South Portland
Varsity Softball
Apr. 20@ Bonny Eagle1 p.m.
Apr. 22Scarborough4 p.m.
Apr. 24@ Thornton4 p.m.
Apr. 26Noble4 p.m.
Apr. 29@ Sanford4 p.m.
May 1Massabesic4 p.m.
May 2@ Deering4 p.m.
May 6McAuley4 p.m.
May 8@ Kennebunk4 p.m.
May 10Marshwood4 p.m.
May 13@ Cheverus4 p.m.
May 15Windham4 p.m.
May 17@ Westbrook4 p.m.
May 20Biddeford4 p.m.
May 22@ Portland4 p.m.
May 28Gorham4 p.m.
Coach: Ralph Aceto
Last year’s record: 17-3 (lost in state finals)
Key players: Erin Bogdanovich (sr.), Danica Gleason (sr.), Sam Dibiase (sr.), Olivia Indorf (jr.), Michaela Willwerth (jr.), Laurinne German (so.)
Key games: Scarborough, Thornton, Noble, McAuley
Outlook: “I’ve heard other coaches say that you need to win every game,” Aceto says. “I believe you need to improve every game and peak during the playoffs.” Aceto doesn’t believe his squad will struggle as much early in the season as they did last year, but also acknowledges that they face top-tier teams to begin their schedule. A few holes in his lineup need filling after graduation, but the bulk of last year’s team does return. He believes pitchers Bogdanovich, Gleason, and Indorf will propel the Red Riots to the playoffs, but emphasizes that hitting well will be necessary to advance all the way to the finals again.
Varsity Baseball
Apr. 19Biddeford1 p.m.
Apr. 23Noble4 p.m.
Apr. 25@ Thornton4 p.m.
Apr. 30Sanford4 p.m.
May 2Scarborough4 p.m.
May 7@ Gorham4 p.m.
May 9@ Windham4 p.m.
May 11@ Marshwood11 a.m.
May 15@ Portland4 p.m.
May 16Kennebunk4 p.m.
May 21Deering4 p.m.
May 23Westbrook4 p.m.
May 25Cheverus11 a.m.
May 28@ Scarborough4 p.m.
Coach: Mike Owens
Last year’s record: 6-10
Key players: Adam Helmke (sr., C), Nick Whitten (sr., OF/P), Jon Vickers (jr., INF/OF/P), Robert Graff (jr., INF/P), Zac Marles (jr., P/1B), Joe DiBiase (jr., OF/INF)
Key games: Scarborough, Portland, Westbrook, Cheverus
Outlook: “South Portland graduated eight seniors, including seven starters, last year, so there is a lot of production to replace,” Owens says. Helmke and Whitten return, however, as three-year starters and the Red Riots’ pitching staff, led by Graff and Marles, is “deep and talented.” Owens expects the young team to improve continuously as the year progresses and the greener players gain experience. The Riots will make a run at the playoffs, challenging their young talent to propel them and observing how well it rises to the occasion.
Boys Tennis
Apr. 22Cheverus3:30 p.m.
Apr. 24@ Bonny Eagle3:30 p.m.
Apr. 26Deering3:30 p.m.
May 1@ Sanford3:30 p.m.
May 3@ Massabesic3:30 p.m.
May 6Westbrook3:30 p.m.
May 8@ Windham3:30 p.m.
May 10@ Kennebunk3:30 p.m.
May 13Gorham3:30 p.m.
May 15Portland3:30 p.m.
May 16@ Biddeford3:30 p.m.
May 20Scarborough4 p.m.
Coach: Tom Hyland
Key players: Tanner Hyland (sr.), Ben Burkey (sr.), Rowan Varga (so.), Bao Loc (sr.), Tyler Gagne (so.), Chris Feeley (jr.), Ethan Benevides (so.), Trenton Johnson (so.)
Key games: Gorham, Deering, Portland
Outlook: “We enter every season with expectations to make the playoffs,” Hyland says. “As our ladder shakes out, I am certain we will be competitive and play hard with spirit and pride.” Tanner Hyland will play No. 1 singles, Burkey, No. 2 Varga, Loc, and Gagne will jostle for three. Newcomers Ryan Pelletier (sr.), Ian Mitchell (fr.) and Taylor Miller (fr.) “will most certainly be in the mix for playing time as singles or doubles,” he adds.
Girls Tennis
Apr. 22@ Cheverus3:30 p.m.
Apr. 24Bonny Eagle3:30 p.m.
Apr. 26@ Deering3:30 p.m.
Apr. 29@ McAuley3:30 p.m.
May 1Sanford3:30 p.m.
May 3Massabesic3:30 p.m.
May 6@ Westbrook3:30 p.m.
May 8Windham3:30 p.m.
May 10Kennebunk3:30 p.m.
May 15@ Portland3:30 p.m.
May 16Biddeford3:30 p.m.
May 20@ Scarborough3:30 p.m.
Coach: Elizabeth Scifres
Last year’s record: 5-7 (lost to Windham in playoffs)
Key players: Brianna Woodward, Claudia Ouellette, Paige Doane, Michelle Foster, Sarah Mileson, Danielle Proctor
Key games: Windham, Sanford, Biddeford
Outlook: “Like every year, we will work hard to be a strong, competitive and ethical team,” Scifres says. “Sportsmanship is our top priority, and our team strives to adhere to the spirit as well as the rules of the game.” The Red Riots face a challenge in having no home courts while construction and renovation of South Portland High School proceeds. However, Scifres believes her team will pull together, no matter where they play. “Despite the uncertainty and difficulty, over 30 students signed up to play tennis this spring, which means our program is still going strong.”
Boys Track & Field
Apr. 24@ Bonny Eagle (Marshwood/Scarborough)3:45 p.m.
