Local players to watch: Annie Castonguay, Sr. 1b, Leavitt (.451, 19 RBI), Emily Perkins, Sr. OF (.439, 15 RBI), Livie Gilbert, Jr. C, Leavitt (.391, 7 RBI), Kaitlyn Deblois, Soph DP/1b, Leavitt (.521, 15 RBI), Abbie Robertson, Fr P (8-5, 25 earned runs, 2.13 ERA, 48 strikeouts, nine walks); Michaella Arsenault, Jr. 2b, Poland (.364), Kylie Martin, Jr. P, Leavitt (60 strikeouts, .292); Steph Greaton, Sr. P, Gray-New Gloucester, Zoe Adams, Jr. C, Gray-New Gloucester, Maria Valente, Jr. 3b, Gray-New Gloucester.
Favorites: Cape Elizabeth has produced its first undefeated regular season and are poised to make a run at the regional crown. The Capers lost in the Western B semifinals.
Cape Elizabeth returns 10 players that hit .300 or better from that team last year that averaged nearly 10 runs per game. This year, the Capers scored 160 runs and allowed just 39. That included substantial wins over formidable teams like Greely and Wells.
Junior shortstop Ashley Tinsman, who has already verbally committed to the University of Maine, leads a group that includes pitchers Kate Rabasca and Anna Golstein as well as veterans like Tess Heller and Emma O’Rourke.
Lincoln Academy only lost twice in the regular season but only played two KVAC B teams that are in the top six in Eastern B. The Eagles allowed the same number of runs as Cape but only scored an average of six runs per game. How Lincoln Academy measures up with the top WMC teams is a question mark.
Wells won eight of its last nine games and could be formidable out of the third seeding. The Warriors handled Gray-New Gloucester 17-4 in the first meeting and could be a tough out in the semifinals.
Dark horses: Greely has been an annual contender in Western B and won the regional title last year before losing to Oceanside in the state game. Though the Rangers lost their veteran pitcher, Dani Cimino, Greely still returns seniors Mykaela Twitchell and Elyse Dinan as well as junior hurler Miranda Moore.
Favorite: Cape Elizabeth
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