood Monday and go to Cheverus Wednesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth also started with an 11-4 home loss to Yarmouth, then, after a 10-9 10-inning victory at Kennebunk, fell at the Clippers (11-6), but the Capers erupted for a 15-3 win at Falmouth last Wednesday. Tess Haller, Hannah Saturley and Ashley Tinsman had three RBI apiece. After a 6-4 home loss to York Friday (Saturley had two hits), Cape Elizabeth improved to 3-3 Saturday with an 8-1 win at Traip Academy. After hosting Freeport Wednesday, the Capers visit Fryeburg Academy Friday, play at Gray-New Gloucester Monday and host Greely Wednesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth and South Portland’s boys’ lacrosse teams are doing a nice job defending their titles.

The Capers, the defending Class B champs, were 4-0 at press time. After opening with an 18-6 romp at Waynflete and a 6-3 home win over Yarmouth in a state final rematch, Cape Elizabeth enjoyed a 16-8 win at Kennebunk and a 21-0 home victory over Wells. Ben Shea had seven goals in the win over the Warriors. The Capers host Scarborough in a crossover showdown Saturday night (see theforecaster.net for game story) and go to rival Falmouth Tuesday.

South Portland, the reigning Class A champion, took a 3-0 record into a home test versus vastly improved Westbrook Wednesday. After downing visiting Biddeford (21-3) and host Cheverus (15-6) to start the year, the Red Riots rolled at Marshwood last Friday, 23-1, as Jack Fiorini and Andrew Whipple both scored five goals. South Portland is at Kennebunk Friday and has a showdown at Thornton Academy Wednesday, in a rematch of last year’s thrilling regional final.

Scarborough dropped its first two games (6-5 to Westbrook and 11-10 to Falmouth), but got in the win column last Wednesday with a 4-3 win at Thornton Academy, as the Red Storm somewhat avenged last year’s playoff ouster. Sam Neugebauer scored the tying and winning goals in the fourth period. Scarborough blanked visiting Portland, 17-0, last Friday, as eight different players scored. Cam Nigro had four goals and Marc Guerette and Braeden Kane each added three.

“It’s good to jump out like that and just work on our offense,” Nigro said. “A bunch of guys can put points up.”

“We’ve talked all year long that we need to play our game and the rest of the stuff will take care of itself,” said Red Storm coach Joe Hezlep.

Scarborough looked to go over .500 Wednesday when it visited Deering. After going to Cape Elizabeth Saturday, the Red Storm are home versus Cheverus Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

Scarborough’s girls’ lacrosse team began its season with a 10-5 home win over South Portland last Thursday. Kaitlin Prince had two goals, three assists and won nine of 14 draws and Sami Shoebottom made nine saves.

“What got the offense going was once we got the first goal, we knew we could do it and then we were clicking.” said Prince. 

It was a rough start, but I saw the ball more and more as the game went on,” Shoebottom said. 

“Everyone played well together,’ added Red Storm first-year coach Michaela Wipfler. “Things are going really well. I’m really excited.”

Scarborough fell to 1-1 Tuesday with a 14-12 loss at Windham. The Red Storm went to Portland Thursday, host perennial powerhouse Waynflete in a compelling crossover game Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and go to Gorham Tuesday.

South Portland, which won its opener, 8-6, at Bonny Eagle, got 13 saves from goalie Lily SanGiovanni and two goalies apiece from Paige Fleming and Maddie Hasson in the loss to Scarborough, but was doomed by a 37 minute, 23 second scoring drought.

“I’m really happy we came back at the end,” said Red Riots first-year coach Leslie Dyer. “We gave it a full 50-minute fight.”

South Portland fell to 1-2 Monday after an 11-7 home loss to Marshwood. Abby Letourneau had three goals in defeat. The Red Riots went to Gorham Thursday, host Brunswick in a crossover Friday, then are idle until next Thursday when they welcome Portland.  

