Newsletter #44...Careful what you wish for

A week ago Thursday, covering a girls' lacrosse game during a deluge in Scarborough, I wished for warmer weather.

This week, we got it.

Did we ever.

Probably a little too much of it, but a quick glimpse of mid-summer was glorious nonetheless and it's a lot more fun to cover games when the sun is shining than when a chill wind blows and the rain falls.

The past week saw both confirmation that select teams seem to have no peer, while others pulled off some surprises.

And best of all, the drama will increase even further the next two weeks as the regular season comes to a close.

Buckle up and see below for links to some detailed game stories.

Group signings

There were more college signings this week, starting with Gorham softball...

From left: Kylee Lebrun (Lasell), Abby Buckelew (Lasell), Terra Rioux (Johnson and Wales), Sawyer VonderHaar (Endicott) and Bella McBrady (St. Joseph's College).

Nine Yarmouth athletes will take part in college athletics...

Ella Cameron (Tufts, track),, Lilah Connor (Wellesey, track), Julian Gebhardt (Trinity, soccer), Grace Keaney (Rhode Island, volleyball), Addison Lee (Rutgers, figure skating), Spencer Parker (Husson, swimming), Adam Pelotte (Husson, football), Will Redfield (Union, lacrosse) and Celia Zinman (Colby, field hockey and lacrosse).

Milestones

Another week, more milestones in softball and lacrosse.

We'll start with Cheverus softball, where you won't be surprised to learn that junior ace Addison DeRoche eclipsed another career threshold with her 500th strikeout in a win at Windham last Saturday. DeRoche has a legitimate shot at reaching 600 by season's end.

DeRoche's teammate, standout senior centerfielder Hailey Lamontagne, one of the state's great hitters, reached the 100 career hit plateau earlier this week.

Scarborough's girls' lacrosse team has produced a pair of milestones as well in recent days.

Junior Avery Larsen reached the 100 point plateau for her career.

Additionally, junior Maddie Howes has also surpassed 100 career points.

In case you missed it

Game stories from the past week...

Waynflete girls lose at home to Wells

Greely's defense locks down Yarmouth

Cheverus slugs its way to another win over Windham

Westbrook softball rolls to mercy-rule victory at Scarborough

Gorham softball erupts late to down Windham

Windham girls beat Kennebunk in state game rematch

Gorham edges South Portland in pitcher's duel

Cape holds off Greely in sizzling slugfest

Freeport girls win a close one at Cape Elizabeth

Scarborough baseball downs Falmouth

Falmouth girls fall at home to Kennebunk

Media

Tuesday's radio spot with WGAN's Matt Gagnon:

https://wgan.com/morning-news/hooffers-high-school-sports-2/

Last Friday's spot on Middays with Mannix and Mannix:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MMM-5-15-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Features

Hoffer's High School Sports, in conjunction with cPort Credit Union, named Thornton Academy junior girls' lacrosse standout Oceanna LaMarre as our Athlete of the Week.

HHSS/cPort Athlete of the Week

Every Monday this season, Hoffer’s High School Sports/cPort Credit Union will select an Athlete of the Week. The winner will receive a drawstring bag with the HHSS/cPort logo. This week’s selection is…

Hoffer's High School SportsMichael Hoffer

Tuesday brought the latest polls for baseball, softball and lacrosse:

HHSS Super-Six Polls

Every Tuesday throughout the season, Hoffer’s High School Sports will present Super-Six polls for baseball, softball, boys’ lacrosse and girls’ lacrosse. The polls only include teams from our coverage area, which is essentially coastal Cumberland County, plus Thornton Academy. Here are this week’s polls, which consider games played through Monday,

Hoffer's High School SportsMichael Hoffer

Thursday's Hoffer's High School Sports Podcast featured a look at the boys' and girls' lacrosse seasons so far.

Hoffer’s High School Sports Podcast, Episode 37...A look at boys’ and girls’ lacrosse

A look at the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse landscape as we come down the stretch run of the regular season. To listen to the podcast, click play below.

Hoffer's High School SportsMichael Hoffer

What's on tap

The action heats up over the next week with some key showdowns.

Friday, the game of the day is Yarmouth at Falmouth boys' lacrosse. Two of the three best teams in Class A will do battle under the lights. It will be both teams' biggest test to date and both have reigning champion Thornton Academy upcoming. On the girls' side, Yarmouth goes to Thornton Academy for another compelling showdown. The surging Yarmouth baseball team hosts Cape Elizabeth in a game rife with Class B South Heal Points implications.

Saturday, Scarborough hosts South Portland in a baseball showdown which is a rematch of a terrific pitcher's duel from last year's playoffs.

Monday's slate is light due to the holiday, but Greely's baseball team desperately needs a big win and the Rangers will have that opportunity when they host Fryeburg Academy in a regional final rematch. Cape Elizabeth goes to Freeport as two other Class B South contenders do battle.

Tuesday's slate is highlighted by Thornton Academy hosting Yarmouth in boys' lacrosse.

Wednesday, Wainwright Farms hosts the game of the day, as Cheverus visits South Portland in a pivotal baseball showdown.

Thursday, South Portland plays at Windham in a battle of softball contenders. Under the lights, Thornton Academy visits Gorham in a contest that will be critical for playoff positioning.

Play of the week

Let's wrap this up with the play of the week...Cape Elizabeth freshman outfielder Sam Turner with a sensational game-saving diving catch in Wednesday's 9-7 win over Greely.

I'll be back with another newsletter next Friday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com