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Apr. 15—1. Gorham
Respect everyone, fear no one: That's the Rams' motto this year. Their pitchers will strike fear into opponents, though, especially 6-foot-6 senior righty Wyatt Nadeau. The Vanderbilt University commit's fastball rests at 93-94 mph and he has an array of off-speed pitches. Sophomore reliever/infielder Hunter Finck is also touching 90 mph. There's veteran depth in senior Jack Karlonas and juniors Casey Skolfield and Miles Brenner. Having versatile senior Mason Finck (.404, 10 RBI) behind the plate helps all of them. He is foremost a catcher but has earned all-conference honors as a utility player (2023) and at third base (2022, 2024). Karlonas was last year's all-defensive pick a first base. After an 11-7 season that ended with a playoff loss to eventual state champ Scarborough, Gorham has the goods to win its first Class A South title since 2018.
2. Greely
The Rangers were one pitch away from winning Class B South last season before losing its third one-run game to Yarmouth in a 16-3 season. Yarmouth has graduated most of its state championship team, but Greely returns three of the top players in the Western Maine Conference in four-year catcher Wyatt Soucie (.421, 27 runs), 6-foot-3 pitching ace Keeler Vogt (7-0, 1.64 ERA) and second baseman Wes Piper (.348, 14 RBI). So put the Rangers in the driver's seat to get to their first state final since back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The pitching is bolstered by junior Gehrig Donnelly (3-0, 0.75 ERA) and sophomore reliever/shortstop Kyle Soule. Second-team WMC first baseman Ben Kyles (.327, 10 RBI) adds another big bat.
3. Thornton Academy
Thornton Academy started at least six and sometimes seven freshmen and sophomores last season but still went 12-6, losing to Falmouth in the Class A South semifinals. Expect the Trojans to be strong both offensively and defensively, led by first baseman Jake Fish, a Varsity Maine All-State selection last season; junior catcher Brayden Duane (.413 batting average), an SMAA second-team pick in 2024; and shortstop/relief pitcher Noah Fullerton. The question is whether the relatively deep pitching staff will match well against other teams' aces. The roster is still young. Fullerton and Parker Bjorklund (RHP/IF/C) are sophomores and freshman Carter Moody is a promising infielder/outfielder.
4. Scarborough
Pitching, defense and an aggressive approach on offense were the calling cards for the Red Storm in last year's 19-1 Class A championship season. Senior Erik Swenson is one of the state's top returning pitchers. The Varsity Maine All-State selection, who has committed to play at Maine, was 7-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings, and shut down heavy-hitting Falmouth twice. Ryan Shugars and Nate Masters also have pitching experience. Senior infielder Matthew Fallona (.350, 18 RBI, 10 steals) is a four-year varsity starter and senior outfielder Cam Wellman and junior infielder Finn Coburn are also varsity veterans. There are holes to fill after graduating six starters, but Scarborough is definitely in the mix for a top-four finish.
5. Falmouth
Like Scarborough, the Navigators suffered significant graduation losses from a 15-4 season — notably a couple of Varsity Maine All-State picks, pitcher/infielder Brennan Rumpf and catcher Ethan Hendry. But the Class A South runner-up squad returns three of the league's top players. Jacoby Porter is a 6-foot-5 junior lefty who was an All-State first baseman after hitting .463 with three homers and 24 RBI, and he showed his pitching potential in a complete-game regional semifinal win against Thornton. Josh Polchies (.440, 19 RBI, 19 runs), an SMAA first-team shortstop, and fellow senior Tyler Simmons (.391, 11 RBI) are two more top offensive threats. Simmons and Porter will play a variety of positions. Expect Falmouth to improve as it solidifies its lineup.
6. Cape Elizabeth
The Capers return nine players with starting experience and were 11-7 a year ago, bowing out to Greely in the Class B South semifinals. Cape Elizabeth returns its top two pitchers in first-team WMC pick Jameson Bryant (2-1, 0.78 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 40 innings) and Brady Inman (4-2, 2.10 ERA). Inman was a second-team all-conference pick at second base. Bryant, who has committed to Oberlin College, hit .333 and will bat in the middle of the order. Jimmy Hollowell (one error in two seasons) is one of several above-average catchers in the league. Utilityman/pitcher Andy Choi hit .316 with 10 RBI. Look for sophomore outfielder Max Hayward (.275, team-high 11 RBI) and junior shortstop Caiden Johnson to improve. Cape should be battling Yarmouth, Freeport and Wells to join Greely in B South's top four.
7. Yarmouth
OK, the Clippers graduated a ton (13 total seniors). But the robust program has won the past two Class B South titles and the 2024 state championship and should not to be counted out. Pitching will determine whether they are a mid-level playoff threat or a high seed. Their returning players threw a combined four innings a year ago. Reed Anthony, a junior, and seniors Cade O'Meara and Alec Gagnon will be the top three on the mound to start the season, with rugged 6-foot-3 Bobby Wolff moving from right field to behind the plate. Gagnon was the team's starting second baseman last season but will likely shift to short. Yarmouth is taking a Florida trip during April vacation, which should help set the lineup.
