2009 Spring Male Athlete of the Year:

CHRIS BERNARD, Senior-Baseball

* Gatorade Player of the Year

* Winkin Award winner/Maine Mr. Baseball

* SMAA MVP

* SMAA Most Valuable Pitcher

* SMAA batting champion

* SMAA All-Conference first team, pitcher

* SMAA All-Conference first team, first base

* Senior All-Star

The Scarborough baseball team had its finest season in years this spring. While the program had several key contributors, no one in a Red Storm uniform (or any other Maine high school uniform) matched the brilliance of senior ace Chris Bernard.

If it wasn’t enough that Bernard was the best pitcher in the state, he was also his league’s batting champion and that unstoppable combination helped Scarborough reach the regional final.

Bernard was highly touted coming into the season and simply exceeded the hype. In addition to his myriad talents, he was also a team leader who came up big time and again in the clutch.

With that in mind, Chris Bernard is The Forecaster’s choice as Scarborough’s 2009 Spring Male Athlete of the Year.

Bernard grew up in Scarborough, started playing baseball in T-ball, began pitching in AAA and became a fixture on the Red Storm varsity as a sophomore. He went 1-3 (with an impressive 2.22 earned run average) his first year, then won four times as a junior, while also hitting .365. He really made a statement last summer, pitching for the Libby-Mitchell American Legion squad, when he downed the Deering High-populated Nova Seafood team in the Zone 4 final, proving once and for all he could beat the best.

Bernard’s senior season was simply transcendent. He blanked Gorham on two hits in the opener, homered, doubled and held Cheverus to just three hits in a shutout his next time out, fanned 12 in a three-hit shutout of Thornton Academy, hit a grand slam in a loss to Deering, struck out 10 in a 1-0 shutout victory at Portland, had three hits against Massabesic, dominated Noble with 15 Ks, homered against Biddeford, had two triples versus Sanford, homered in a victory over Gorham and struck out 10 in a regular season-ending victory over South Portland.

Bernard wound up 7-1 with a microscopic 0.88 ERA. He completed every game he started, allowing just 30 hits, 10 walks and six earned runs in 48 innings. He fanned 67 and held the opposition to a .173 batting average.

Offensively, Bernard was just as dominant, hitting .548 with 16 (nine doubles, two triples, five home runs) of his 23 hits going for extra bases. He scored 20 runs and drove in 24. Bernard was chosen his league’s MVP, the Winkin Award winner and the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year.

In the playoffs, Bernard led Scarborough to its first-ever Class A postseason victory, 4-2 over Bonny Eagle in the quarterfinals, as he allowed just three hits, while striking out seven. He also crushed a two-run homer. Bernard and the Red Storm finally met their match in the regional final against Deering. In that one, a surprising slugfest, Bernard was ineffective and was pulled in the fourth inning of the Rams’ eventual 16-10 triumph.

Bernard also played basketball and was a member of Key Club at Scarborough. He enjoys golfing and is again playing Legion ball this summer. Bernard will attend the University of Maine on a baseball scholarship and hopes to see immediate playing time. He plans to major in business and hopes to be drafted after his junior season.

Based on this year alone, it’s clear that he has the ability to accomplish whatever he seeks. Chris Bernard, Scarborough’s 2009 Spring Male Athlete of the Year, was simply the very best player in the state this spring.

Coach Jim Cronin’s comment: “Chris is a tremendous kid. Not just athletically, but all-around. He worked very hard to reach his accomplishments. He wanted to win. That fed the other kids. They know now what a kid from Scarborough can do if they work hard.”

2008 winner: Ryan Hunt (Lacrosse)

2007 winner: Phil Lambert (Lacrosse)

2006 winner: Bryan Macphie (Lacrosse)

2005 winner: David Hamilton (Lacrosse)

2004 winner: David Hamilton (Lacrosse)

2003 winner: Adam Mumm (Track)

2002 winner: Keith Corey (Track)

2009 Spring Female Athlete of the Year

ELLIE MORIN, Junior-Lacrosse

* All-American, honorable mention

* SMAA All-Conference first team, midfield

If Ellie Morin was just a great scorer, or just a tenacious defender with a nose for ground balls or just one of the best draw control specialists around, it would be enough for her to merit plenty of attention and commendation.

The fact that she’s able to do all of those things as well as anyone, turned her into one of the finest girls’ lacrosse players in the state this spring.

Morin was often the most exciting player on the field, regardless which part of the field, as Scarborough again enjoyed a solid campaign. Best of all, she’s still getting better and has one year remaining in a Red Storm uniform.

For being so good, seemingly at everything, for showing great improvement this past season and for suggesting that even more greatness awaits, Ellie Morin is The Forecaster’s choice for Scarborough’s 2009 Spring Female Athlete of the Year.

Morin grew up in Scarborough and started playing lacrosse in middle school. She (and her twin sister Jackie) also plays for a field hockey team which fell an overtime loss shy of a first state championship back in the fall. Morin has played midfield for three years in lacrosse, but after being (her words) “in the background” her first two seasons, roared to the forefront this spring.

Morin announced from the get-go that this was going to be her year, scoring six goals in a opening game win over Greely. She had seven goals in a victory at Cheverus, three each in losses to Class B powers NYA and Waynflete, four against York, five versus Falmouth, five more against Kennebunk, six versus Deering and five in a season-ending win at Cape Elizabeth.

Despite a superb 9-3 regular season, the Red Storm wound up with the No. 5 seed in Western A and had to travel to Kennebunk for the quarterfinals, a showdown which should have been the regional final. Scarborough bowed out with a 13-9 loss, but Morin scored two more goals (an an assist) in defeat.

For the season, Morin had 56 goals, 13 assists, 30 ground balls, 40 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers. She led the Red Storm in every one of those stats but assists and was chosen an All-American, honorable mention, a rare honor for a junior.

Morin also plays for the Seacoast United premier team, is involved in Key Club, likes to write and hopes to play in college, either in D1 or D3.

It’s a pretty safe bet they’ll be marveling over her at the next level. Ellie Morin, Scarborough’s 2009 Spring Female Athlete of the Year, truly did it all this year and we haven’t even begun to hear the last of her.

Coach Marcia Wood’s comment: “Ellie brings way more to our team than just goals. She’s a big part of our defense with her ability to check the ball away. She’s also a big part of our midfield transition. She constantly hustles to the ball. She has great composure on offense and can weave her way through defenders without losing the ball.”

2008 winner: Melissa Dellatorre (Softball)

2007 winner: Kelsey Griffin (Softball)

2006 winner: Lauren Hagerman (Lacrosse)

2005 winner: Camille Jania (Tennis)

2004 winner: Sarah Marchilli (Softball)

2003 winner: Chelsey Ledue (Track)

2002 winner: Jen Williams (Softball)

Bernard
Morin