The spring sports season is rapidly winding down and even with Mother Nature taking center stage and causing some disruptions this week, there will be plenty of pivotal action in the days to come.

The week that just passed was highlighted by dramatic action in baseball, softball, lacrosse and track.

Here’s a glimpse:

Baseball

The defending Western Class B champion Cape Elizabeth baseball team continues to set the pace in the region. The Capers took a 9-1 mark, a five-game winning streak and the top spot in the Heal Points standings into a crucial showdown at Yarmouth Wednesday. Last week, Cape Elizabeth beat the visiting Clippers, 10-1, in a rematch of last year’s regional final, then won at York, 9-4, and Freeport, 9-6.

Against Yarmouth, senior Rob Macdonald allowed six hits and went the distance to earn the win, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Senior Cam Brown had a pair of hits and four RBI, while senior Kyle Danielson ripped a two-run double.

“I think we were on the ball and making good cuts,” said Macdonald. “It was just a matter of time. Once we come alive, we hit the ball really well.”

“We scored at least six runs with two outs,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Chris Hayward. “That was big.”

In the win over the Wildcats, the Capers got longballs from Brown, Macdonald and sophomore Chris Robicheaw.Sophomore Sam Kozlowski earned the victory. Against the Falcons, Macdonald had two hits, including a double, and senior Pat Tyler got the in relief as Cape Elizabeth erased an early 5-0 deficit. The Capers are home against Falmouth Friday, visit Lake Region Monday and host York Wednesday.

In Western A, Scarborough and South Portland are in the hunt for a high playoff seed.

The Red Riots were second to Cheverus in the Heals as of Wednesday morning with an 8-3 mark. South Portland was a 12-4 winner at Windham last Thursday (junior Matt DiBiase earned the win and junior Dominic Desjardins had three hits), blanked visiting Scarborough, 5-0, Saturday (senior ace Andrew Richards allowed just three hits and senior Zach Horton had two hits, scored twice and drove in a pair), then had its four-game win streak snapped Tuesday at Marshwood, 5-3 (despite RBI hits from Horton and junior Shawn Shannon).

South Portland was at unbeaten Westbrook Thursday, hosts Sanford Saturday and goes to Thornton Academy Tuesday.

The Red Storm began the week 7-2 and had dropped to seventh in the fluid standings. Last week, Scarborough downed visiting Noble, 7-2, behind a four-hit, 14-strikeout gem from junior Ben Wessel. Wessel added a pair of hits.

The Red Storm visited Marshwood Thursday, play host to defending regional champion Biddeford in a playoff rematch Saturday, then have a makeup game at Bonny Eagle Monday. Scarborough hosts Westbrook Tuesday of next week and welcomes Deering two days later.

Softball

The highly anticipated Scarborough at South Portland softball showdown was postponed twice this week due to rain. The game will now be played Tuesday of next week.

The defending Class A champion Red Riots extended their season-opening win streak to 10 games (and their overall run to 19) after victories last week over visiting Massabesic (4-0) and host Thornton Academy (7-2). Against the Mustangs, sophomore Erin Bogdanovich threw a one-hitter and struck out 10, while senior slugger Katlin Norton singled, tripled and drove in a pair of runs. At the Golden Trojans, a first inning home run to dead centerfield off the bat of senior Alexis Bogdanovich got things started. Bogdanovich finished with three hits and two RBI. She also earned the win by allowing six hits.

“It was more of a challenge today,” Bogdanovich said. “We knew (the Golden Trojans) were an aggressive team with good hitters. I knew I couldn’t put it in their power zone where they could get big hits.”

“I’m very, very proud of (the girls) today,” said Red Riots coach Ralph Aceto. “They came here prepared to play and that makes me very happy.”

South Portland was at Biddeford Thursday, plays host to Portland Friday, then finally meets Scarborough Tuesday before going to Cheverus Wednesday.

