Scarborough’s Katie Roy launches a home run during the Red Storm’s 5-4 win at Thornton Academy Monday.

South Portland’s Alex Stevens shoots on Cape Elizabeth goalie Jack Dresser during the Capers’ 16-7 victory Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth’s Tory McGrath scores one of her six goals in last week’s 13-3 home win over Waynflete.

The final regular season push is underway and local teams remain in the thick of things.

Here’s a look back at an eventful week and a glimpse at what’s to come as the month of May dwindles.

Baseball

South Portland’s baseball team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Tuesday, but not before winning its first 12 games. Last week, the Red Riots blanked visiting Bonny Eagle (9-0) and edged host Deering in eight-innings (2-1) and Monday, South Portland held off host Scarborough, 2-1, before falling to 12-1 with a 2-1 home loss to Marshwood. Noah Lewis threw a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and added a pair of hits, while Anthony Perron had two hits and Gerik Bialorucki and Gus Lappin each drove in a pair of runs in the win over the Scots. Against the Rams, Hunter Owen went the distance, allowing just two hits while fanning 15, Lewis had three hits and Caden Horton scored the decisive run on a wild pitch. In the win over the Red Storm, Owen hit a game-tying sacrifice fly and Perron scored the go-ahead run on an error. Lewis threw a four-hitter. Poole scored the only run and Bradley McMains was the hard-luck loser against the Hawks. South Portland (first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) hosted Cheverus Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes Westbrook Saturday and closes Tuesday at Biddeford.

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Scarborough was 9-4 and third behind South Portland and Thornton Academy following a 4-0 loss at Marshwood, an 8-3 (eight-inning) victory at Falmouth, a 5-4 setback at Thornton Academy, a 2-1 loss to visiting South Portland and an 8-7 home win over Westbrook. After being no-hit at the Hawks, the Red Storm got three hits from Nolan Lamontagne to rally against the Yachtsmen. In the loss to the Red Riots, Nick Thompson was the hard-luck loser and Noah Frink drove in the run. Against the Blue Blazes, Scarborough scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to walk off. Atter hosting Kennebunk Thursday, the Red Storm play at Portland Monday and close at home versus Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth was 2-10 and 14th (only 11 teams qualify for the playoffs) following a 12-1 (six-inning) win at Poland, a 3-2 victory at Wells, a 5-2 home loss to Yarmouth and a 10-1 home loss to Wells. The Capers gave new coach Glenn Reeves his first win against the Knights, as Jameson Bakke had three hits, including two doubles, and Ryan Oberholtzer earned the victory.

“We swung the bats like we haven’t swung it yet,” said Reeves. 

In the win over the Warriors, Cole Hoffman scored the winning run on a balk, while Bakke earned the victory. Bakke tripled and singled twice in the loss to the Clippers. Michael Mackenzie hit an RBI double in the loss to the Warriors. Cape Elizabeth was home with St. Dom’s Wednesday, goes to Greely Friday, welcomes Gray-New Gloucester Monday and closes at Leavitt in a makeup game Wednesday of next week. 

Softball

Scarborough’s juggernaut softball team extended its overall win streak to 53 and its regular season streak to 102 after downing visiting Falmouth (17-0, in five-innings), host Thornton Academy, in a thrilling regional final rematch (5-4) and visiting Westbrook (14-1, in five-innings) to improve to 13-0 and second in the Class A South Heal Points standings. Mia Kelley threw a one-hitter and Mikala Plummer finished with three hits and three RBI in the win over the Yachtsmen, which gave the Red Storm an even 100 straight league wins. In that span, only four wins were by one run. 46 were by shutout, 42 by mercy rule (12 runs or more). Over those 100 games, Scarborough outscored the opposition, 1,299-136. 

Monday, the Red Storm got pushed to the wire at Thornton Academy, but held on behind a gutsy pitching effort and an RBI double from Bella Dickinson and home runs from Katie Roy and Hannah Gower.

