Cheverus’ Bella Booth runs into a Lewiston defender during the Stags’ 11-7 win at Lewiston Saturday.
As April gives way to May, the weather continues to pose a challenge, but local spring sports teams are hopeful of seeing more consistent action in the days to come.
There have been some positive signs in the early going this spring and that figures to continue.
Here’s a glimpse.
Baseball
Cheverus’ baseball team opened with a pair of road victories, 7-2, at Marshwood and 2-1, in an 11-inning marathon at Gorham. Against the Rams, Andrew DeGeorge hit a sacrifice fly to score John Welch, who had an RBI earlier in the contest. Jack Mullen threw six strong innings, then Justin Ray came on in relief to earn the victory, with five hitless innings, striking out nine. The Stags hosted Massabesic Tuesday, welcome Noble Wednesday, go to Kennebunk Thursday, host Sanford Saturday and play at Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.
Portland opened with a 10-0, five-inning win at Kennebunk last Tuesday. Brian Riley threw a one-hit gem, striking out six. Ben Sawyer had two hits and three RBI, while Donato Tocci and Will Barnard each finished with two hits. The Bulldogs hosted Falmouth in a makeup game Monday and welcomed Thornton Academy Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for story), then play at Sanford Thursday, visit Gorham Saturday in a playoff rematch before going to Westbrook Tuesday of next week.
Deering was 0-4 at press time. The Rams opened with a 20-4, five-inning home loss to Marshwood and a 17-9 setback at Noble. Last week, Deering fell, 2-1, at Massabesic and lost, 17-5, to visiting Bonny Eagle. Against the Scots, Josh Paisley had two hits and Tre Fletcher hit an inside-the-park home run and drove in three runs. The Rams hosted Gorham in a makeup game Monday, welcomed Kennebunk Tuesday, play at Thornton Academy Thursday and visit Scarborough Tuesday of next week.
The Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team started with a 4-2 home victory over Richmond, then Thursday in a makeup game, fell, 8-6, at home to Traip Academy. Anders Jonsson had three hits, Luke Josephson had two doubles and scored two runs and Payton Smith added two hits and three RBI. The Flyers are at Buckfield Thursday and visit Sacopee Valley Monday.
Softball
The Cheverus/NYA co-op softball team is off to a fast start, downing visiting Sanford (9-2) and South Portland (5-1). Against the Red Riots, Mackenzie Turner earned the victory and struck out 10 batters, Elizabeth Kennedy hit a home run, Sydney Plummer had two hits and drove in three runs and Caroline Taylor also had two hits. The Stags hosted Biddeford Monday, play at Windham Wednesday, host Westbrook Thursday and play at Bonny Eagle Monday and Scarborough Tuesday of next week.
Portland started with wins over visiting Falmouth (7-2) and at Marshwood (7-6, in eight-innings) and a 12-7 loss at Gorham. Against the Yachtsmen, Jill Joyce earned the victory and had two hits, including a two-run triple, and Mackenzie Bryant and Jordan King each had two hits. In the win over the Hawks, Laini Legere had the go-ahead single and Joyce drove in three runs. In the loss, Joyce had three hits and two RBI and Bryant and Legere added two hits apiece. The Bulldogs were at Noble Monday and home versus Kennebunk Tuesday, then welcome Massabesic Wednesday and Sanford Friday.
Deering opened with a 10-8 loss at Sanford and home losses to two-time defending Class A champion Scarborough (17-2, in six-innings) and powerhouse Thornton Academy (29-1, in five-innings). Against the Spartans, Maddy Broda had three hits, while Elizabeth Drelich, Maddalena Laponarda, MacKenzie O’Donnell and Donna Bernard each had two. Laponarda drove in both runs against the Red Storm. The Rams were home with Windham Monday, play at Westbrook Wednesday, host Bonny Eagle Friday, visit Biddeford Monday, then travel to South Portland Tuesday of next week.
