BOX SCORE 

Cape Elizabeth 5 Yarmouth 0

CE- 100 020 2- 5 5 0
Y- 000 000 0- 0 3 4

Top 1st
Harmon scored on error.

Top 5th
Harmon hit sacrifice fly to right, Sullivan scored. Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right, Inman scored.

Top 7th
Song tripled to left, Inman scored. Harmon grounded out to short, Song scored.

Multiple hits:
CE- Inman, Song

Runs:
CE- Inman 2, Harmon, Song, Sullivan

RBI:
Ce- Harmon 2, Smith, Song

Double:
CE- Inman

Triple:
CE- Song

Stolen bases:
CE- Smith

Left on base:
CE- 5
Y- 2

Smith and Song; Lowenstein, Sullivan (7) and Bradford.

CE:
Smith (W) 7 IP 3 H 0 R 2 BB 5 K

Y:
Lowenstein (L) 6.1 IP 4 H 4 R 3 ER 4 BB 6 K
Sullivan 0.2 IP 1 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 1 K

Time: 1:45

YARMOUTH—Cape Elizabeth baseball coach Glenn Reeves must have felt like he bought a winning scratch ticket.

Yarmouth coach Marc Halsted had to feel like he walked under ladder while breaking a mirror while tripping over a black cat.

Luck, also known as the baseball Gods, certainly played a major role in the Capers-Clippers’ Class B South quarterfinal round showdown Friday afternoon where Cape Elizabeth got the breaks and took advantage of them to keep its season alive.

The Capers scored an unearned run in the top of the first, then escaped the bottom half when Yarmouth senior first baseman Gibby Sullivan’s rocket turned into a double play.

The Clippers put two on in the second as well, but Cape Elizabeth senior starter Colin Smith made a huge play on a squeeze bunt, throwing out the tying run at home.

The Capers then got some breathing room in the top of the fifth, sparked by an improbable, seemingly impossible bunt hit by freshman second baseman Brady Inman that started foul, then somehow veered fair, that helped load the bases and sacrifice flies from sophomore shortstop Gabe Harmon and Smith stretched the lead to 3-0.

Cape Elizabeth then essentially put it away in the seventh, as Inman doubled, sophomore catcher Charlie Song hit an RBI triple and Harmon drove in another run.

Smith did the rest, putting the finishing touches on a three-hit shutout as the Capers prevailed, 5-0.

Cape Elizabeth improved to 11-7, ended Yarmouth’s season at 11-7 and in the process, advanced to face top-ranked Greely (17-1) in the semifinals Saturday in Cumberland at 4 p.m.

“It did seem like the baseball Gods were on our side today and it was due,” said Smith. “We’ve been battling all year. I’m happy it went our way today.”

Good luck

Class B South features several strong teams this season and while Greely has set the pace, Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth haven’t been far behind.

The Capers won just three of their first eight games, then went 6-2 down the stretch. In Tuesday’s preliminary round, Cape Elizabeth scored five runs in the sixth innings to eliminated No. 12 Wells, 5-0.

The Clippers, meanwhile, were just 2-2 early, then jump-started their season by handing Greely its lone loss, 7-2, in Cumberland. Yarmouth got strong pitching throughout and timely hitting as well as it earned the No. 4 seed in Class B South and unlike a year ago, when they were upset in the preliminary round of the playoffs by Gray-New Gloucester, the Clippers took care of business Tuesday, dispatching No. 13 Gardiner, 8-2, as junior Liam Hickey earned the win and the offense produced 10 hits.

The teams met on May 31 in Yarmouth, where the Clippers prevailed, 6-4.

Cape Elizabeth had won three of four prior playoff encounters (see sidebar for results), with the Capers taking a 6-5 (nine-inning) decision in the most recent meeting, the 2018 Class B South quarterfinals.

The teams were scheduled to meet Thursday, but rain and poor field conditions moved the game back to Friday, where, on a beautiful 75-degree afternoon, Cape Elizabeth continued its surge and brought Yarmouth’s season to a disappointing end.

Clippers sophomore starter Sam Lowenstein walked Song to start the game, but he immediately picked him off for the first out.

Harmon then drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch and after Smith flew out to deep left on the first pitch, junior first baseman Owen Tighe walked on a 3-2 pitch. Lowenstein then tried to pick off Harmon at second, but his throw was low and the ball went into centerfield, allowing Harmon to take third. Yarmouth senior centerfielder Matt Waeldner’s throw back to the infield then got away as well and Harmon came home with the only run the Capers would need. Senior designated hitter Aidan Connelly grounded out to third, but the damage was done.

“It was huge to get the lead,” Smith said. “All season, we’ve battled with starting slow. It was huge to get up early and it helped our momentum throughout the game.”