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“We all stayed composed,” said Dickinson, who recorded the final out with the tying and winning runs in scoring position. “I’m glad we pulled it out. I’m so happy we got a win today.”

“We dug deep and kept our energy up the whole game and that brought it together,” Gower said. “It was nervewracking, but I knew we could do it.”

“It’s very encouraging,” added longtime Scarborough coach Tom Griffin. “I’m so proud of my kids. We’re very young and I didn’t know how we’d react, to be honest, but we passed the test.”

In the win over the Blue Blazes, Dickinson homered twice and Mollie Verreault added a three-run home run. The Red Storm hosted Biddeford Wednessday, visit Windham Friday and close at home versus Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

South Portland was 8-5 and eighth in Class A South following home wins over Sanford (9-0) and Bonny Eagle (7-5), a 12-3 home loss to Thornton Academy and victories at Massabesic (13-5) and at home over Deering (11-1). In the win over the Spartans, Grace Rende doubled twice and singled, Mia Micucci singled, tripled and earned the victory and Meghan Livingston, Hylah Owen and Kaylee Whitten all added two hits. Rende hit a two-run triple against the Scots. In the win over the Mustangs, Elise Connor had four hits, Livingston hit a home run, Micucci had three hits and Whitten had a pair of triples and two RBI. Livingston, Rende and Sydney Sherburne all hit home runs against the Rams. After hosting Windham Wednesday, the Red Riots are at Westbrook Friday and close at home versus Noble Monday.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth was second to Fryeburg Academy with a 10-2 mark following victories at Poland (7-5), Wells (12-4) and Yarmouth (11-0) and at home over Wells (8-4). Jessie Robicheaw had three hits and Anna Cornell drove in three wins in the win over the Knights. In the second victory over the Warriors, Cornell struck out nine to earn the win, while Kathryn Clay had two hits and two RBI. Cape Elizabeth was home with St. Dom’s Wednesday, goes to Greely Friday, welcomes Gray-New Gloucester Monday and closes at Leavitt in a makeup game Wednesday of next week. 

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Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ lacrosse team remained undefeated at press time, topping Class A South after improving to 9-0 with Saturday’s 16-7 win at South Portland. Colin Campbell and Sam Dresser each had three goals, while Max Patterson sparked a strong defensive effort.

“We have a lot of perseverance,” Campbell said. “We always work hard as a team. This is a really good team win for us.”

“We practiced on grass before this game,” Patterson said. “We like being on turf, because that’s what we’re used to, but practicing on grass helped.”

“This was big,” Raymond added. “To finish above South Portland is really important. We don’t want to play a playoff game here on this field.”

The Capers went to Yarmouth Thursday, play at Fryeburg Academy Tuesday of next week and close at home versus Greely May 30.

South Portland dominated host Sanford, 28-0, last Wednesday, then fell to 5-2 and fifth in Class A South after its loss to Cape Elizabeth. Alex Stevens had three goals in a losing effort.

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“I feel we played probably our worst game of the year and I’m trying to figure out why,” said South Portland coach Tom Fiorini. “We had good looks at the goal, but we couldn’t score, then the kids got a little frustrated and (Cape) got a couple quick goals.”

The Red Riots were at defending Class A champion Thornton Academy Wednesday, visit Gorham Friday, play at defending Class B champion Brunswick in a makeup game Tuesday of next week, host Scarborough May 29 and close at Cheverus May 31.

Scarborough saw its skid hit five games last Thursday with an 11-5 loss at Yarmouth, then improved to 3-7 and seventh in Class A South (where seven teams make the playoffs) Tuesday with a 9-8 home win over Kennebunk. Aidan Joyce had two goals in the loss, while Nathan Taggart scored four times in the victory. The Red Storm went to Deering Thursday and close at South Portland Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, defending Class B state champion Cape Elizabeth extended its win streak to four games and improved to 7-2 and second behind Yarmouth in the Heals after recent victories over visiting Waynflete (13-3), visiting Massabesic (10-9) and host North Yarmouth Academy (19-3). Against the Flyers, Tory McGrath scored six goals and Karli Chapin won 13 of 18 draws.

