The Mid-coast region has numerous teams involved and action continues this afternoon with baseball, softball in prelim play and boys lacrosse in quarterfinal action.
Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference boys and girls lacrosse titles were also decided with the Brunswick boys downing Mt. Ararat 13-1 on Friday and the Brunswick girls getting past Lewiston 14- 6 Monday at Bowdoin College.
The Dragon boys got three goals each from Cameron Glover, Winston Sullivan and Lucas McCue to beat the Eagles handily.
The Dragons are 12-0 and top-seeded in Eastern Maine Class A. They have scored 184 goals (including the KVAC game) and allowed only 40. Leading scorers, according to sportsinme.com are Glover (34) and Sullivan (33). Brunswick hosts the winner of the No. 5 Messalonskee (8- 4)/No.4 Cheverus (8-4) quarterfinal game on Saturday.
The 11-1 Brunswick girls got four goals from Annie Kelly and three each from Suzannah Smith and Corinne O’Connor to turn back the Blue Devils, who came in with a 11-1 record.
Caroline Wild had four assists and Dakota Foster two goals, while Molly Herman was standout in goal.
Up next for Brunswick is Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinals with No. 8 Oxford Hills (8-4) on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s games
• Western Maine Class B Baseball Prelim —
No. 9 Cape Elizabeth (8-8) at No. 8 Freeport
(10-6), 4 p.m.
• Eastern Maine Class A Softball Prelim —
No. 9 Mt. Ararat (7-9) at No. 8 Hampden Academy (8-8), 4 p.m.
• Western Maine Class C Baseball Prelim —
No. 11 Sacopee Valley (3-13) at No. 6 Lisbon
(8-7), 4:30 p.m.
• Western Maine Class C Softball Prelim —
No. 9 St. Dom’s (5-11) at No. 8 Wiscasset (7-
9), 2 p.m.
• Eastern Maine Class A Boys Lacrosse Quarterfinal —No. 7 Lewiston (6-6) at No. 2 Mt.
Ararat (10-2), 6:30 p.m.
The Mt. Ararat softball team is led offensively by Shauna Williams with a .593 batting average, 1.019 slugging percentage, eight doubles, three triples and three home runs. Also, Taylor Pare (.521 average, .813 slugging, three doubles and three home runs) and Mallory Nelson (.462 BA).
“The first time we played them we lost 6-0,” said head coach Rick Bartlett. “In that game we gave up four unearned runs and left 10 runners in scoring position. We are playing much better now, both offensively and defensively, than we were at that point in the season.
“Everyone is healthy and we are playing with a lot of confidence at this point in the season. I really like our chances of going up there and getting a win.”
Wednesday’s games
• Eastern Maine Class A Girl Tennis Final —
No. 3 Lewiston (12-2) vs. No. 1 Brunswick
(14-0), at Colby College in Waterville, 1 p.m.
• Western Maine Class C Baseball Quarterfinals — No. 5 Wiscasset (9-7) at No.
4 Hall-Dale (12-4), 4:30 p.m.
• Western Maine Class D Baseball Quarterfinals — No. 5 Richmond (5-10) at
No. 4 Forest Hills (9-7), 3 p.m.
• Eastern Maine Class B Boys Lacrosse Quarterfinals — No. 7 Morse (6-6) at No. 2
Gardiner (11-1), 4 p.m.
• Eastern Maine Class A Girls Lacrosse Quarterfinals — No. 5 Mt. Ararat (8-4) at No.
4 Cony (9-3), 3 p.m.; No. 8 Oxford Hills (8-4)
at No. 1 Brunswick (11-1), 3 p.m.
Obviously, the big match is the Brunswick girls tennis team taking on old nemesis Lewiston.
The Dragons shouldn’t forget last year when they beat the Blue Devils twice during the regular season and one in the Kennebec Valley Conference championships, but this year Brunswick dominated Lewiston twice, 4-1 and 4-1.
Morse boys lax
Gardiner and Morse met twice during the regular season with the Tigers prevailing,
11-4 and 10-8.
“Morse is ready to play Gardiner aggressively,” said head coach Jay Paulus. “We’ve beaten them in the past and we can beat them again.”
Offensively, Alexander Paulus is the state’s leading goal-scorer with 49, and is followed on the team by Zach Hersey (22), Dylan Crowell (12), Matt Buczkowski (12) and Schuyler Mace (9).