The Clippers then teed off on Smith to start the bottom of the inning, as senior leftfielder Matt Robichaud blooped a single to center and sophomore shortstop Andrew Cheever lined a single to center on the first pitch he saw. That brought up Sullivan, who hit an absolute rocket toward second base, but Inman, staying close to the bag to keep Robichaud close, caught the line drive and stepped on second to easily complete the double play.

“I was holding (the runner) on second base and (Sullivan) hit it right to me,” Inman said. “Right place, right time.”

“It’s nobody’s fault,” Halsted said. ‘Everyone in America would have been doubled off on that play. It was an absolute missile. That’s life.”

Cheever then tried to pull off a delayed steal, but Song threw him out and Smith wound up facing the minimum in the inning.

In the top of the second, junior centerfielder Antonio Dell’Aquila watched strike three and after freshman third baseman Jameson Bryant reached on an error by Clippers senior third baseman Jack McCosh, junior leftfielder Curtis Sullivan grounded out to second and Inman bounced back to the mound to for the third out.

In the bottom half, Yarmouth threatened again and again was stymied.

McCosh led off and after just missing a triple on a drive deep down the rightfield line that tailed foul at the last second, he drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch and moved to second when sophomore catcher Sam Bradford reached on catcher’s interference. Sophomore designated hitter David Swift then laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move the runners up. That brought up junior rightfielder Stevie Walsh, who also got a bunt down, but Smith, racing off the mound, gloved the ball, then in one motion, flicked it from his glove to Song, who applied the tag on McCosh for the second out.

“We’ve drilled that play all week in practice,” Smith said. “Shout-out to Coach Reeves. It was second nature to me because we’ve done it so many times.”

The Clippers still had runners at the corners and Lowenstein bid for a hit to tie the score, as he grounded the ball up the middle on a 3-2 pitch, but with Walsh on the move, Inman was again in the ideal position to make the play and he stepped on second to retire the side.

Lowenstein made quick work of the Capers in the top of the third, getting Song to pop to short on the first pitch, Harmon to line out to second and Smith to pop to first on the first pitch he saw.

Smith then settled in in the bottom half, catching sophomore second baseman Matt Gautreau looking at strike three, before getting Robichaud to line to center on the first pitch and Cheever to fly out to center.

In the top of the fourth, Tighe popped out foul to McCosh at third on the first pitch and after Connelly drew a walk, Lowenstein fanned both Dell’Aquila and Bryant.

Yarmouth could do nothing with Smith in the bottom half, as Sullivan checked his swing and grounded back to the mound, McCosh lined the first pitch to center where Dell’Aquila made a sliding catch, then Bradford, who ducked out of the way on a 3-2 pitch only to see the ball freakishly hit his bat for a foul ball to keep him in the box, chased strike three to end it.

Cape Elizabeth then tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the fifth, thanks in part to a play you’ll likely never see again.

Sullivan got the uprising started with a single to left. Inman then laid down a bunt down the third base line which started foul and appeared as if it would stay that way as it rolled up the line, but in a shocking turn of events, the ball reversed course, hugged the line and kissed third base, allowing Inman to reach safely, putting runners at first and second.

“Even I stopped at first, then Coach was yelling to me to get to first base,” Inman said. “He preaches playing to the end. It worked out.”

“It’s just fundamentals,” Reeves said. “It was a great bunt.”

Song then came up huge by lining an 0-2 pitch to center to load the bases. Harmon was next and he flew out to right, deep enough to score Sullivan and move Inman to third. Smith then drove the ball deep to right for another sacrifice fly, as Inman came home as well. Tighe grounded into a short-to-second force out, but Cape Elizabeth’s lead was now 3-0.

Smith started the bottom of the fifth by catching both Swift and Walsh looking at strike three on a 3-2 pitch. Lowenstein singled up the middle, but Smith picked him off to send the game to the sixth.

Lowenstein took out his frustrations on the Capers by fanning Connelly, Dell’Aquila and Bryant.

In the bottom half, the Clippers couldn’t get anything going, as Smith got Gautreau to bounce out to second on a 3-1 pitch, Waeldner to hit a rocket, but right at Dell’Aquila in center, then Cheever to hit a line drive as well, but right at Bryant at third to retire the side.

Cape Elizabeth then got their bats going to essentially put it away in the top of the seventh

Sullivan flew out to center leading off, then Inman launched a double over the head of Robichaud in left.

“He hung a curveball and I just crushed it,” Inman said.

That proved to be end of Lowenstein’s outing.

“He threw 100 pitches and grinded it out and most importantly, Sam Lowenstein was mad I took him out,” Halsted said. “He knows why I did and he was mad because he wanted to finish. He’s a great young man and ball player.”