“We’ve had some tough games and we’ve worked really hard every day,” McGrath said. “I am pleasantly surprised so far. This is a really good showing.”

“We focused on breaking down their zone,” said Capers coach Alex Spark. “We had nice cutters and caught the ball cleanly. We had beautiful, assisted goals, which is what we were looking for.”

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Against the defending Class A South champion Mustangs, McGrath scored five times and Chapin added three goals. In the win over the Panthers, McGrath led the way with four goals, while Chapin and Julia Thoreck each scored three times. Cape Elizabeth hosts St. Dom’s Friday, goes to defending Class C champion Lake Region Tuesday of next week and closes at home versus Greely May 30.

In Class A South, South Portland was 4-4 and fourth after a 10-9 overtime home win over St. Dom’s and a 17-4 loss at Kennebunk (in a game played at the University of Southern Maine). Molly Walker had the decisive goal, her fifth, in the OT victory, while Jena Leckie added three goals.

“We have just begun to find our place on the field,” said Red Riots coach Leslie Dyer. “Kids have found their role and are excelling. They took chances and played smart.”

Leckie scored three times against the Rams as well. The Red Riots hosted Thornton Academy Thursday, welcome Sanford Saturday, visit Windham Tuesday of next week and close at home against Cheverus May 30.

Scarborough fell to 0-8 and 10th in Class A South (where seven teams make the playoffs) after losing at Marshwood (15-9), at home to Greely (11-10) and at home to Gorham (8-4). Erin Stolz had five goals against the Hawks. Stolz scored six times and Kathleen Murphy made 16 saves in the loss to the Rangers. Murphy stopped 18 shots in the loss to the Rams. The Red Storm sought their first win Thursday at home versus unbeaten Windham. After going to Brunswick Saturday, Scarborough is at Kennebunk Tuesday, then closes at Biddeford May 30.

Outdoor track

Scarborough and host South Portland took part in the regular season-ending Cumberland County Championship meet last Friday.

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Scarborough was first on the boys’ side, while South Portland came in fourth.

In the girls’ meet, won by Gorham, the Red Storm were runners-up and the Red Riots placed sixth.

Cape Elizabeth joined Freeport, Greely and NYA for a regular season-ending meet at Yarmouth.

The Clippers boys were first, while the Capers came in third.

Greely won the girls’ competition and Cape Elizabeth placed third.

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association championship meet will be held Saturday in Falmouth, while the Western Maine Conference championship meet is the same day in Naples.

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State meets are Saturday, June 1.

Tennis

The team tennis regular season was coming to a close at press time, while the singles tournament will be held Friday, Saturday and Monday in Lewiston.

Cape Elizabeth’s Blair Hollyday is seeded ninth in the girls’ singles competition.

Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ team was 8-2 and fourth in the Class B South Heals at press time. The Capers closed at York Thursday.

The Cape Elizabeth boys finished 3-9 and ninth in Class B South (where seven teams make the playoffs) after losses to defending Class B South champion Freeport (5-0), Yarmouth (4-1) and 11-time Class C champion Waynflete (4-0) and will miss the postseason for the first time since 1983.

Scarborough’s girls were 10-1 and third in Class A South after Monday’s 4-1 win over Kennebunk.

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Scarborough’s boys fell to 2-8 and 12th in Class A South (where 11 teams make the playoffs0 after a 5-0 loss to Kennebunk. The Red Storm were home with Bonny Eagle Wednesday.

The South Portland boys improved to 8-3 and fifth in Class A South after beating Portland (3-2) and Massabesic (5-0). The Red Riots closed the regular season at Gorham Wednesday. A ninth win would give South Portland its best record since 2002.

South Portland’s girls were 6-5 and ninth in Class A South after Tuesday’s 5-0 win at Massabesic. The Red Riots closed at home versus Gorham Wednesday.

The playoffs begin Wednesday of next week on the courts of the higher seeds.

Sun Journal staff writer Wil Kramlich contributed to this story.

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


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