The weather is just starting to cooperate, and the spring sports season is chugging along.

The season is short and sweet, however, and some teams have already played half or more of the games on their regular season schedule.

The upcoming action will only grow in importance, and we’re just a few weeks away from the start of the playoffs.

With all of that in mind, here’s a glimpse where local teams stand:

Baseball

South Portland’s baseball team, the reigning Class A state champion, won its first six games this spring, capped by an 11-0 (five-inning) victory at Gorham last Thursday, as Andrew Heffernan threw a three-hitter and Richard Gilboy had three hits, three runs scored and three RBI. The following day, the Red Riots suffered their first setback, 4-3, at Noble. Tuesday, South Portland hosted rival Thornton Academy in a rematch of last year’s regional final, and the Red Riots gave up six unearned runs in the top of the second and couldn’t quite rally, falling to 6-2 with a 6-4 loss. Gilboy and Heffernan had two hits apiece, but South Portland stranded eight baserunners.

“I was impressed with how we battled,” said South Portland coach Mike Owens. “I was really pleased with our effort. That was a good high school baseball game. We never hung our heads and kept coming back at them.”

The Red Riots are idle until Monday, when they go to Kennebunk. Tuesday of next week, South Portland welcomes Westbrook.

“I think we’ll come out of it,” Owens said. “Sometimes you have to get a little luck. This was our only game this week, so we’ll have a few days of practice and clean some stuff up. We have a tough week next week against four quality opponents. Anyone can beat anyone on a given day. I think the league is deep this year. It always is, but even more so this year. Our goal is to be there at the end.”

Scarborough enjoyed home wins last week over Kennebunk (3-1) and Biddeford (2-0), then fell to 4-3 Tuesday with a 4-3 loss at Portland. In the victory over the Rams, Ben Seguin earned the win and hit a two-run double.

“I knew I had a good defense behind me, so I just had to throw strikes,” Seguin said. “My fastball felt good today and I stayed back more. My curveball worked in there, too. I just had a better mindset today.”

“I thought we played well,” said Scarborough coach Wes Ridlon. “Ben threw strikes and we played really well defensively and got timely hitting. I’m happy with the way we’re progressing early in the season.”

Against the Tigers, Erin Swenson threw a two-hitter and struck out eight while TJ Liponis doubled. In the loss to the Bulldogs, the Red Storm erased a three-run deficit before falling short. Ashton Blanchette, Matthew Fallona and TJ Laponis all had multiple hits. Scarborough was home versus Massabesic Thursday, goes to Falmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and visits Gorham Monday.

Cape Elizabeth dropped to 3-5 after recent losses at Mt. Ararat (4-0), at home to Greely (10-3) and at Wells (7-6). Gabe Harmon and Colin Smith had a pair of hits apiece against the Rangers and the Capers scored three runs in the seventh but it wasn’t enough.

“I mean obviously, (Greely’s) a super ball club and they’re always going to be tough,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Glenn Reeves. “They can do it all. They can hit, they can pitch, they can play defense, they have a great catcher. It was going to take our A game to beat them, and unfortunately, today we didn’t have it.”

In the loss to the Warriors, the Capers couldn’t quite erase a 7-1 deficit. Brady Inman and Owen Tighe each had two hits. Cape Elizabeth was at Old Orchard Beach Wednesday, visits Greely Friday and plays host to Poland Monday of next week.

“It’s crazy how fast it’s going,” Reeves said. “Obviously, we want to win every game, but with an open tournament, we treat (the regular season) like a six-week spring training and the goal is to be healthy and firing on all cylinders for the playoffs. We’re learning every day. It’s like taking a test every day. We’ll correct our errors and hopefully be ready on June 1. It’s a great group of guys. They work hard.”

Softball

Cape Elizabeth’s reigning Class B state champion softball team continued to surge by beating host Mt. Ararat (8-2), visiting Greely (15-0, in five innings) and host Wells (8-3) to make it six straight wins and improve to 6-2 on the season. Against the Eagles, Kathryne Clay had three hits and three RBI and earned the win, and Kat Callahan also had three RBI. In the win over the Rangers, the Capers scored 13 runs in the second inning and never looked back. Lauren Steinberg had three hits, including a pair of doubles. Clay and Esme Song each finished with two hits. Against the Warriors, Clay pitched a four-hitter and struck out 14. Sophia Chung had two triples and drove in two runs and Song added three RBI. Cape Elizabeth was at Old Orchard Beach Wednesday, visits Greely Friday and plays host to Poland Monday of next week.

Scarborough extended its win streak to five games last Thursday, beating visiting Marshwood (13-3, in five innings). Angelina Pizzella and AJ Swett both homered and Natalie Moynihan and Katie Roy had three hits apiece. Monday, the Red Storm lost at Kennebunk, 2-1, their first loss to the Rams this century. Roy had two hits in defeat. Tuesday, Scarborough improved to 6-2 with a 17-3 (five-inning) win at Falmouth, earning a measure of revenge for last year’s upset playoff loss. After hosting Noble Wednesday, the Red Storm visits Massabesic Friday and welcome Sanford Monday of next week.

