The middle of May is upon us and that means the 2010 spring sports season is roughly at its halfway point.

So far, so good has been the theme for local teams and there’s plenty more excitement ahead. Here’s a glimpse at where things stand:

Baseball

Cape Elizabeth’s baseball team enters the week unbeaten with some tough hurdles upcoming in Western Class B. The Capers rolled to victories at Lake Region (6-1) and Poland (13-2) last week to improve to 7-0. Against the Lakers, senior Kyle Piscopo slammed a home run and juniors Rob MacDonald and Cam Brown combined to spin a gem on the hill. In the win over the Knights, a six-run fourth inning broke it open and senior Will Pierce was dominant and earned the victory. Cape Elizabeth was at undefeated Yarmouth Wednesday, hosts dangerous York Friday and welcomes Freeport Monday.

In Western A, South Portland has been up-and-down in recent games, defeating visiting Marshwood (10-0, in five innings), falling, 10-4, at Biddeford, then rolling at Kennebunk, 11-2, Monday, and 8-1, at Noble Tuesday, to improve to 4-2 on the season. Against the Hawks, junior Andrew Richards threw a shutout, junior Evan Indorf had three hits and scored four times and senior Ryan Curit and junior Zach Horton both had two RBI. Curit belted a three-run homer in the loss. Against the Rams, senior Matt Lee earned the win and had three hits. Classmate Jon DiBiase had a pair of RBI. In the win over the Knights, the Horton brothers (Zach and sophomore Brendan) had two RBI apiece and senior Jon Medici earned the victory. The Red Riots were at Cheverus Thursday, host Bonny Eagle Saturday and Portland Tuesday.

Scarborough is now 4-2 on the year. Last Wednesday, the Red Storm downed visiting Sanford, 11-2, as sophomore Ben Wessel had three hits and four runs and senior Jake Rutt had three hits and drove in four. Senior Andrew Myers earned the victory on the mound with a four-hit performance. The next day, the Red Storm lost, 5-1, at high-powered Westbrook, but Tuesday, Scarborough outlasted host Massabesic, 3-1, in 10 innings. Rutt drove in the go-ahead run and sophomore Joe Cronin and Myers combined to allow just one run and five hits. Scarborough was home with Kennebunk Thursday, hosts Marshwood Saturday, plays at Biddeford Monday and Cheverus Tuesday.

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Softball

Cape Elizabeth’s softball team, a top Western B contender for several years, but rebuilding in 2010, got in the win column for the first and second times last week. After starting 0-4, the Capers enjoyed a 12-6 victory at Lake Region as sophomore Lexi Cantara crushed a three-run homer and key, late hits from senior Gabe Donahue (RBI triple), junior Emily Donovan (two-run double) and senior Abbi Flynn (two-run single) broke it open. Junior Ally Boyington earned the victory with a five-hit, five-strikeout performance. She also had three hits. Friday, at Poland, Cape Elizabeth cruised, 9-2, scoring five times in the first inning. Boyington allowed just five hits and no walks and had three Ks. Donovan and sophomore Emily Ham both drove in a pair. Monday, the Capers fell to 2-5 on the year with an 8-7 loss at Wells. Cape Elizabeth almost rallied from an 8-2 deficit, but fell a run short. Boyington and senior Delaney Rockwell had two hits apiece and Donahue tripled. Cape Elizabeth was at Yarmouth Wednesday, hosts York Friday and welcomes Freeport Monday of next week.

Scarborough and South Portland continue to decimate all comers in Western A.

The defending state champion Red Storm were 12-0 (five inning) home victors over Massabesic last Wednesday and downed host Thornton Academy, 8-3, the following day to improve to 7-0. Against the Mustangs, sophomore standout Mo Hannan stole the show, hurling a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts, while hitting a two-run home run as well. Seniors Heather Carrier and Jenn Colpitts and sophomore Abby Rutt all had multiple hits. In the victory over the Golden Trojans, senior Melissa Dellatorre earned the win while Colpitts had four hits and Rutt and sophomore Dominque Burnham both had three. Scarborough had a big home test Wednesday versus Biddeford and hosts South Portland in a highly-anticipated showdown Monday (game time’s been moved to 7 p.m.).

Speaking of the Red Riots, they were also 8-0 at press time. South Portland has outscored its last three foes by a composite 46-0 margin. Last Wednesday, the Red Riots downed Noble 14-0 (in five innings). Junior Alexis Bogdanovich threw a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and also tripled. Junior Katlin Norton and freshman Danica Gleason both had three hits. Friday, South Portland went to Marshwood and won 21-0 (in five innings). Bogdanovich again earned the win (with a two-hitter) and the Red Riots rapped 16 hits. Monday, at home, South Portland cruised, 11-0, over Gorham, in a game that actually went seven innings. Bogdanovich threw a two-hitter and fanned 13. A pair of doubles from junior Amanda Linscott paced a 12-hit attack. The Red Riots were at Massabesic Wednesday and home with Thornton Academy Friday in advance of their battle at Scarborough Monday.

Boys’ lacrosse

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Don’t look now, but the perennially strong Cape Elizabeth boys’ lacrosse team is hitting its stride. The Capers were drubbed at home by Falmouth in the opener, won two in a row, then dropped a closer-than-the-score-indicated 8-4 decision at two-time defending Class B champion Yarmouth. After Saturday’s game at Kennebunk was rained out, Cape Elizabeth hosted Greely Tuesday night and cruised.