Cape Elizabeth enjoyed a 12-6 home win over Freeport last Thursday, as Lindsey Stewart scored four times and Susie Graham added three. Saturday, the Capers suffered a 10-5 loss at York. Monday, in the completion of a game that began April 16, Cape Elizabeth edged Greely, 6-5, in triple overtime, on Mariah Deschino’s goal 23 seconds in. The game was stopped after two OTs on its original date when the officials mistakenly called it a tie. There are no ties in girls’ lacrosse. Deschino had three goals which were stretched out over the game’s 19 days. The 2-1 Capers were at Falmouth Wednesday, host Gorham Saturday, then have a big test Wednesday of next week at red-hot Kennebunk.

Outdoor track

The outdoor track season is underway.

Scarborough joined Westbrook and Windham at Gorham Monday and the Red Storm came in first in both genders.

In the boys meet, Scarborough got wins from Griffin Madden in the 110 hurdles (15.5 seconds), Maxim Doiron in the 300 hurdles (42.48), Will Fowler in the 400 (54.7), Jacob Bloom in the 800 (2 minutes, 4.65 seconds), Colin Tardiff in the mile (4:34.26), Hugh McSorley in the discus (138 feet-5 inches) and the shot put (48-11), Edward James in the pole vault (12-0), Michael Granzier in the triple jump (38-6.5) and its 1,600 relay team (3:40.0).

In the girls’ competition, Red Storm first-place finishers included Ellen Shaw in the 100 hurdles (16.25) and the 300 hurdles (51.10), Elizabeth Gentile in the discus (81-3), Natalie Taylor in the javelin (89-0), Kacey Foerster in the pole vault (8-6) and their 1,600 relay team (4:31.4).

South Portland’s girls joined Deering, McAuley and Portland in a city meet at Cheverus Monday and finished first. The Red Riots got wins from Callie O’Brien in the 100 hurdles (17.59), the 300 hurdles (51.94) and the high jump (5-0), Lauren Magnuson in the 100 (13.37) and 200 (27.13), Abby Donahue in the racewalk (9:47.56), Juliana Selser in the 800 (2:28.75), Casey Loring in the mile (5:40.82), Serena McKenzie in the two-mile (11:58.81), Michelle Medici in the discus (83-2) and the javelin (103-7.5) and their 400 (53.04), 1,600 (4:30.1) and 3,200 (12:35.0) relay teams.

The Red Riots boys’ team hosted Cheverus, Deering and Portland Tuesday and placed first behind wins from James Falconer in the racewalk (8:29.37), Michael Cuesta in the long jump (21-2.5), triple jump (42-9) and pole vault (10-6), Daniel Guiliani in the shot put (65-4) and its 400 (46.1) relay team.

Cape Elizabeth hosted Poland, Sacopee Valley, St. Dom’s and Traip Academy last week. The Capers boys came in second and the girls were third.

Boys’ event winners included Mac Huffard in the 800 (2:23.26), Anthony Inhorn in the two-mile (12:13.94), Eddie Galvin in the long jump (20-1.5) and triple jump (41-1), Nate Weare in the discus (134-11) and the 400 relay (48.06).

For the girls, Morgan Carpenter won the 300 hurdles in 55.21 seconds and took the triple jump in 32-7.5. Anni Ball took first in the long jump (13-11.75). The 400 relay team placed first in 1:27.25.

Tennis

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B boys’ tennis team won three of its first four matches, losing only to defending Class A champion Falmouth. The Cape Elizabeth girls won their first two matches, then lost their next two.

Scarborough’s girls took a 3-0 record into a home showdown with powerhouse Portland Wednesday. Scarborough’s boys started 2-1, losing only to Deering.

South Portland’s boys have been a pleasant surprise to start, winning three of their first four matches, capped by a 3-2 home win over Gorham Monday. South Portland’s girls’ team split its first four matches.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Cape Elizabeth freshman Brendan Tinsman hits the first home run of his varsity career during last week’s 9-6 come-from-behind win at Falmouth.

Scarborough’s Lilly Volk delivers a pitch during Monday’s 4-3 thrilling win over Thornton Academy in a Western A Final rematch.

South Portland’s Colleen Fleming keeps a close eye on Scarborough’s Ellie Smith during the Red Storm’s 10-5 victory last week.

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