While we’re still awaiting warmer weather, one sure sign that summer is close is that the spring high school sports regular season is halfway done.

Many local teams are excelling on the diamond, field, track and courts, and here’s a glimpse of where they stand:

Baseball

The biggest story on the diamond last week was the improbable back-to-back no-hit efforts of Scarborough hurlers junior Ben Wessel and freshman Ben Greenberg (versus Sanford and Massabesic, respectively). Greenberg walked just one, while fanning eight. Saturday, the Red Storm didn’t get a no-hitter, but still won, 4-1, at Gorham, to improve to 6-1. Senior Ryan Mancini and junior Joe Cronin combined to allow just six hits. Offensively, senior Kyle Kelley came through with a clutch two-run single.

Scarborough (sixth in the Western Class A Heal Points standings, as of Wednesday morning) was home against Noble Thursday, visits South Portland Saturday and plays at Bonny Eagle Tuesday.

South Portland lost to visiting Cheverus, 7-1, last Thursday, but beat visiting Noble, 7-3, Monday, and rolled at Bonny Eagle, 8-1, Tuesday to improve to 6-2 (third in the Heals). Against the Knights, senior Zach Horton had three hits and drove in a pair of runs. Sophomore Nick Whitten earned the win and added a couple hits. Senior ace Andrew Richards beat the Scots with a seven-hitter, fanning eight. Senior Paul Reny stole four bases, while junior Will Bushey had a pair of hits.

The Red Riots were at Windham Thursday, host Scarborough Saturday and go to Marshwood Tuesday.

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In Western B, Cape Elizabeth is now in the thick of its schedule. The Capers blanked visiting Poland (3-0) Friday and Lake Region (10-0, in five innings) Saturday. They couldn’t hold a 10-5 seventh inning lead Monday and suffered a 12-10 home loss to Wells.

Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth improved to 6-1 after a 5-2 win at Falmouth. Junior Will LeBlond threw the shutout against the Knights, while senior Kyle Danielson drove in a pair of runs. Against the Lakers, senior Rob Macdonald singled, doubled, drove in two runs and pitched a three-hitter. Danielson singled and tripled. In the loss, senior Pat Tyler and freshman Chris Tinsman belted home runs, but it wasn’t enough. LeBlond threw another gem at Falmouth and had an RBI. Senior Cam Brown added three hits.

The Capers (fourth in the region) had a big home test and a regional final rematch versus Yarmouth Wednesday, go to York Friday and visit Freeport Monday before seeing the Clippers again, in Yarmouth, Wednesday.

Boys’ lacrosse

The two defending state champion boys’ lacrosse teams in our midst continue to triumph.

Class B champion Cape Elizabeth has won five straight since an opening night loss to Falmouth and is second to the Yachtsmen in both the latest coaches’ poll and the Heal Points standings. The Capers pounded visiting North Yarmouth Academy, 17-2, Saturday, then won, 14-8, at Greely Tuesday night. Against the Panthers, senior Teddy Smith had five goals and classmate Wilson Laprade ended up with four. Senior goalie Jack Roos stopped 14 shots. At the Rangers, Laprade scored four times and junior Tim Lavallee added three.

Cape Elizabeth goes to Lewiston Friday, then hosts Falmouth in a critical showdown Wednesday.

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Scarborough, the reigning Class A champ, blanked visiting Thornton Academy, 10-0, last Wednesday, then cruised at Kennebunk, 9-1, Monday to improve to 5-1 (good for the top spot in the Heals). The Red Storm got seven goals and three assists from sophomore sensation John Wheeler versus the Golden Trojans and four goals from senior Peter Moore in the win over the Rams. Scarborough (sixth in the latest coaches’ poll) was at Bonny Eagle Thursday, visits North Yarmouth Academy in a crossover game Saturday and hosts Windham Wednesday of next week.

South Portland took a 3-3 mark and the sixth spot in the Heals into Wednesday’s game at Windham (its first in nine days). The Red Riots are home with Oak Hill Saturday and visit Thornton Academy Tuesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, defending Class A champion Scarborough won, 10-5, at Massabesic Monday to improve to 4-1 (good for third in the Heal Points). Junior Mary Scott scored three times, while classmates Maggie Smith and Kat Gadbois each had two goals.

