South Portland Red Riots Spring Athletes of the Year

Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year:

ADAM BURPEE Senior—Lacrosse

* SMAA All-Conference, first team

* Senior All-Star

* Quarterback Club Award winner

* Team MVP

The South Portland boys’ lacrosse team enjoyed the finest season in its history this spring, emerging as a feel-good story early on, then posting 10 victories before falling to Scarborough in the semifinals.

Throughout the season, senior Adam Burpee scored big goals, provided emotional leadership and did a little bit of everything all over the field.

For being a diverse talent who was able to spur the Red Riots on to great things, Adam Burpee gets The Forecaster’s nod as South Portland’s Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

Burpee grew up in South Portland and started playing lacrosse in the eighth grade. While soccer has been his top sport, he’s also played basketball and contributed mightily in lacrosse, never more so than this spring when he scored 24 goals, added 28 assists and grabbed 92 ground balls.

Burpee, a four-year varsity player at midfield, had a goal and two assists in early wins over rivals Cheverus and Deering, scored twice and added five assists against Westbrook, had three goals in a victory over Windham, a goal and five assists versus Camden, two goals against Thornton Academy, three against Marshwood and four goals and two assists in the regular season finale against Kennebunk.

South Portland was the No. 2 seed for the playoffs, but was upset by Scarborough in its first playoff game.

Burpee, who also belonged to the South Portland Spanish Club and was a member of the National Honor Society, credited good team chemistry, talent and senior leadership for the Red Riots’ 2010 success.

Burpee is working at Wainwright Fields this summer and will attend Southern Maine Community College in the fall. He will play soccer for the Seawolves.

He leaves high school knowing he helped the lacrosse program reach lofty heights for the first time. Adam Burpee, South Portland’s Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year, was a major reason why the Red Riots were formidable from start to finish.

Coach Tom Fiorini’s comment: “Adam is the heart and soul of this team. He is a throwback middie, able to play both offense and defense. I can’t think of a more deserving player for an award.”

2009 winner: Ben Linscott (Lacrosse)

2008 winner: Will Furbush (Baseball)

2007 winner: Eugene Arsenault (Lacrosse)

2006 winner: Thomas McCoubrey (Track)

2005 winner: Justin Collett (Baseball)

2004 winner: Scott Guillerault (Baseball)

2003 winner: Anthony Dambrie (Track)

2002 winner: Greg Norton (Baseball)

Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year:

KATLIN NORTON, Junior -Softball

* SMAA All-Conference, first team

For several years, the South Portland softball team couldn’t get a key hit against rival Scarborough when it mattered most.

This spring, thanks to one confident, devoted craftsman, everything changed and the Red Riots went on to not only vanquish their nemesis, but make history in the process.

Junior Katlin Norton was born to hit and as a result, South Portland fans couldn’t have been happier when she stepped to the plate in the fifth inning of the regional final with two runners on and the game tied. One pitch leader, the bases were empty and the game was untied as Norton hit the biggest home run of her life, the Red Riots went on to beat Scarborough, 5-2, then edged Bangor (on a Norton RBI hit) to win the program’s first state title.

For being so committed to being the best hitter she can be and for redefining the word clutch, Katlin Norton is The Forecaster’s choice for South Portland’s Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year.

Norton started playing in T-ball, when she was more concerned with picking flowers than hitting, but that all changed in a hurry. By age 8, she, along with current Red Riots ace Alexis Bogdanovich, were playing baseball with boys. She came to high school and joined a South Portland team that was always near the top of the heap, but could never beat Scarborough.

Norton was hampered by an elbow injury this season and instead of playing catcher, could only serve as the team’s designated hitter. Compounding her practice time by taking swings at Maine Hits and off a pitching machine at home, Norton was primed for a huge year and became one of the state’s most difficult outs, batting .608 with a .649 on-base percentage. She ripped 31 hits, led her team with seven triples and four home runs, while driving in 37 runs. Norton also doubled three times and struck out only twice all season.

Highlights included a triple in an Opening Day win over Sanford, three hits, including a triple, and three RBI against Kennebunk, three hits versus Deering, a two-run triple against Westbrook, two home runs and five RBI versus Windham, three hits and three runs batted in against Noble, two doubles and a single in a romp of Marshwood, two RBI against Gorham, a two-run double versus Biddeford and a home run against Bonny Eagle.

In the playoffs, Norton was relatively quiet in a quarterfinal round victory over McAuley and a semifinal round win over Kennebunk, but she stole the show in the regional final.

Entering that game, the Red Riots hadn’t scored against Scarborough in five games, but after South Portland tied the game with a third inning run, it was poised to take the lead in the fifth when Norton delivered her epic blast.

In the state game, with the score 0-0 in the sixth, Norton ripped an RBI double to give the Red Riots the run that gave them their first championship.

She then capped her season with a pair of hits and an RBI in a West vs. East All-Star Game.

Not too shabby.

Norton also plays for the ASA Southern Maine Flame U-16 team. She belongs to Interact and a Sign Language Club, is a summer camp counselor and wants to play softball in college.

Her stock is only going to go up after her recent heroics. Katlin Norton, South Portland’s Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year, earned a dose of immortality last month with the two biggest swings in school history.

Coach Ralph Aceto’s comment: “Katlin is just one of those kids who comes to work every day. She’s the ultimate professional hitter. Always looking to improve. She had to watch a lot of the season, but did it with poise and grace. She was so important to the team. Especially late in the season.”

2009 winner: Danielle DiBiase (Softball)

2008 winner: Julie DiMatteo (Softball)

2007 winner: Christina Aceto (Softball)

2006 winner: Kristin Kill (Softball)

2005 winner: Krystal Shannon (Softball)

2004 winner: Lindsay Coit (Lacrosse)

2003 winner: Nichole Cousins (Softball)

2002 winner: Morgan O’Donnell (Softball)

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