South Portland was 4-4 after falling at home to Kennebunk (5-3), winning at Deering (29-2, in five innings) and losing late at Gorham, 6-5. Ella Nickerson tripled in the loss to Kennebunk. Against Deering, Emilie Way led the way with five hits and eight RBI, Andrea DiMauro pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and also had three RBI, as did Nickerson, Elise Connor, Delaney Whitten and Eliza House. The Red Riots hosted Massabesic Wednesday, go to Marshwood Friday, welcome Portland Monday and play at Noble Wednesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class A state champion boys’ lacrosse team improved to 6-0 and extended its two-year win streak to 22 games by beating visiting Greely (17-4) and host Scarborough (14-8) in recent action. In the win over the Red Storm, Tiernan Lathrop scored six goals and the Capers gradually pulled away after leading by only a goal, 7-6, at halftime.

“It’s definitely good to have these games,” Lathrop said. “It humbles us and makes us work harder in practice and makes us better. Our practices the past week have been really intense.”

“I’d say first half, there was a lot of individual defense,” said defensive standout Nate Patterson. “Not a lot of us were on the same page. We didn’t know where everyone was at all times. Second half, we started knowing where people were and started talking more.”

“The game was closer than the final score and that’s great for our kids,” longtime Cape Elizabeth coach Ben Raymond added. “Scarborough’s really athletic. Their defense is very good. They made us work hard. That’s going to be helpful for our guys to know we can score against a defense that pressed us, and we still managed to identify where the weaknesses were and get good shots.”

The Capers hosted two-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Wednesday, go to Lewiston Friday and welcome top Class B contender York next Wednesday. Games also remain versus Thornton Academy and South Portland.

“We have some great games left,” Raymond said. “We want the regular season to prepare us for the postseason. That causes us to work on things.”

Scarborough beat host Bonny Eagle, 18-4, last Thursday for its fifth straight win to open the year, then fell to 5-1 after Monday’s 14-8 home loss to Cape Elizabeth. Against the Scots, Tae Delaware and Finn Pedersen both scored four times. In the setback, Pedersen had four goals and goalie Ben Kerber made 16 saves, but it wasn’t enough.

“Cape’s a tough opponent and we have to play a near-perfect game to beat them,” said Red Storm coach Zach Barrett. “They definitely have more firepower. There’s no delusion here, but we do have some very good lacrosse players and competitors on this team. Heck yeah, we want another shot at them. That would great for us to play them again.”

Scarborough was at Gorham Wednesday, hosts Brunswick Friday and welcomes Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

“We have to come back and get some confidence back this week,” Barrett said. “There’s still a long way to go.”

South Portland improved to 5-1 after recent wins at Deering (18-3), at home over reigning Class C champion Waynflete (13-1) and at home over Massabesic (24-1). Against the Flyers, Jack Dreifus scored four times and Cullen Adams and Beckett Mehlhorn added three goals apiece. In the win over the Mustangs, Mehlhorn, Tobey Lappin and CJ Marenghi all had three goals. The Red Riots were at Windham Wednesday, visit Falmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and welcome Portland Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth lost its third straight game, 14-4, at Kennebunk last Friday, then improved to 2-3 Tuesday with a 15-10 home win over Scarborough. Annaliese Rudberg scored five goals, while Libby Hooper and Claire McDonald added three apiece. The Capers go to Lewiston Friday and visit York Monday.

South Portland was also 2-3 after a 15-3 home loss to Thornton Academy and a 10-9 win at Bonny Eagle. The Red Riots went to Biddeford Thursday, host Morse Saturday and welcome Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough won its first four outings, then lost at home to defending Class B champion Yarmouth last week (16-8) and Tuesday, fell to 4-2 after a 15-10 setback at Cape Elizabeth. Against the Clippers, Natalie Bilodeau and Darby Stolz both scored three times.

“I didn’t want to lose tonight, but carrying an undefeated record is a lot of pressure, and there’s more to learn from a game like this than from the wins,” Red Storm coach Emily Field said.

Stolz scored eight times in the loss to the Capers. Scarborough hosted defending Class A North champion Falmouth Thursday.

Outdoor track

On the track, Scarborough’s boys joined Gorham and Kennebunk at Noble for a meet last week. The Red Storm came in first.

Cape Elizabeth took part in a six-team meet at Poland. The Capers girls finished first and the boys were second.

Tennis

Cape Elizabeth’s reigning Class B South champion girls’ tennis team improved to 7-0 with recent wins over Freeport (5-0) and Yarmouth (4-1).

Scarborough enjoyed a dose of revenge from last year’s heartbreaking playoff ouster with a 3-2 win over Falmouth last week, then improved to 6-0 by beating Bonny Eagle (4-1).

South Portland beat Deering last week, 5-0, for its first victory, then fell to 1-6 with losses to Kennebunk (5-0) and Cheverus (5-0).

On the boys’ side, South Portland won its first five matches, then lost to defending Class A champion Kennebunk (4-1) and Cheverus (3-2).

Scarborough improved to 3-2 after Monday’s 5-0 win over Bonny Eagle.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 2-5 after losing to Freeport (4-1) and reigning Class B champion Yarmouth (5-0).

Scarborough’s Amber Woods advanced in the Region 5 girls’ singles tournament and will be the No. 2 seed. Also advancing were Cape Elizabeth’s Caroline Gentile (fourth) and Scarborough’s Sanibel Shinners (13th).

Cape Elizabeth’s Gabe Berman and Eben Harrison advanced in the Region 5 boys’ singles tournament.

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

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