Our Communities. Our Teams. Our Future.
We’re proud to make high school sports coverage free for everyone—because these moments matter. At Maine State Credit Union, we’re here for the people and places that make Maine strong. Let’s Go! Learn more at mainestatecu.org. 

SOUTH PORTLAND — Reliever Drew Abramson pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning Saturday to help South Portland earn an 8-5 victory against Scarborough in a Class A South baseball semifinal.

Second-seeded South Portland (16-2) advanced to the regional final against top-ranked Falmouth (18-0) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.

Trailing 8-4 heading to the seventh, third-ranked Scarborough (14-4) loaded the bases with two outs on a walk, a single by Bayley Welsh and an error.

Matt Caron followed with a single to make it 8-5, but Abramson got Nick Lorello, who reached in his previous four plate appearances, to ground out.

“I was a little tired but I got it done,” said Abramson, who pitched four innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, walking one and striking out two.

“I wasn’t trying to do too much. I knew if I just threw strikes our team would do the work.”

Sam Troiano started for the Red Riots and allowed four earned runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

He also doubled, tripled, stole two bases, scored two runs and drove in another.

“I felt good today, in batting practice, too,” Troiano said. “It felt good all the way around. Everyone did very, very well today with the bat.”

Josh Reed of Scarborough pitched 51/3 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits.

“I thought Reed did an excellent job of keeping (Scarborough) in the game and giving them a chance,” said South Portland Coach Mike Owens.

Reed struck out four with no walks

South Portland made a key defensive play in the second inning with the score 1-1. Tim Carion singled to center with runners on second and third and two outs. Jack Hughes scored from third, but center fielder Riley Hasson threw out Lorello at the plate to end the inning.

“That was a big play,” said Owens. “That kept the game at 2-1 instead of 3-1 and got us out of that inning. You could feel the energy in the dugout after that play.”

The Red Riots responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.

Five players had two hits for South Portland – Troiano, Abramson, Matt Crockett, Zack Johnson and Hasson.

“This year we’ve probably had one of our best lineups,” said Troiano. “Everyone today contributed in some way.”

Hasson scored two runs and had an RBI.

Hughes led Scarborough with two doubles, two RBI and a run.

Now comes the final against Falmouth, as South Portland seeks to repeat as the regional champion.

“We know we’re going to have to come with our ‘A’ game and play a clean game in order to make that a game,” said Owens.

“(Tuesday) will be our biggest challenge this year,” said Troiano.