Monthly Archives: September 2016

September 28, 2016 · 10:43 pm

Trio one-hits Central Maine in 5-3 Bridgton Academy baseball win

Connor Andrews (1) had two hits, scored two runs, and added an RBI for Bridgton Academy

BA starter and winner Patrick Webler

(North Bridgton, ME) A trio of Bridgton Academy pitchers limited Central Maine Community College to one hit in a 5-3 win on Wednesday afternoon on the BA campus.

Patrick Webler started for the Wolverines (7-5) followed by Colby McMahon and closer Declan Donahue.

The Mustangs (4-4-1) lone hit was off a Trent Spaulding grounder in the sixth inning that BA pitcher Colby McMahon deflected and slowed down enough for Trent to reach first safely.

Joe Webber (2 hits/2 runs/1 rbi), Connor Andrews (2 hits/2 runs/1 rbi), and Joe Brady (1 hit/2 rbi) sparked Bridgton Academy to a 5-0 lead after four innings.

The Wolverines, however, came unglued in the field in the sixth inning and it cost them three runs. Any time you put together a hit batsman, a walk, a balk, and an outfield error in one inning you’re begging to be scored on.

Central Maine shortstop Kyle Moore tosses to 2B Trent Spaulding

But in this seven-inning game, CM had only three baserunners total in the other six innings thanks to some pretty good BA pitching.

This non-league game was a rematch of a 4-2 BA victory three weeks ago in Auburn.

Brandon Varney took the loss for CM. Alex Biron, Bryce Walker, and Matt Turner also pitched for the Mustangs.

In the first inning, DH Joe Webber doubled down the left-field line, stole third, and scored the first BA run on Joe Brady’s infield out.

In the second inning, Stefan Strachan singled, stole second, and reached third on a bad throw by catcher Matt Toth. Connor Andrews singled past third to score Stefan and later Joe Webber doubled to right bringing Connor across with the 3^rd BA run.

Joe Webber (3) had two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI

The Wolverines added two more runs in the fourth. Connor Andrews (single) and Joe Webber (walk) reached base and advanced on a passed ball. Sam Majewski drove in Connor with an infield out and Joe Brady’s infield single plated Joe Webber.

CM gathered all their runs in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases against Colby McMahon with a hit, a hit batsman, and a walk. Colby’s balk scored Trent and advanced the other runners (Kyle Moore and Jacob Albert) into scoring position. After a strikeout the inning looked over on a line drive to center but CF Stefan Strachan dropped the ball and both runners scored.

BA turned a 1-6-3 double play in the final inning.

The new turf field at Bridgton Academy is very nice. The sun was very tough on the right side of the field. CM first baseman Nick Bagley came to the dugout after one of the middle innings saying that he couldn’t see anything out there.

Stefan Strachan slides into second as Trent Spaulding leaps for the throw

In the first matchup between the teams, BA faced Evan Roberts who fanned seven of them.

In the fifth inning Stefan Strachan appeared to have stolen second but was tagged out by 2B Trent Spaulding when he got up from the slide.

Bridgton Academy box

Central Maine box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Central Maine starter Brandon Varney

3B Sam Majewski

2B Zach Silva

CM pitcher Alex Biron

Evan Roberts set to swing

Jacob Albert crosses home with the 3rd Mustangs run

Trouble in the outfield for CF Stefan Strachan

Sun trouble at first for Nick Bagley

Sidearming Colby McMahon

Greely wins in overtime at Lake Region 3-2 on Elizabeth Brown goal

Elizabeth Brown (2) scored the OT game-winner for Greely

Elizabeth Brown’s game-winning shot

(Naples ME) In case you missed the first meeting two weeks ago, the results the second time around were very similar.

The Greely Rangers (4-3) defeated winless Lake Region, 3-2, in overtime in Class B field hockey action at summer-like Naples on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior Elizabeth Brown scored the OT game-winner in the rematch at 3:41 assisted by first-meeting, game-winning scorer Maddy Perfetti.