The Red Storm were home against Cheverus Thursday, go to Mt. Ararat for a state final rematch Saturday and welcome Thornton Academy Monday.

South Portland improved to 4-1 Monday after a 15-6 home win over Sanford. Senior Victoria Brookings scored four times, junior Anh Nguyen finished with three goals and senior Felicia Farnham had a goal and four assists. The Red Riots (fifth in the standings) hosted Biddeford Thursday then go to Lewiston Saturday and McAuley Monday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth took a 3-1 mark and the No. 3 spot in the Heals to Falmouth for a pivotal game Wednesday. The Capers were coming off a 15-4 win at Wells Friday (sophomore Lauren Steidl led the way with five goals in that one, while senior Paris Bethel added four and sophomore Talley Perkins finished with three, while junior goalie Elin Sonesson made eight saves).

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Cape Elizabeth hosts Massabesic Friday, then gets its one regular season crack at three-time defending regional champion Waynflete Tuesday of next week, in Portland.

Track

To no one’s surprise, Scarborough’s perennial championship caliber girls’ outdoor track team has yet to lose in 2011.

Monday, the Red Storm hosted Biddeford, Marshwood, McAuley and Portland and won easily. Individually, Scarborough got wins from Emilia Scheemaker in the 100 hurdles (17.35 seconds) and the triple jump (34 feet, 2.25 inches), Nicole Kirk in the 100 (12.58) and 200 (25.81), Abby Chick in the mile (5 minutes, 40.26 seconds), Emily Tolman in the 400 (1:00.91), Catherine Bailey in the 300 hurdles (51.60), Andrea Tolman in the pole vault (8-6) and its 400 (52.38) and 3,200 (12:17.13) relay teams.

The Red Storm join Cheverus and Marshwood at Bonny Eagle Monday.

The Scarborough boys were at Marshwood Wednesday.

South Portland’s girls hosted Sanford, Thornton Academy and Windham Tuesday and placed second to the Golden Trojans. The Red Riots got wins from Nicole Grant in the racewalk (11:29.7), Sophia Desjardins in the 100 (12.7), 200 (26.7) and long jump (13-11) and their 3,200 relay team (11:23.7). South Portland joins Biddeford and Gorham and Noble Monday.

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The Red Riots boys were at Windham Wednesday.

Cape Elizabeth joined Fryeburg, Lisbon and Old Orchard Beach at Gray-New Gloucester Friday. The Capers were fourth in the boys’ meet and fifth on the girls’ side. Paul Trantina took the boys’ 400 (56.4). Cape Elizabeth hosts Freeport, Waynflete and Wells Friday.

Tennis

The defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth boys’ tennis team suffered its first loss this week, 5-0, to rival Falmouth, but bounced back to blank NYA (5-0) and Fryeburg (5-0) to improve to 6-1. The Capers (second to Falmouth in the Western B Heal Points standings) have key matches next week versus Yarmouth, Greely and three-time defending Class C champ Waynflete.

In Western A, Scarborough was atop the Heals (as of Wednesday morning) with a 5-0 mark after blanking Deering Friday, 5-0. The Red Storm went to rival and recent nemesis Windham Thursday. South Portland got its first win, 3-2, over Marshwood Monday and is 1-4 (good for 10th in the Heals). The Red Riots host Scarborough Monday.

On the girls’ side, Scarborough fell to 5-1 Monday after a 3-2 loss to McAuley. The Red Storm (fourth in Western A) visited defending regional champion Gorham Wednesday. South Portland, which has been competitive all year, snapped a four-match skid Monday with a 4-1 win at Marshwood to improve to 2-4. The Red Riots (seventh in the Heals) face a big test at Scarborough Monday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth snapped a two-match losing streak Saturday with a 3-2 win at Fryeburg to improve to 5-2. The Capers (fourth in the standings) go to Yarmouth Tuesday.

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

Sidebar Elements


Cape Elizabeth senior Timmy Takach blows past a Greely defender during the Capers’ 14-8 win in Cumberland Tuesday night.

Cape Elizabeth senior Wes Richards slows Greely junior Cooper Allen Tuesday night as the Capers went on to their fifth successive win.


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