Alexander Paulus and Mace were chosen Second Team All-KVAC.
“We have been working on our clearing game since our offense is strong and healthy both physically and mentally,” said Jay Paulus. “Our poles will have to step up and play their best game Wednesday. Let’s face it, the weather hasn’t helped anyone’s game this season — practicing in the gym hasn’t help our defensive game at all.
“(Gardiner coach) KC Johnson has a balanced group of athletes playing well with momentum after their nailbiter against Maranacook in the KVACs. It should be a fun game to watch unfold, it ultimately comes down to ‘who wants it more.’”
Mt. Ararat girls lax
Scoring leaders are Haley Michaud (38 goals, 10 assists), Rowley Jones (33-5), Cat Johnson (13-5), Carly Raymond (11- 6), Sara Berry (11-2) and Sierra Gilley (7-5).
Goaltenders Anna Bruning and Bailey Sullivan have a combined save percentage of .38.
“The team stepping up will come out on top,” said head coach Sam Chard. “We’ve had some close games, and unfortunately, with the way that the Heal Points worked out, some of the best teams will be eliminated in the first round.
“We know how Cony plays and we’ll have our hands full with the likes of Chelsea Begin and Mia Diplock, but our offense has been playing better with our transition game coming alive. Our defense is playing better and smarter and we’ll have to have stellar games from them and in the net. We’ve changed some things around since the last time we met Cony (10-9 loss at Cony) and it will hopefully pay some dividends.
“So far, we’re healthy, but the biggest obstacle we’ll have to face is the mental battle. We know that we can play with the best of them, but we have to go into the game with the right attitude. Mental toughness says it all. It’s all up to the team who wants it the most and my seniors want to make it last as long as they can. Heck, there’s only a couple more weeks of lacrosse and everyone can rest after that! It’s anybody’s game this season!”
Thursday’s games:
• Western Maine Class B Baseball Quarterfinals —Winner of No. 6 Gray-New Gloucester
(10-6)/No. 11 Fryeburg (8-8) Prelim at No. 3
Morse (12-4), 4:15 p.m.
• Western Maine Class C Softball Quarterfinals —No. 6 Telstar (7-7) at No. 3 Lisbon (9-
5), 3:30 p.m.
Morse back in the hunt
The Morse baseball team is in the playoffs (this time in Western Class B) for the first time since 2002 when the Shipbuilders went 7-9 in Eastern Maine Class A and lost to Oxford Hills 10-0 in the quarterfinals.
Chris Paulus hit at impressive .483 to lead the Morse offense. Zack Groat was named to the KVAC First Team for the second consecutive year and, according to head coach Garrett Olson, was only two votes shy of KVAC Player of the year honors. Groat hit .387 with three home runs and an impressive 26 RBIs.
“Trenton Moore was named Second Team All- KVAC — for not only his offense, but his pitching as well,” said Olson. “Moore hit .375 with five wins on the mound for Morse.”
Wade Hunt, Chris Paulus and Liam McDonough received Honorable Mention on the KVAC teams.
“Greely will defiantly be the team to beat,” added Olson. “They have solid pitching and an offense to go with it. We are 100 percent healthy, which is always a bonus this late in the season. Emotionally, the team is ready to go. They have worked very hard to get where they are. “If we come out playing the way we can play, I expect us to be a very tough team to beat,” added Olson. “I consider us to have the best defense in the state. Our infielders pride themselves on a good defense. It all starts with Wade Hunt behind the plate calling pitches and shutting down the running game. Zack Groat and Gary Steven work very well together up the middle. Liam McDonough has one of the best gloves at third base I have seen.
“Our offense will be the big deciding factory on how far this team goes. We have great depth on the mound and a rock solid defense behind them. As long as our offense can put the runs on the board then we will be in great shape.”
Freeport girls in semis
On Saturday, Freeport girls lacrosse (6-6, top seed in Eastern Maine Class B) tackles the winner of the Mountain Valley/Gardiner quarterfinal match in the semifinal action in Freeport.
Katie Turner and Emily Johnson are the defensive leaders.
“I scrimmaged Gardiner and Morse during preseason because I knew they were in our playoff bracket,” said Freeport coach Karin Kurry. “I have a few notes on Gardiner, but nothing on Mountain Valley. We will play our game, but will be prepared for some new situations that might arise.
“The team is excited to be in playoffs. We were hoping to make playoffs, but never dreamed we would be No. 1 in the East.”
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