Sullivan came on to pitch and he was greeted by Song, who pounded a triple all the way to leftfield fence, easily scoring Inman. Harmon then grounded out to short, bringing home Song. Smith reached on an error by McCosh, but Sullivan ended the frame by catching Tighe looking at strike three.

In the teams’ last playoff meeting, the 2018 Class B South quarterfinals, Yarmouth entered the seventh inning trailing Cape Elizabeth by five runs and rallied, scoring five times before losing in extra innings.

This time around, there would be no such drama.

Sullivan did draw a walk leading off, but McCosh struck out looking and Bradford followed with a grounder to Harmon, who threw to Inman for one out and Inman threw on to Tighe for the game-ending double play.

“It was perfect,” said Inman. “We were talking about ending it on a double play and we did. I bobbled it a little bit and got nervous, but we got it done.”

“It feels great,” Smith said. “It’s a big win for the team.  I wanted to win so badly.”

“It’s a great win,” Reeves added. “I think the baseball Gods were on our side today. They hit some lasers right at us. We had a bunt that came back and hit the grass and hit the base. We had good pitching, timely hitting, played great defense and we had some luck. Hats off to Yarmouth. They always give us a great game. Coach Halsted is phenomenal. They’re a great program.”

The Capers only mustered five hits, but Inman and Song both had two.

Inman also scored twice, while Harmon, Song and Sullivan touched home once apiece.

Harmon had two RBI, while Smith and Song added one apiece.

Cape Elizabeth left five runners on.

Smith earned the win, allowing just three hits in a shutout effort, walking two and striking out five.

“It’s a flat mound, so I couldn’t throw my fastball all day,” said Smith. “I had to rely on my off-speed stuff to get out some good hitters. My fielders had my back today.”

“Colin was zoned in for sure,” Inman said. “He came out and did the job.”

“Colin got the job done,” added Reeves. “He got stronger and stronger. Credit to Charlie Song who called a great game.”

Buzzard’s luck

Yarmouth managed just three hits, although it hit the ball hard multiple times, right at fielders.

The Clippers left two runners on.

Lowenstein was the hard-luck loser, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits in 6.1 innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Sullivan gave up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning of relief. He struck out one.

“Things did not go our way today,” Halsted lamented. “It breaks your heart to see kids you love and respect so much have struggles. It’s so much bigger than winning or losing a game. You want your kids to be successful. You care about them so much. We’re getting beaten up as coaches and officials these days. These aren’t necessarily jobs people want because of the way coaches and officials are treated, but this is why you do it. These kids are so special. They’re going to be so successful.

“I want to beat Cape six days out of the week and twice on Sunday, but we have so much respect for Glenn Reeves and those kids. Glenn Reeves three weeks ago graciously agreed to let Jared Conant (who is confined to a wheelchair with Duchenne muscular dystrophy) get a hit and Curtis Sullivan was kind enough to throw the pitch. That speaks volumes about what kind of people they are. They deserved to win. Congrats to them and we’ll cheer them on tomorrow.”

Yarmouth will be hard-hit by graduation, as Conant, McCosh, Robichaud, Sullivan and Waeldner, along with reserves Ethan Blake, Oscar O’Donnell and Quin O’Meara, all depart.

“We had seven first- and second-team All-Conference all-stars and they made it not only because of their ability, but also because of their work ethic and character,” Halsted said. “It’s fun to promote kids who hit .330 and are also great human beings. Jack McCosh and Gibby Sullivan, Matt Robichaud and Matt Waeldner are some of the best competitors you’ll find.

“We won’t worry about next year until tomorrow. Today’s about the seniors. I’m just so proud of them. They’re great kids. I wish I could have done more for them.”

The Greely Goliath awaits

Cape Elizabeth lost at home to Greely, 10-3, May 6, then fell at the Rangers, 11-0 (in five-innings) a week later. The teams have played 13 previous times in the playoffs, dating to 1991, with Greely holding a 7-6 lead. The Rangers won the most recent encounter, 8-2, in the 2018 Class B South semifinals.

Greely will be favored Saturday, but the Capers like what they’re doing and know that they have no pressure.

And perhaps the baseball Gods will smile upon them once more.

“We have to get on top early,” Inman said. “We have Curtis on the mound and he’ll be tough. We just have to play good baseball.”

“We just have to repeat what we did last year when we beat them on their field,” said Smith. “We have to play good defense, have great pitching and start early like we did today. We have nothing to lose.”

“(Greely’s) a great team, but it’s baseball and anything can happen,” Reeves added. “We’ll go in there confident and hope for the best.”

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