The Capers led 4-0 after one period and 8-0 at the half. Five straight third period goals made it 13-0 and forced a running clock. The hosts got one more before the Rangers scored a couple to make the final score 14-2. Juniors Teddy Smith and Timmy Takach both had four goals.

“We wanted to take it to them quick,” said Smith. “We got in the game early and when we do that, we play really well. We moved well without the ball. When defenders heads turn, you have to take it to them. We’ve been working really hard. We’ve changed our schemes a little bit. (The Yarmouth game) was definitely a confidence booster.”

“We played well,” added coach Ben Raymond. “The kids moved without the ball really well and dodged well. The kids were ready to play. It’s been awhile since we had a game. A lot of guys scored. It wasn’t just one guy dodging. Most of the goals were assisted. That’s definitely what we’re looking for. We’re getting better.”

Cape Elizabeth (fourth in the latest coaches’ poll) is home with Lewiston in a crossover battle Friday and has a rematch at Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

In Western A, South Portland continues to lead the Western A Heal Points standings and is seventh in the latest coaches’ poll. The Red Riots beat visiting Massabesic, 13-5, last Wednesday, rolled, 13-2, at Westbrook last Friday, then improved to a program-best 6-0 Tuesday with a 16-5 home romp over Winham. Against the Eagles, seniors Adam Burpee and Chad MacLeod and junior Harrison Keithly all scored three times. South Portland was home with Camden Thursday, visits Oak Hill Saturday and travels to Thornton Academy for a test Tuesday.

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Scarborough split a pair of games last week and is now 3-3. Last Wednesday, the Red Storm enjoyed a 6-4 win at Thornton Academy (senior Matt Mayo and freshman John Wheeler accounted for all the offense with three goals each). Saturday, Scarborough gave favored host Falmouth a battle for 48 minutes, but fell, 4-3. Wheeler scored twice. The Red Storm (eighth in the coaches’ poll) were home with Bonny Eagle Wednesday, have a big home test versus North Yarmouth Academy Friday and go to Windham next Wednesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, while Scarborough was winning its biggest game of the season (please see story), South Portland is now 2-2 on the year. The Red Riots won twice last week at home, 14-6 over McAuley and 15-2 over Noble before falling, 11-9, at Sanford Tuesday. Against the Lions, senior Kate Lagios and junior Nikki LaPlante both scored four times. In the win over the Knights, Lagios and junior Rebecca Roberts each had four goals. South Portland was at Biddeford Thursday, plays host to Lewiston Saturday and welcomes McAuley Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth remains in the Western B hunt. The Capers enjoyed an 11-9 home win over Marshwood last Friday behind four goals from freshman Talley Perkins. Monday, Cape Elizabeth fell to 3-3 on the season after a hard-fought 11-7 home loss to two-time defending Class B champion Waynflete.

The Capers led 1-0, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 in the first half, but the Flyers rallied to go up 6-5 at halftime. Two quick goals by the visitors put Cape Elizabeth on the ropes in the second half, but with 16:42 to go, junior Anna Darling scored to make it 8-6. The Capers would get no closer as Waynflete’s superior skill on draws and ability to keep possession proved to be too much to overcome. Despite three goals from freshman Lauren Steidl, the Flyers earned the victory.

“Our defense stepped up and played excellent,” Cape Elizabeth coach Kurt Chapin said. “A couple bounces here and there and the game would have been different. We took good steps. We could have rolled over when we saw the green team with the ‘W,’ but we’re young enough not to know the difference.

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“In this game, especially against that team, draws and possessions are huge. We talked at halftime that they’d try to get two goals and run the clock out. That’s what they do.”

The Capers were home with Greely Wednesday and play at Wells Friday.

Track

The outdoor track season continued last weekend with the Scarborough (girls) and Westbrook Relays (boys). Team results weren’t available for the Scarborough Relays, but in the Westbrook Relays, Scarborough was second and South Portland fourth. Tuesday, Scarborough (along with Bonny Eagle and Sanford) competed in a boys’ meet at Cheverus. The Red Storm were second to the hosts. South Portland joined Gorham and Noble at Thornton Academy for a boys’ meet and came in third. Cape Elizabeth most recently took part in a meet Friday at Wells (along with Greely and Traip). Both teams finished third.

Looking ahead, the Western Maine Conference and Southern Maine Activities Association championship meets are May 29. The state championship meets are June 5.

Tennis

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Scarborough’s girls’ tennis team was unbeaten at press time, but faced a couple of big tests. Tuesday, the Red Storm downed visiting Marshwood, 5-0, to improve to 5-0. Wednesday, Scarborough hosted Gorham and Thursday, it went to McAuley. South Portland evened its mark at 3-3 Monday with a 5-0 home win over Marshwood. Cape Elizabeth is now 4-3 after losses to the defending Class B champion (Falmouth, 5-0) and defending Class C titlist (NYA, 3-2).

On the boys’ side, Cape Elizabeth beat York (3-2) and NYA (5-0) late last week to improve to 4-2. Scarborough has won five straight, most recently a 3-2 victory over visiting Marshwood, and is 5-1. South Portland fell to 2-4 Monday after a 5-0 loss at Marshwood.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

 Cape Elizabeth junior pitcher Ally Boyington celebrates with freshman catcher Ellen Best after the Capers softball team got in the win column last week.


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