Cheverus’ Billy Ly gets sandwiched between a couple Lewiston defenders during the Stags’ 13-6 road loss last week.

Portland’s Billy Barnard lines a hit during the Bulldogs’ 7-4, eight-inning win at Falmouth Saturday.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Portland-Marshwood and Portland-Falmouth baseball game stories, with box scores and photos, see theforecaster.net)

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting nicer and the spring sports action has been can’t-miss in recent days.

There have some compelling contests and history made as well and here’s a look back at what you might have missed, as well as a glimpse at what’s to come:

Baseball

Portland and Deering’s baseball teams have emerged as Class A South contenders, while Waynflete is celebrating its first win in nearly two years.

The Bulldogs suffered their first loss last Tuesday, 2-1, at Windham, but bounced back with a pair of dramatic victories: 9-8 at home over Marshwood and 7-4, in eight-innings, at Falmouth in a playoff rematch to improve to 4-1 on the season. In the setback, Brian Riley had a strong pitching outing but was the hard-luck loser and Ben Stasium began to heat up with two hits. Against the Hawks, in a game that didn’t end until 10:26 p.m., three errors helped dig a 7-2 hole, but Portland scored twice in the fifth, then erupted for five runs in the sixth, capped by a three-run double from Stasium. Donnie Tocci came on in the seventh to earn the save.

“We had our heads down, but we know what Portland baseball is all about,” said Stasium, who had two hits, scored twice and drove in four runs. “We picked our heads up and we just came back.”

“I’ve been here since 3-o-clock,” Bulldogs coach Mike Rutherford said. “It was a long day, but it’s good we played. It’s almost a game we stole. This would have been a tough loss after a tough game against Windham.”

At Falmouth, in a rematch of last year’s Yachtsmen extra-inning victory in the Class A South semifinals, Portland took an early 3-0 lead, but couldn’t add to it. Falmouth pulled even in the sixth and nearly took the lead, but Stasium made a nice running catch. The game went to the eighth, where Stasium, again, played the hero, lining an RBI single with two outs to put the Bulldogs ahead to stay.

“I wanted to be up, especially after being up last game in a clutch situation,” said Stasium. “I didn’t hit it as hard, but it got through and we got the lead.”

Will Barnard added a two-run single and Tocci followed with an RBI double. The Yachtsmen got a run back in the eighth, but Riley closed out the 7-4 triumph.

Tocci went 7.2 innings to improve to 3-0.

“We let them stick around and we’ll work on that and try to get better at it, but this shows we don’t give up,” Tocci said. “There’s no give-up in Portland kids. We never say die and continue to work every inning.”

“We earned a valuable lesson today without losing,” Rutherford said. “They were ready to die, but you could see them come alive when we didn’t put it away.”

Portland had another test at Scarborough Tuesday (see theforecaster.net), visits Biddeford Thursday, welcomes Sanford Saturday and plays host to rival Deering Tuesday of next week.

Deering won a pair of games last week to improve to 3-1. Last Thursday, the Rams needed a long time to prevail, 12 innings to be exact, as they held off visiting Massabesic, 7-6. Deering tied the game, 6-6, in the sixth on Alex McGonagle’s sacrifice fly, then neither team scored until the 12th, when Jack Lynch singled, stole second and scored on Bobby Ridge’s single. Keegan Stanton had four hits and Dan Hill added three. Mike Jones gave up just one run on three hits in seven innings of relief to earn the victory. The Rams’ offense then came to life Saturday, as they doubled up host Westbrook, 16-8. Luc Harrison earned the win in relief and had three hits and five RBI. Ridge added four hits, three runs and three RBI and Luke Hill had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Deering went to Kennebunk Monday for a makeup game, hosted Biddeford Tuesday, goes to Gorham Thursday and Marshwood Saturday and plays a doubleheader at Hadlock Field Tuesday of next week, against Cheverus and Portland.

Cheverus fell to 1-4 with losses last week to visiting Thornton Academy (4-2), at Falmouth (3-1) and at Windham (3-1). The Stags looked to get back in the win column Tuesday against Westbrook. Cheverus visits Bonny Eagle Thursday, hosts Kennebunk Friday and South Portland Saturday and goes to Deering Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete lost its first four games, which included home setbacks last week to North Yarmouth Academy (8-1) and Old Orchard Beach (12-3). Saturday, the Flyers won at NYA, 10-7, to snap a 26-game skid and prevail for the first time since May 6, 2016. Eliot Bramble earned the victory and Levi Lilienthal got the save. Ava Farrar hit a two-run single to give Waynflete the lead for good in the seventh inning. Lilienthal, Owen Ardell, Nick Hagler and Max Winson all had two hits and Winson stole home.