Boys’ lacrosse
Portland’s boys’ lacrosse team started with a 19-0 win at Sanford, then improved to 2-0 Wednesday with a 12-10 home victory over Westbrook. Against the Blue Blazes, Grant Jacobson and Miki Silva both scored three times. The Bulldogs were home with Edward Little in a makeup game Monday, visit Biddeford Wednesday and play host to Mt. Ararat Friday.
Deering stared with a 17-1 loss to South Portland, then was blanked by visiting Thornton Academy (10-0) and fell at Lewiston, 12-5. The Rams go to Kennebunk Wednesday and host Messalonskee Friday.
Cheverus dropped a 17-1 decision at South Portland, then lost at home to Scarborough, 20-3. The Stags hosted York Monday, go to Falmouth Wednesday and welcome Lewiston Friday.
Defending Class C champion Waynflete lost at Cape Elizabeth (17-6) and Greely (12-2) to start the season. The Flyers sought their first victory Monday at Wells. They host Gardiner next Monday.
Girls’ lacrosse
On the girls’ side, Cheverus started 3-0 under new coach Lauren Lessard. The Stags edged visiting Waynflete, 9-8, then won at Scarborough (14-7) and Lewiston (11-7). Against the Flyers, Aisling Flaherty had three goals, while Bella Booth, Zoe Mazur and Riley O’Mara all scored twice. Goalie Neve Cawley made 14 saves. In the win over the Red Storm, Mazur scored four times, while Flaherty and O’Mara each had three goals. Against the Blue Devils, Lessard’s alma mater, Flaherty scored four times.
“We came out pretty slow, a little out of it, but at halftime, we talked through our problems and pumped each other up,” Flaherty said. “We came back as a team, super-strong with a lot of positivity.”
“I think in the first half we got out there with a lot of jitters, especially for me coming back to the school that I was a part of,” Lessard said. “Coming out in that second half and definitely during halftime, we were able to take a step back, breathe a little bit and get back to the basics of knowing how to play lacrosse.”
The Stags return to action May 9 at home versus Kennebunk.
Portland started with an 11-6 home loss to Windham, then dropped a 9-6 decision at Gorham. Annika More had three goals against the Rams. The Bulldogs were home with South Portland Tuesday, go to Sanford Thursday, visit Brunswick Friday and return home Tuesday of next week to face Deering.
Deering started with a 17-6 loss to South Portland, then fell at Noble (11-3) and at home to Camden Hills (10-8). The Rams are at Fryeburg Academy Saturday, then visit Portland Tuesday of next week.
Waynflete opened with a 9-8 loss at Cheverus, then downed host Wells, 12-3. In the victory, Marady Parr and Emily Wagg scored three goals apiece, while Emi Boedeker, Clara Sandberg and Kilee Sherry all had two. The Flyers welcome Greely Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), play host to Scarborough Saturday, then welcome defending Class A champion Falmouth Monday of next week.
Outdoor track
Cheverus’ defending Class A state champion girls’ outdoor track team opened by placing second to Noble at a five-team meet in Falmouth.
Cheverus’ boys finished fourth in the same meet. Scarborough placed first.
Deering hosted Bonny Eagle, Gorham and Kennebunk. The Rams boys finished first and the girls were second to Gorham.
Portland took part in a four-team meet at Marshwood. The Bulldogs boys and girls were both fourth.
Tennis
Waynflete’s 11-time defending Class C state champion boys’ tennis team opened with home wins over York (5-0) and reigning Class B South champion Freeport (3-2).
The Waynflete girls split their first two matches, falling, 3-2, at York, then blanking visiting Freeport, 5-0.
Portland’s girls started with a 3-2 win at Marshwood, then blanked visiting Windham, 5-0. The Bulldogs got a shot at 11-time state champion Falmouth Tuesday and hoped to end the Yachtsmen’s 175-match win streak.
Portland’s boys beat visiting Marshwood, 5-0, then lost at Windham, 3-2.
Deering’s boys won at Gorham, 4-1, then lost at home to Thornton Academy, 3-1.
Deering’s girls started with a 4-1 setback at Thornton Academy and a 4-1 home loss to Gorham.
Cheverus’ boys and girls beat Sanford, 5-0, to start the season.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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