AUGUSTA — Peter Potthoff credited Cheverus coach Mac McKew’s “see the ball, hit the ball — one-pitch-at-a-time” philosophy as a key teaching point in the Stags’ run this postseason.
The senior displayed his coach’s principle nearly perfectly, going 3-for 4 — including a two-run home run — with five RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Stags to a 9-1 win over Lewiston in the Class A baseball state final at Morton Field Saturday.
Senior pitcher Joey Royer pitched a complete game, giving up five hits while walking only one and striking out seven.
In the Class A softball game at Cony High School, it was all Scarborough. Junior pitcher Maureen Hannan was dominant in the circle, throwing a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and helped her own cause by recording a double, single, and two RBIs to lead the Red Storm to their third state title in five years, 5-0 over Messalonskee of Oakland.
In the baseba11 game, it took two innings for Potthoff and company to time up Lewiston starter Jeff Keene, but when they did they made it count, touching Keene for three runs in the third inning, with two coming off a double down the left field line by Potthoff.
“He was keeping us off-balance with a changeup and curveball in the first couple of innings,” Potthoff said. “He got me to pop up a curve in the first inning, but he threw me a fastball in the third and I just saw it and hit it.”
Cheverus senior designated hitter Jack Bushey led off the third with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by junior Harry Ridge. Spencer Cooke then singled to drive in Bushey, and Nic Lops walked two batters later before Potthoff drove them both in with his double.
“We knew we just had to be patient with Keene and make adjustments,” Cheverus coach Mac McKew said.
Keene was replaced on the mound by senior Joe Sullivan, who walked two straight batters in the fourth, but got some help from his defense when senior catcher Mekae Hyde picked off Cheverus’ Tyler Flaherty at first after striking out Ridge.
The Stags didn’t let up for long, though, as they tacked up two insurance runs with two outs in the fifth when Lops singled and Potthoff doubled him in, and Potthoff scored on an outfield error to give Cheverus a commanding 5-0 lead.
Cheverus scored four more runs on three hits off Sullivan in the top of the sixth, including Potthoff’s two-run homer that brought around leadoff batter Louie DiStasio, and capped-off his storybook day.
Lewiston junior Luke Cote homered off Royer in the sixth for the Blue Devils’ first run. That’s as close as they would get, though, as Royer set them down in the bottom of the seventh with help from his defense, which turned a 4-6-3 double play before Royer induced senior Tucker Beaudoin to groundout to end the game.
Royer was impressive on the mound, giving up two hits through five innings and making it difficult for Lewiston to get anything going.
“Joey had great command today,” said McKew. “He’s really a man of character, and he is successful because of it.”
Potthoff, who plans to attend the University of Tampa in the fall for pre-vet and marine biology, was elated with his team’s accomplishment.
“We’ve worked hard for this all year,” Potthoff said. “This is probably my last baseball game other than maybe club baseball, and what a way to go out.”
In the softball game, Scarborough jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning on RBI doubles by Hannan and sophomore Erin Giles, and an RBI single from junior Abby Rutt. They put up two more in the sixth off RBI singles by Hannan and senior Lauren Aceto.
Hannan kept the Eagles off-balance all game, utilizing her hard fastball and mixing in her changeup and curve.
“We came in very prepared for this game, and I didn’t feel the best pitching-wise today, but we got it done and it feels great to top this season off with a championship,” Hannan said.
Scarborough coach Tom Griffin mentioned his team worked extremely hard for this and that they have been “on a mission.”
“After we lost to South Portland last year, we were determined to change things this year,” Griffin said. “It took us a few innings to get going today, but I think it was only a matter of time for us. I’m very proud of our kids.”