8. Sacopee Valley
The defending Class C champions have six returning starters but an inexperienced pitching staff. The Hawks have become a small school power under fifth-year coach Jamie Stacey, but they will miss the big bat of two-time Varsity Maine All-State selection Caleb Vacchiano, who terrorized Class C pitching with 14 homers and 65 RBI the past two seasons. Three-year starters Bryce Stacey (INF, .338, 18 RBI; 2-0 as spot starter) and Bradly Metcalf, and pitcher/infielder Keegan Thibodeau are senior starters. Thibodeau, a smooth fielder, was limited last season but is looking to lead the pitchers. Juniors Silas Nielsen and Braiden Croteau and sophomore Owen Barsanti are also returning starters, and with several promising newcomers, expect Sacopee Valley to be in the mix again in C South.
9. South Portland
The Red Riots return a lot from last year's 11-7 team that reached the Class A South semifinals. A deep pitching staff is headlined by junior Hudson Iacuessa, senior Kason Lewis, and senior reliever/shortstop Easton Healy (USM commit). Healy's sophomore brother, Shea, sophomore Brady Main, and juniors Ben Morin and Parker Reny will also compete for innings. Easton Healy, senior second baseman Corbin Voisine and junior catcher Cam Barrett solidify the middle of the defense. South Portland will need to prove it can produce offensively.
10. Kennebunk
The Rams, who were upset in the preliminary round last season, have two of Class A South's premier players in defensive whiz Max Andrews at shortstop, who hopes to add consistency to his power stroke at the plate, and pitcher Isaac Jensen, a hard-thrower who fanned 34 in 22 innings during an injury-plagued junior season. Having senior catcher Brady Stone back is another plus, and Joseph DiGiovanni returns at third. Kennebunk's potential improvement is tied to sophomore middle-of-the-order hitters Luke Davis and Noah Burnham, who both will play first base and outfield.
11. York
Don't sleep on the Wildcats. Pitcher/outfielder Jack Joyce leads a strong group of returners after an all-WMC season in which he was 4-1 as a pitcher and slugged five homers. Bradley Carr, a top defensive catcher, and pitcher/outfielder/first baseman John Jacobsohn (15 RBI) are two more keys. Jacobsohn pitched well as a freshman and sophomore but was unable to pitch because of injury last season. Conor Fell (third base), Lucas Ketchum (P/OF) and Robbie Hanscom (shortstop) are other returners.
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Respect everyone, fear no one: That's the Rams' motto this year. Their pitchers will strike fear into opponents, though, especially 6-foot-6 senior righty Wyatt Nadeau. The Vanderbilt University commit's fastball rests at 93-94 mph and he has an array of off-speed pitches. Sophomore reliever/infielder Hunter Finck is also touching 90 mph. There's veteran depth in senior Jack Karlonas and juniors Casey Skolfield and Miles Brenner. Having versatile senior Mason Finck (.404, 10 RBI) behind the plate helps all of them. He is foremost a catcher but has earned all-conference honors as a utility player (2023) and at third base (2022, 2024). Karlonas was last year's all-defensive pick a first base. After an 11-7 season that ended with a playoff loss to eventual state champ Scarborough, Gorham has the goods to win its first Class A South title since 2018.
2. Greely
The Rangers were one pitch away from winning Class B South last season before losing its third one-run game to Yarmouth in a 16-3 season. Yarmouth has graduated most of its state championship team, but Greely returns three of the top players in the Western Maine Conference in four-year catcher Wyatt Soucie (.421, 27 runs), 6-foot-3 pitching ace Keeler Vogt (7-0, 1.64 ERA) and second baseman Wes Piper (.348, 14 RBI). So put the Rangers in the driver's seat to get to their first state final since back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The pitching is bolstered by junior Gehrig Donnelly (3-0, 0.75 ERA) and sophomore reliever/shortstop Kyle Soule. Second-team WMC first baseman Ben Kyles (.327, 10 RBI) adds another big bat.
3. Thornton Academy
Thornton Academy started at least six and sometimes seven freshmen and sophomores last season but still went 12-6, losing to Falmouth in the Class A South semifinals. Expect the Trojans to be strong both offensively and defensively, led by first baseman Jake Fish, a Varsity Maine All-State selection last season; junior catcher Brayden Duane (.413 batting average), an SMAA second-team pick in 2024; and shortstop/relief pitcher Noah Fullerton. The question is whether the relatively deep pitching staff will match well against other teams' aces. The roster is still young. Fullerton and Parker Bjorklund (RHP/IF/C) are sophomores and freshman Carter Moody is a promising infielder/outfielder.