The Red Storm improved to 9-0 (third in the standings) with wins last week at Biddeford (1-0) and at home over Portland (21-0, in five innings). At the Tigers, junior pitcher Mo Hannan sparkled, allowing five hits while striking out 13 in the shutout effort. Junior Dominique Burnham drove in the lone run. Versus the Bulldogs, Scarborough scored six times in the first inning, added 12 in the second and three in the third as freshman Alyssa Williamson homered and tripled and drove in three runs, senior Hannah Freeman had three hits and four RBI. 

The Red Storm were home against Cheverus Wednesday, play at Bonny Eagle Friday and host undefeated McAuley Monday before going to South Portland Tuesday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth was 7-3 and seventh in the Heals at press time after going 2-1 in recent days. After losing at home to Yarmouth, 11-2, last Wednesday, the Capers bounced back to blanked host York (17-0, in five innings) and win at Freeport (9-3). Against the Wildcats, junior Emmy Ham doubled twice, scored twice and had two RBI, while junior Ali Johnson added two hits. Senior Ally Boyington and freshman Elise Flathers combined for a two-hitter. In the victory over the Falcons, senior Lauren Nicholson homered and singled twice, while freshman Shannon Nicholson added a pair of hits. Freshman Anna Goldstein got the win in relief.

Cape Elizabeth had a rematch at Yarmouth Wednesday, hosts Falmouth Friday, goes to Lake Region Monday and welcomes Old Orchard Beach Wednesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B state champion boys’ lacrosse team had a shot at revenge Wednesday night when it hosted Falmouth. The Capers lost at the Yachtsmen, 12-4, back on April 15.

Cape Elizabeth entered the game 5-2 and second to Falmouth in the Western B Heals after an 8-7 upset loss at Lewiston Friday. The Capers couldn’t hold a late 7-4 lead and went down to defeat despite three goals from junior Wilson Laprade. Cape Elizabeth (third in the latest coaches’ poll) is at NYA Friday and goes to York Wednesday of next week.

In Western A, defending champion Scarborough continues to set the bar and the Red Storm are getting better by the day. Last week, the Red Storm rolled at Bonny Eagle (17-5) and NYA (12-5) to improve to 7-1, which keeps them atop the Heals and puts them second to Falmouth in the coaches’ poll. Against the Scots, sophomore standout John Wheeler scored three times, while seniors Nate Hopkins and Peter Moore and junior Jon Blaisdell each had two goals. In the win over the Panthers, Scarborough clung to a 5-4 lead in the third period before Wheeler roared to life, scoring five goals to help put it away. Moore added two goals and sophomore goalie David Pearson made 10 saves.

“We just possessed the ball, got our opportunities and finished and then our fastbreak opened up and we got more opportunities,” Wheeler said. “We needed to get back to our basic stuff on offense and defense. It’s a good win to have. It gives us momentum and confidence.”

“We tried to do a little more than we should in the first half, but in the second half we came out and played our game and had some fun goals in the third quarter,” said Red Storm coach Joe Hezlep.

Scarborough was home against Windham Wednesday, visits Gorham Saturday and is at Massabesic next Wednesday before closing at home against Portland in a state final rematch June 1.

“The pieces are coming together and we’re looking pretty good,” Wheeler said. “We have some big games coming and of course, the season-ender against Portland.”

South Portland was 5-4 and fifth in the Heals after going 2-1 in recent action. Last Wednesday, the Red Riots defeated host Windham, 8-5 (behind three goals from senior Harrison Keithly). Saturday, they rolled at Oak Hill, 18-4 (Keithly, making up for lost time after injury, had six goals and five assists). Tuesday brought an end to a four-game win streak, 10-4 at Thornton Academy. Freshman Thomas Leddy did score twice.

South Portland hosts Marshwood Saturday (game time has been moved to 10 a.m.) and welcomes Bonny Eagle Wednesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

South Portland’s girls’ lacrosse team is in the midst of its best season in seven years. The Red Riots have won four in a row, are 7-1 and fourth in the Western A Heals after recent victories over visiting Biddeford (15-3), host Lewiston (16-9) and host McAuley (16-6). At the Tigers, senior Victoria Brookings had four goals, classmate Becca Roberts three and senior Felicia Farnham two, with three assists. Senior Nikki LaPlante went off for seven goals at the Blue Devils, while junior Anh Nguyen added four. Against the Lions, Nguyen scored four times, Farnham and Roberts three each and sophomore goalie K.K. Kane made a dozen saves.