“It was definitely a great game and well deserved by all the players,” said Waynflete coach Paul Grazia. “It was a battle with several lead changes. The kids played great, made lots of big plays and had no errors.”

The Flyers hosted Sacopee Valley Monday and Buckfield Tuesday. They welcome St. Dom’s Monday of next week.

Softball

The big story from the softball diamond last week came Friday from Cheverus, where the Cheverus/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team snapped a three-year, 46-game losing streak, getting in the win column for the first time since May 11, 2015, 11-10 over Bonny Eagle. Alex Hammond hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Stags on top. Caroline Taylor had four hits, two runs scored and two RBI, Emily Haley added three hits and Katie Boynton finished with two hits and two runs scored. Earlier in the week, Cheverus/NYA lost at home to Windham (17-4, in five-innings), at home to Thornton Academy (16-3, in five-innings) and at Biddeford (10-4). Haley, Hammond and Mackenzie Turner all had multiple hits against the Eagles. In the loss to the Golden Trojans, Hammond and Madison Durgin had two hits apiece. The Stags were home with Maine Girls’ Academy/Falmouth Monday, visit Deering Wednesday, host Kennebunk Friday and go to Gorham Monday of next week.

Portland split two road games last week, falling at Massabesic, 9-1, and outslugging Sanford, 13-8. The Bulldogs got a home run from Kit Rosmus against the Mustangs. In the win, Jess Brown had four hits, including a double and a triple, and struck out 11 in earning the victory. Portland was at South Portland Monday, hosts Scarborough Wednesday, plays at Westbrook Friday and is home against Thornton Academy Monday of next week.

MGA/Falmouth fell to 1-6 after losing at home to Thornton Academy (11-0), at Westbrook (7-1) and Biddeford (7-6). Liberty Ladd and Carly Peterson had two hits apiece against the Blue Blazes. The Sea Lions let a 6-3 lead slip away against the Tigers. Ladd had three hits and Jill Joyce belted a two-run double. MGA/Falmouth was at Cheverus Monday, hosts Bonny Eagle Wednesday, Windham Thursday and Deering Monday of next week.

Deering fell to 0-8 after losing at home to Westbrook (18-1, in five-innings), at Bonny Eagle (17-0, in five-innings) and at home to Biddeford (13-1, in six-innings). Megan Dunn drove in the run against the Blue Blazes. Liz Drelich had an RBI single in the loss to the Tigers. The Rams are home against Cheverus Wednesday, host Gorham Friday and play at MGA/Falmouth Monday.

Boys’ lacrosse

Portland’s boys’ lacrosse team continued its best start in seven years with wins last week at home over Biddeford (12-7) and at Mt. Ararat (6-4). Kevin Moore had four goals and Sam Gerber three against the Tigers. In the win over the Eagles, Reilly O’Brien scored four times and Aaron Hoekstra made a dozen saves. The Bulldogs host Bonny Eagle Wednesday and welcome York Friday.

Deering fell to 1-4 after losses last week at home to Kennebunk (8-7, in overtime) and at Messalonskee (11-5). Payson Harvey and Nick James both scored three times in the OT loss. The Rams host Gorham Wednesday and play at Waynflete Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

Cheverus fell to 0-5 with losses last week to visiting Falmouth (16-6) and at Lewiston (13-6). The Stags look to get in the win column Wednesday when Kennebunk pays a visit. Cheverus is home against Messalonskee Friday.

Waynflete evened its record at 2-2 with wins last week at home over Wells (16-5) and at Freeport (13-7). Hank Duvall scored seven times and Mitchell Adams added three goals in the win over the Warriors. Against the Falcons, Zane Moorhead scored seven goals and Adams and Duvall each finished with three. The Flyers were at Gardiner Monday, play at NYA Wednesday and host Deering Saturday.

Girls’ lacrosse

Cheverus’ girls’ lacrosse team got in the win column for the first time Friday. After falling to 0-2 with a 9-8 home loss to Windham (Emma McCauley had two goals and three assists, while Bella Booth and Mackenzie Johnston had two goals each), the Stags downed visiting Lewiston, 8-5, behind two goals apiece from Johnston and Zoe Mazur. Cheverus was home with Scarborough Monday and goes to two-time defending Class B champion Kennebunk Thursday.