4. Scarborough
Pitching, defense and an aggressive approach on offense were the calling cards for the Red Storm in last year's 19-1 Class A championship season. Senior Erik Swenson is one of the state's top returning pitchers. The Varsity Maine All-State selection, who has committed to play at Maine, was 7-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings, and shut down heavy-hitting Falmouth twice. Ryan Shugars and Nate Masters also have pitching experience. Senior infielder Matthew Fallona (.350, 18 RBI, 10 steals) is a four-year varsity starter and senior outfielder Cam Wellman and junior infielder Finn Coburn are also varsity veterans. There are holes to fill after graduating six starters, but Scarborough is definitely in the mix for a top-four finish.
5. Falmouth
Like Scarborough, the Navigators suffered significant graduation losses from a 15-4 season — notably a couple of Varsity Maine All-State picks, pitcher/infielder Brennan Rumpf and catcher Ethan Hendry. But the Class A South runner-up squad returns three of the league's top players. Jacoby Porter is a 6-foot-5 junior lefty who was an All-State first baseman after hitting .463 with three homers and 24 RBI, and he showed his pitching potential in a complete-game regional semifinal win against Thornton. Josh Polchies (.440, 19 RBI, 19 runs), an SMAA first-team shortstop, and fellow senior Tyler Simmons (.391, 11 RBI) are two more top offensive threats. Simmons and Porter will play a variety of positions. Expect Falmouth to improve as it solidifies its lineup.
6. Cape Elizabeth
The Capers return nine players with starting experience and were 11-7 a year ago, bowing out to Greely in the Class B South semifinals. Cape Elizabeth returns its top two pitchers in first-team WMC pick Jameson Bryant (2-1, 0.78 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 40 innings) and Brady Inman (4-2, 2.10 ERA). Inman was a second-team all-conference pick at second base. Bryant, who has committed to Oberlin College, hit .333 and will bat in the middle of the order. Jimmy Hollowell (one error in two seasons) is one of several above-average catchers in the league. Utilityman/pitcher Andy Choi hit .316 with 10 RBI. Look for sophomore outfielder Max Hayward (.275, team-high 11 RBI) and junior shortstop Caiden Johnson to improve. Cape should be battling Yarmouth, Freeport and Wells to join Greely in B South's top four.
7. Yarmouth
OK, the Clippers graduated a ton (13 total seniors). But the robust program has won the past two Class B South titles and the 2024 state championship and should not to be counted out. Pitching will determine whether they are a mid-level playoff threat or a high seed. Their returning players threw a combined four innings a year ago. Reed Anthony, a junior, and seniors Cade O'Meara and Alec Gagnon will be the top three on the mound to start the season, with rugged 6-foot-3 Bobby Wolff moving from right field to behind the plate. Gagnon was the team's starting second baseman last season but will likely shift to short. Yarmouth is taking a Florida trip during April vacation, which should help set the lineup.
8. Sacopee Valley
The defending Class C champions have six returning starters but an inexperienced pitching staff. The Hawks have become a small school power under fifth-year coach Jamie Stacey, but they will miss the big bat of two-time Varsity Maine All-State selection Caleb Vacchiano, who terrorized Class C pitching with 14 homers and 65 RBI the past two seasons. Three-year starters Bryce Stacey (INF, .338, 18 RBI; 2-0 as spot starter) and Bradly Metcalf, and pitcher/infielder Keegan Thibodeau are senior starters. Thibodeau, a smooth fielder, was limited last season but is looking to lead the pitchers. Juniors Silas Nielsen and Braiden Croteau and sophomore Owen Barsanti are also returning starters, and with several promising newcomers, expect Sacopee Valley to be in the mix again in C South.
9. South Portland
The Red Riots return a lot from last year's 11-7 team that reached the Class A South semifinals. A deep pitching staff is headlined by junior Hudson Iacuessa, senior Kason Lewis, and senior reliever/shortstop Easton Healy (USM commit). Healy's sophomore brother, Shea, sophomore Brady Main, and juniors Ben Morin and Parker Reny will also compete for innings. Easton Healy, senior second baseman Corbin Voisine and junior catcher Cam Barrett solidify the middle of the defense. South Portland will need to prove it can produce offensively.
10. Kennebunk
The Rams, who were upset in the preliminary round last season, have two of Class A South's premier players in defensive whiz Max Andrews at shortstop, who hopes to add consistency to his power stroke at the plate, and pitcher Isaac Jensen, a hard-thrower who fanned 34 in 22 innings during an injury-plagued junior season. Having senior catcher Brady Stone back is another plus, and Joseph DiGiovanni returns at third. Kennebunk's potential improvement is tied to sophomore middle-of-the-order hitters Luke Davis and Noah Burnham, who both will play first base and outfield.
11. York
Don't sleep on the Wildcats. Pitcher/outfielder Jack Joyce leads a strong group of returners after an all-WMC season in which he was 4-1 as a pitcher and slugged five homers. Bradley Carr, a top defensive catcher, and pitcher/outfielder/first baseman John Jacobsohn (15 RBI) are two more keys. Jacobsohn pitched well as a freshman and sophomore but was unable to pitch because of injury last season. Conor Fell (third base), Lucas Ketchum (P/OF) and Robbie Hanscom (shortstop) are other returners.
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