What scares me about field hockey

I want to put my cards on the table right near the start: I have never covered a field hockey game before! I will also admit that I had no idea what all the whistles were about.

That being said, this was a game that either team could have won. The Lakers (0-6) twice had the lead in the second half and threatened early in overtime.

I thought that the Lakers ran out of energy in overtime after they pressured early in OT. Why do I say that? Elizabeth Brown got the ball in the Lakers’ end in the middle from Maddy Perfetti and moved in unchallenged for a close, open shot. No defenders in sight for LR goalie Maddie Nelson to help her prevent the game winner.

Kaitlyn Plummer had both of the Lakers’ regulation goals. She was assisted by Paige Davis and Liz Cole.

Sophomore Maddy Perfetti had both regulation goals for the Rangers. She was assisted by Sydney Meredith-Pickett and Wren Payne.

Kylie Rogers gets the blocker on a LR shot

Key to the win for the team from Cumberland was the goal-tending of Kylie Rogers. One time she used her blocker to get a high shot while later made a terrific kick save of a shot heading for the cage.

Impressed by the territory covered by Maddy Perfetti, Paige Davis, and Dessi Berry.

Lake Region won state titles in 1977, 1980, and 1988. Greely notched their lone title in 2003.

Greely was 5-10 last season and already have four wins this season with a lot of schedule left. The team has no seniors.

Sydney Meredith-Pickett (7) set to block an LR rusher

Sydney Meredith-Pickett was listed this season by the Portland Press Herald as one of their “Players to Watch.”

Lake Region did not play like a winless team. Should be some “W’s” ahead for them.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Isabelle Bachelder, Maddy Perfetti, Elizabeth Brown

Kelsey Apovian

Kaitlyn Plummer

Maddie Nelson and Dessi Berry

Crowd gathers close to LR goal

Ella Novick (18) fires from close in at LR goalie Maddie Nelson

Hailey Parsons and Elizabeth Brown

Greely goalie Kylie Rogers blocks a shot

Isabelle Bachelder (5) prevents a LR goal in the first half

Kaitlyn Plummer (5) sends a shot past the Rangers defense

Maddy Perfetti and Hailey Parsons (10)

Maddy Perfetti (2 goals) on the move

Air ball near the Greely goal

Kaitlyn Plummer congratulated by Julia Murch after 2nd goal

Kaitlyn Plummer’s shot goes past Greely goalie Kylie Rogers for second goal

Kendyl Ridlon (left) covers Ella Novick (18)

Maddy Perfetti (3) watches as her shot eludes the LR defense for the tying goal

Action in front of the Greely cage

Kylie Rogers (00) kicks away a rebound from Paige Davis (white 13)

Delaney Meserve (1) Kaitlyn Plummer (5), Courtney Rog (8)

Marcus Smart for Nerlens Noel?

This deal is being proposed by CBS Sports. I’ve seen worse!

Boston Celtics

Marcus Smart for Nerlens Noel

Some people are very high on Smart’s potential. In many ways, he’s a lot like Noel — a lights-out defender with elite potential on that end, but a serious project on the offensive end. Smart, in fact, had the worst two-year shooting start to a career in NBA history, but he’s a better offensive weapon than you’d assume and did show flashes of a work-in-progress jumper in the playoffs.

From the Sixers’ perspective, this addresses their perimeter issues, and while you could argue you’re selling low on Noel here, you could also argue you’d be buying low on Smart. For Boston, it would be all about roster flexibility.

The Celtics are guard-heavy at the moment, and adding Noel would give them one of the best defensive frontcourts in basketball (if not the best) with Jae Crowder, Noel and Horford. Also, he’d be a great lob partner for guys like Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley to use in the pick-and-roll. You can play Noel with Kelly Olynyk, as well, to cover up Olynyk’s defensive issues.

Look, it’s not a perfect deal for either side, but it’s not bad at all. It’s something both sides should be thinking about right now. It could end up yielding great value both ways in a win-win down the road.