By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
Even though the weather has recently taken a turn for the worse, the spring sports season is now completely underway. Portland-area baseball fans got to enjoy an early-season showdown Saturday night.
Baseball: Deering Beats Rival
Ancient rivals Deering and Portland did battle at Hadlock Field on a chilly Saturday night. The Rams, the defending Class A champions and heavy favorites to repeat, were coming off a 16-0 drubbing of Marshwood, while Portland lost its opener, 2-1 at Noble.
The Bulldogs got the best of Deering ace Taylor Candage in the early going, plating two runs in the first and another in the second, but Candage settled down and didn't allow another Portland runner to score.
The Rams' offense came to life in the third, scoring three times to tie the game on three hits and a walk. The game remained deadlocked into the bottom of the sixth, where Deering went ahead to stay.
Candage got the rally started with a walk. Mark Ouimet added a one out single to put runners at the corners, but it looked like Portland might escape the threat when Brad Shafran grounded out (with the runners holding). Matt Powers then rose to the occasion for the Rams, rifling a triple to score both runners. Candage got the side in order in the seventh, including a pair of strikeouts, to slam the door on the 5-3 win.
Another defending champion off to a hot start is Class B Greely. The Rangers continue to dominate with their pitching.
The Rangers opened with a 26-0 (five inning) win at Freeport last Wednesday, then blanked visiting Lake Region 6-0 Friday.
In the first game, Greely welcomed the new year with a bang, pushing across 10 first inning runs. The Rangers added six more in the second, five in the third, one in the fourth and four more in the fifth.
Senior Nate Mecray combined with junior Ryan Howland and senior Pat Copp on a two-hitter. Greely had 22 hits, including five home runs. Junior Nate Martin crushed a grand slam in the first, senior Adam Norton launched a three-run shot in the second, junior Kevin Hart hit a two-run dinger in the third, Howland homered in his first varsity at-bat and Copp also went deep and drove in five runs.
Friday, the Rangers extended their pitching scoreless streak to 23 innings (dating back to last year's regional final). This time, senior Brandon Gallagher went five innings, and junior Sam Stauber and Norton one each, to account for the shutout. Offensively, Greely got three runs in the first and two more in the fifth. Copp had a pair of RBI and the Rangers' defense was flawless.
Softball: Champs Keep Rolling
Defending Class A softball champion Scarborough and defending Class B champ Cape Elizabeth both were hit hard by graduation and weren't necessarily viewed as title threats this spring, but both teams have picked right up where they left off.
Scarborough lost pitching ace Kelsey Griffin to graduation. Last year, the Red Storm only surrendered 10 runs all season, while scoring 138. While the offense didn't start quite as prolifically this spring, the stellar pitching continued in a 1-0 season-opening win over Bonny Eagle last week.
Melissa Dellatore is one of three pitchers Scarborough coach Tom Griffin will use this season and she was superb in her debut, allowing just one hit (a bunt to start the game) and two walks, while fanning 15. Catie Funk drove in the game's lone run.
Monday, the Red Storm improved to 2-0 with a 14-5 win in the rain at McAuley, in a game shortened to five innings. Scarborough's next test is Monday, when it hosts Deering.
South Portland is another power in Western A. The Red Riots, who have played in each of the past three regional finals, are hoping to go all the way this time.
South Portland opened with a 4-0 victory at Portland. Three walks and a two run single by sophomore Beth Harmon over the head of Bulldogs' centerfielder Kaitlyn DeFilipp led to two runs in the top of the first. Singles by Harmon and sophomore catcher Stephanie Thibeault gave the Red Riots a 3-0 lead in the third. Harmon crushed a home run to left in the fifth for a 4-0 advantage, which held up. South Portland's senior standout Julie DiMatteo struck out 10, while allowing just three hits and two walks.
The Red Riots are at Bonny Eagle on Friday.
In Western B, Cape Elizabeth downed host Falmouth 5-0 in its opener. The Capers then had home games against Freeport and Poland postponed. Cape Elizabeth's first big test comes May 12 when it visits a Greely team that's off to a perfect start.
Boys Lacrosse: Portland's for Real
The Portland Bulldogs boys lacrosse team surprised many last spring when it upset Scarborough and advanced to its first-ever state championship game. While the Bulldogs were left disappointed after losing to Brunswick, they returned this season with a vengeance and with a mission to complete the job.
If one game is any indication, the rest of Class A better look out.
Tuesday night, in a pouring rain, Portland went to traditional powerhouse Cape Elizabeth and earned an emphatic 12-7 victory. The Bulldogs took the lead for good on a goal just before the half, then broke it open with four straight tallies to begin the second half. Jeremy Finney turned away several Capers' shots in the second half and never let the hosts get close as Portland pulled away for the win.
Two other games featuring championship contenders were played Tuesday.
A rematch of last year's Class B state final occurred in Yarmouth as the North Yarmouth Academy Panthers hosted the Kennebunk Rams. Back in June, the Panthers cruised past Kennebunk to win the championship, but Tuesday would be different. The game was tight throughout. NYA led 1-0 after one period and the game was tied 3-3 at the half, 6-6 after three and 7-7 after regulation. After both teams had great chances to end it in OT, the Rams did the trick as Connor Finn scored for the 8-7 decision.
In Scarborough, preseason Class B favorite Yarmouth proved that it's as good as advertised as the Clippers scored early and often en route to a surprisingly easy 19-6 romp over the Western A contending Red Storm.
Yarmouth visits Portland in a delicious interclass showdown Friday night.
Michael Hoffer is the sports editor of The Forecaster, a family of weekly newspapers based in Falmouth, Maine. Michael can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