Deering won its first three games, capped by a 10-7 home triumph over Sanford, then fell at home to Fryeburg Academy, 9-6. Taylor Banks and Kiaya Gatchell had three goals apiece in the win.

Maine Girls’ Academy opened its season last week, sandwiching losses at Wells (11-6) and at home to South Portland (17-6) around an 8-5 win at Westbrook. Catherine Reid had four goals against the Warriors, and scored five times, including the 100th of her career, against the Red Riots. In the victory, Reid had four goals and Hope Olson added a pair. The Lions welcomed Cony Monday, play at Noble Wednesday and host NYA Friday and Portland Tuesday of next week.

Portland had a busy week last week, splitting four games. After an 8-4 home loss to Gorham and an 11-4 setback at South Portland, the Bulldogs beat visiting Sanford (18-1) and won at Cony (15-5) to improve to 3-2 on the season. Isabella More scored twice in the loss to the Red Riots. Georgia Stoddard scored three times, while More, Catriona Moran and Hazel Praught had two goals apiece in the win over the Spartans. Against the Rams, 11 different Portland players scored. More led the way with three goals, while Chloe Kilbride, Emma Merrill and Annika More each had two. The Bulldogs were home with Brunswick Monday, play at Deering Wednesday, welcome Edward Little Saturday and go to Maine Girls’ Academy Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete suffered its first loss and fell to 3-1 after a 7-5 setback at Greely last Wednesday. Ya Stockford had three goals and LZ Olney added a pair. The Flyers are home with Marshwood Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story). They welcome Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Outdoor track

Cheverus, Deering and Portland’s outdoor track teams all saw action last week.

Portland joined four other teams for a meet at Falmouth and both Bulldogs squads placed fifth. Keller Nicolai was first in both the boys’ discus (141 feet, 2 inches) and the boys’ shot put (50-11.75).

Cheverus joined Noble and Scarborough at Gorham. Each Stags team placed fourth. Emma Gallant won the girls’ 200 in 26.34 seconds. Emma White took the girls’ high jump (4-10) and the girls’ 4×100 relay team also placed first (51.91).

Deering’s boys hosted Kennebunk, Thornton Academy and Windham last Tuesday and came in second behind the Golden Trojans. The Rams got wins from Jerry Mixangelo in the 400 (52.85), Alec Troxell in the two-mile (10 minutes, 15.48 seconds) and Aryz Terlaje in the javelin (150-0).

Deering’s girls were second to Thornton Academy at a four-team meet in Kennebunk. The Rams got first-place showings from Annah Rossvall in the 400 (1:01.10), Hadley Poirier in the 800 (2:34.76), Nicole Whipkey in the mile (5:40.57) and the two-mile (12:32.87), Darcy Lally in the 300 hurdles (52.38) and their 4×100 relay team (55.73).

Tennis

Waynflete’s 10-time defending Class C champion boys’ tennis team improved to 5-0 Friday with a 5-0 win over defending Class B South champion Yarmouth. The Flyers had tests this week at Cape Elizabeth Monday and resurgent Freeport Wednesday.

Waynflete’s girls edged Yarmouth, 3-2, Friday to improve to 3-2. The Flyers hosted Cape Elizabeth Monday and welcome St. Dom’s Friday.

In Class A South, the Portland boys beat Biddeford, Windham and Gorham by 5-0 scores last week to improve to 4-1. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Monday and go to Deering Wednesday.

Portland’s girls sandwiched 5-0 wins over Biddeford and Gorham around a 3-2 loss to Windham and began the week 3-1. After going to Cheverus Monday, the Bulldogs welcome Deering Wednesday.

Maine Girls’ Academy took an 0-3 record into Monday’s match at 10-time defending state champion Falmouth.

Deering’s boys evened their record at 2-2 with a 5-0 win at South Portland last week. The Rams have a key home match versus Portland Wednesday.

Deering’s girls earned their first win of the season last week, 3-2, over South Portland. The Rams go to Portland Wednesday.

Cheverus’ boys’ team took a 3-1 record into a match Monday at Portland.

Cheverus’ girls edged Thornton Academy, 3-2, last week to improve to 3-1. Portland visited the Stags Monday.

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