With seven starters returning from the 2017’s 17-3 SMAA Championship team, Coach Chuck Nadeau knew his 2018 Rams would hit well, field well, and be competitive. Whether they could make a playoff run, however, would depend on developing reliable pitching. Specifically, a starting pitcher that could effectively hold the top teams in Class A South at bay deep into the playoffs.
Gorham started 4-1 behind the pitching of Jake Sladen, who picked up three wins on the mound holding Cheverus and Bonny Eagle to just three runs over 14 innings and picking up the win in a 15-5 win over Falmouth. The Rams then lost three of four games falling to 5-4 on the season after a home loss to Sanford.
The one win during those four games was a 5-3 road win over one of the preseason Class A South favorites, Thornton Academy, behind the pitching of Ryan Norris. The senior had thrown only four innings over the first seven games but even though he didn’t get the win over the Trojans, that early May morning start was his coming out party. Norris notched four wins over Gorham’s last eight games, all victories, and the Rams headed into the playoffs with a first round bye as the South’s #2 seed at 13-4.
The Rams captured the title of Class A South Regionals Champs.Photo credit Janice Drew
A look at the road to the State final:
Gorham 3 Thornton Academy 1: Norris shut down Thornton Academy over six innings in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, giving up only two hits and no earned runs. Joey Curesky, injured for most of the season, came on for the save and ended the game by starting a beautiful 1-5-3 double play. Senior Kyle King reached base three times and scored two runs while Nolan Brown had the game’s key hit, a two strike, 1st inning line drive double to right field scoring King and catcher Brogan McDonald.
Gorham 9 Portland 6: Sladen started for the Rams and picked up the win over the Bulldogs, giving up only two earned runs in an error filed game on both sides. Portland made five errors and Gorham three. This time it was senior second baseman Will Prescott with a game winning double. His two out 4th inning hit scored Brown and Trevor Loubier to make it 7-4.
Gorham 3 Cheverus 2: Norris continued his playoff dominance with a complete game win, holding the 13-5 Stags to just two runs on five hits, leading Gorham to its first ever Class A Regional Championship and a berth in the State Title game. Cheverus entered the game on a ten-game win streak, averaging 8.6 runs a game during the stretch. Lucas Roop’s 3rd inning two run double put the Rams up to stay while Loubier launched a double off the wall scoring McDonald from first for the winning run.
Bangor 10 Gorham 6: After North Champion Bangor touched up Norris for five runs in the top of the first, Gorham took Coach Nadeau’s coaching mantra of “Compete!” to a new level, and Gorham’s boys continued to make the town proud by battling back. Nolan Brown came up big again at the plate with a three run 1st inning triple, cutting the lead to 5-3 with one swing of the bat. Gorham then took a 6-5 lead in the 4th inning over the four-time defending state champions. Our Rams couldn’t hold on but returned home with the admiration and respect of hundreds of family, friends and neighbors.
Brogan McDonald led the team in hitting with a .351 batting average while David Drew, Brown, Roop, and Ben Nelson also hit over .300. Roop (16) and Brown (15) led the Rams in RBI. King scored 17 runs with 15 each by Nelson, McDonald, and Brown. Norris finished with six wins and an outstanding 1.95 ERA. Sladen added five wins (3.83).