“We’re having a blast,” said South Portland coach Bill Fenton. “I’ve got some kids who really want to play and they’re unbelievable. We have a lot of confidence.”

The Red Riots were at Windham Thursday and go to Deering Monday.

“We can move up,” Fenton said. “We have lofty goals. I have a great group of seniors. They’ve come to play and they want to keep playing. We can definitely play with anyone this year. I haven’t had a closer group of girls. Or a better group.”

Defending Class A champion Scarborough has won five straight, improved to 7-1 and was second to Gorham in the Heals at press time. Last Thursday, the Red Storm held off visiting Cheverus, 15-7, in a game that was 4-3 at one point in the first half. Junior Maggie Smith ended up with five goals, while classmate Laura Przybylowicz added three.

“We were slow moving,” said Scarborough coach Marcia Wood. “Every year we wait to see what the other team brings, then we pick it up. I think it’s getting there. The defense is starting to get it. Ashley Ronzo, a sophomore, (senior) Jill Deering and (junior) Shauni Cowan are all stepping up. I knew we’d be strong on attack. The midfield connections today were great.”

Saturday, in a state final rematch, the Red Storm rolled at Mt. Ararat, 12-5, for their 13th straight regular season victory away from home. Smith and junior Mary Scott both scored three times. Monday, Scarborough dispatched visiting Thornton Academy, 7-2, behind three goals from junior Kelsey Howard.

Scarborough was at unbeaten Gorham Thursday and hosts dangerous Marshwood Monday.

“Every piece is starting to come together,” Wood said. “Now we need to make it more consistent and perfect it. We have a big couple weeks.”

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth is 4-3 and third in the Heals after sandwiching losses to host Falmouth (11-9) and visiting Waynflete (13-6) around an 11-7 win at home over Massabesic. In the victory, senior Anna Darling and sophomore Talley Perkins both had three goals. Against the Flyers, the Capers trailed 8-1 at halftime and got back to 8-5 before falling short. Sophomore Lauren Steidl had two goals. Junior goalie Elin Sonesson stopped 12 shots. The loss at the Yachtsmen was frustrating as Cape Elizabeth couldn’t hold an early lead and saw Falmouth come back to win just as the Yachtsmen did twice in 2010 (including in the semifinals). Steidl and senior Paris Bethel both had three goals.

“I hate walking off the field like this,” lamented Capers coach Kurt Chapin. “I don’t know what it is. Part of it is just composure. We lost our defensive form at the end of the first half and let them get back in it. We must have had four open shots in the last five minutes. We had opportunities.”

Cape Elizabeth was at York Thursday, goes to Fryeburg Saturday and hosts Wells Tuesday.

Track

Local track teams are looking ahead to the start of the postseason, Saturday, May 28, when Cape Elizabeth will compete at the Western Maine Conference championship meet and Scarborough and South Portland will take part in the Southern Maine Activities Association meet.

The Capers most recent meet was Friday when they hosted A.R. Gould, Freeport, St. Dom’s, Wells and Waynflete. The boys were first and the girls came in third.

Scarborough’s meet scheduled for earlier this week was postponed by rain. The Red Storm will host Cheverus, Deering, McAuley, Portland and South Portland Friday.

The Red Riots boys managed to host Biddeford, Gorham and Noble Tuesday and came in first.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Scarborough sophomore Dalton Finley sends NYA’s Matt Kibler for a ride during the Red Storm’s 12-5 win at the Panthers Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth’s Paul Hamerski prepares to launch the javelin during last week’s home meet. Hamerski won the event with a top throw of 122 feet, 5 inches.

Cape Elizabeth senior Rachel Nichols cruises toward victory in the mile last week.