Apr. 29@ Portland (Cheverus/Deering)3:45 p.m.
May 3@ Westbrook (SMAA Relays)9:00 a.m.
May 8@ Gorham (Biddeford/Massabesic)3:45 p.m.
May 14@ Thornton (Noble/Windham)3:45 p.m.
May 17@ Gorham (Cumberland County Meet)3:30 p.m.
Coach: Dave Kahill
Last year’s record: 9-3
Key players: Max Knutsen (sr.), Joey Zelasko (sr.), Ryan Tuttle (sr.), Ben Michaud (jr.), Jon Bagley (jr.), Jack Salamone (jr.), Michael Cuesta (so.), James Falconer (so.), Xavier Gagne (so.), Kam Harper (so.), Darien McMahon (so.), Thomas Hodgkins (fr.), Jacob Maloney (fr.)
Key games: Southwesterns
Outlook: There aren’t many athletes on this year’s Red Riots, but Kahill stresses the quality of their work ethic. Captains Knutsen and Zelasko are “hardworking and superb leaders.” Knutsen heads up a distance crew that includes Bagley and Salamone, as well as the “rapidly improving” Maloney and “talented” Hodgkins. Zelasko has competed in the past two state championship and, according to Kahill, has the potential to score in both the shot put and discus. Michaud is a top long- and triple-jumper, and is looking to expand into the pole vault and javelin. Cuesta and Harper lead a group of young and versatile athletes in the hurdles, jumps, and pole vault. “Overall, the team is young, but the veteran distance group and Joey Zelasko in the throws should lead the team. The younger sprinters and jumpers have great potential to improve throughout the season to round out the team, especially with Michael Cuesta and Ben Michaud leading the way.”
Boys Lacrosse
Apr. 13Marshwood1 p.m.
Apr. 17Gorham6 p.m.
Apr. 20@ Cheverus6:30 p.m.
Apr. 22@ Scarborough6:30 p.m.
Apr. 27Yarmouth 4:30 p.m.
May 1@ Bonny Eagle4 p.m.
May 4Windham6 p.m.
May 8Thornton6 p.m.
May 15@ Massabesic6 p.m.
May 18@ Waynflete2 p.m.
May 22Kennebunk6 p.m.
May 29@ Biddeford4 p.m.
Coach: Tom Fiorini
Last year’s record: 4-9
Key players: Thomas Leddy (jr.), Duncan Preston (jr.), Andrew Whipple (so.), T-Moe Hellier (so.)
Key games: Scarborough, Thornton, Kennebunk
Outlook: The Red Riots are a young team. But, as Fiorini points out, they were even younger last year, even less experienced. He expects his squad to compete for a playoff berth.
Girls Track & Field
Apr. 23@ Marshwood (Bonny Eagle/Scarborough)3:45 p.m.
Apr. 29@ Deering (Portland/Cheverus/McAuley)3:30 p.m.
May 3@ Scarborough (SMAA Relays)9:00 a.m.
May 7@ Biddeford (Gorham/Massabesic)3:45 p.m.
May 13@ Windham (Thornton/Noble)3:45 p.m.
May 17@ Gorham (Cumberland County Meet)3:30 p.m.
Coaches: Karen Reardon
Last year’s record: 7th at Southwesterns; 14th at states
Key players: Akossiwa Alognon (sr.), Janey Blackwell-Orr (so.), Bridget Campbell (jr.), Hope Garrison (jr.), Maya Letourneau (jr.), Lauren Magnuson (so.), Maddie Martin (so.), Kyndra McKenzie (so.), Ariana Mohammad (jr.), Sydney Onos (so.), Nyajock Pan (sr.), Emma Russell (so.), Sydney Smith (so.), Sarah Speeches (so.), Angela Tirabassi (sr.), Holly Black (so.), Shannon Conley (jr.), Jamie Stanford-Cribby9 (so.), Meaghan Doyle (fr.), Adadia Higgins (jr.), Edita Isakovic (fr.), Casey Kelley (jr.), Isobell Kraemer (so.), Casey Loring (fr.), Elisa Martin (sr.), Krystal Nevells (fr.), Abby Onos (sr.), Alexis Verdugo (sr.)
Key games: Marshwood, Southwesterns, states
Outlook: Reardon expects her team to be competitive this year. She points out they’re coming off a strong indoor season, and hopes to maintain that momentum. In morphing from indoor to outdoor, the team loses some athletes to other spring sports, but gains some from winter sports, so “hopefully it will all balance out.” She looks to her upperclassmen for strong seasons, but has high hopes her for underclassmen “veterans,” as well as her newcomers. The squad’s preseason meet, the Tom Foley Invitational at Falmouth, should give Reardon some indication where her girls are at with their training.
Girls Lacrosse
Apr. 25Sanford5:30 p.m.
Apr. 27Thornton10:30 a.m.
May 1@ Scarborough6 p.m.
May 3@ Noble4 p.m.
May 7@ Westbrook4 p.m.
May 9Biddeford4 p.m.
May 11Freeport11:30 a.m.
May 14@ McAuley4 p.m.
May 17Windham5:30 p.m.
May 21@ Deering5 p.m.
May 24Portland5:30 p.m.
May 29@ Bonny Eagle4 p.m.
Girls lacrosse coach Bill Fenton could not be reached for this issue.
South Portland’s Erin Bogdanovich, one of the state’s top pitchers, returns for her senior year for the Red Riots, state runners-up last season.
Thomas Leddy of South Portland fires a shot against Windham last year. The Red Riots are a young team that is getting more experience each game.
Ryan Tuttle and the South Portland boys outdoor track team are a young squad looking forward to the Southwesterns meet.
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