As this issue hits the streets, the baseball, softball and lacrosse regular seasons are coming to a close

Here’s a look at where things stand with the playoffs right around the corner:

Baseball: Falmouth plays two

Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was nowhere in sight Monday, but the Falmouth baseball team was happy to play a pair of games after sitting idle for a week as it was rained out or postponed due to wet fields on four different occasions.

Unfortunately for the Yachtsmen, they dropped both contests, 4-2 to visiting Cape Elizabeth and 4-1 to visiting Sacopee, to leave them 6-8 on the year (13th in the latest Western Class B Heals, only the top 11 teams qualify). Falmouth finished its regular season at Old Orchard Beach Tuesday and York Wednesday (both games were played too late for print).

Greely played its first game in a week as well Monday, but had better results, rallying from a 5-2 deficit to nip visiting Yarmouth, 6-5, on an error in the bottom of the seventh. The Rangers improved to 13-2 (they’re second to Mountain Valley in the Heals). Greely wrapped up its regular season at rival Cape Elizabeth Wednesday (too late for print, see Web site for game story).

Monday’s loss left the hard-luck Clippers 7-8 on the year. Yarmouth has dropped three straight one-run decisions, including a 7-6 setback at York Saturday. The Clippers (eighth in the standings) were home with Old Orchard Beach Wednesday (too late for print) in their finale.

Freeport lost 12-2 (in six innings) at Traip Monday to fall to 2-13 on the season. The Falcons (16th in the standings) ended their year at home with Lake Region Wednesday (too late for print).

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy continues to enjoy a fabulous campaign. Monday, the Panthers held off host Poland 4-1 in nine innings (thanks to sophomore Jordan Haskell’s clutch two-run double) to improve to 10-4. NYA was at Traip Tuesday and visited Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday (both games were too late for print).

Softball: Greely on a roll

On the girls’ side of the diamond, Greely took a four-game winning streak into its home game versus Yarmouth Tuesday (too late for print). The Rangers were eighth in the latest Heals and closed the regular season Wednesday at Cape Elizabeth.

If the playoffs started today, Falmouth would be in as the 11th and final seed. The Yachtsmen played a pair of games Monday, falling 14-0 (in six innings) to Cape Elizabeth, averting a perfect game with two outs in their final at-bat, then winning 6-3 over Sacopee, to balance their record at 7-7. Falmouth was at Old Orchard Beach Tuesday and at York Wednesday (both games were played too late for print).

Yarmouth is 13th in the standings. The Clippers won 12-0 at York Saturday, but fell 5-2 at Sacopee Monday to drop to 4-10 on the year. After playing at Greely Tuesday, Yarmouth wrapped up its season at home Wednesday versus Old Orchard Beach.

Freeport swept a doubleheader Monday, winning 15-0 and 6-2 at Traip to improve to 5-10 (good for 14th in the Heals). The Falcons finished up at home versus Lake Region Wednesday (too late for print).

Boys’ lacrosse: Falmouth avenges playoff loss

While Yarmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team was beating NYA in the rivals’ annual showdown Monday night (please see story, page 17), another local squad continues to steal the headlines.

There are many reasons the Falmouth boys’ lacrosse team has become the feel-good story of the 2009 season. One of the biggest is the way the 2008 season ended, with a controversial overtime loss at Greely in the Western Class B semifinals. Moments after an apparent Yachtsmen game-winning goal was waved off, the Rangers scored to send Falmouth packing. That sting, combined with a very talented and hungry young roster has produced victory after victory this spring.

Friday night, the Yachtsmen got another crack at the Rangers, in Cumberland, and dished out some revenge, 9-0, behind three goals from junior Kyle Lucas and a superb performance in net from sophomore Jay Hurdman, who delivered a rare shutout. Falmouth (7-3 and second to Cape Elizabeth in the latest Western Class B Heal Points standings) faced a huge test when it hosted undefeated, top-ranked and defending Class B state champion Yarmouth Tuesday (too late for print, see Web site for game story). The Yachtsmen wrapped up their regular season Wednesday (also too late for print) at home versus Cheverus.

The Falmouth loss was the Rangers’ third in a row, but they bounced back Monday with a 3-0 win at Marshwood to improve to 5-6 (and fourth in Western B). Greely wrapped up its regular season at St. Dom’s Wednesday (too late for print).

In Eastern B, Freeport is still hoping to qualify for the playoffs. The Falcons won 11-10 at Gorham Saturday on senior Greg Ordway’s goal in the final minute. Monday, Freeport made it three in a row with a 12-5 home victory over Noble (senior Alex Thompson had five goals). The Falcons (4-7 and seventh in the Heals) hosted Bonny Eagle Wednesday (too late for print) in their finale.

Girls’ lacrosse: NYA bounces back

The local girls’ lacrosse community is still abuzz over last week’s epic battle between Yarmouth and NYA. The Clippers won 12-11 in sudden-victory overtime on senior Lanier Bolmer’s goal (please see Web site for full game story). Yarmouth went on to give undefeated, defending state champion Waynflete a scare Monday night (please see story, page 17).

The Panthers, meanwhile, followed up their loss to the Clippers with a 12-3 setback at Waynflete Saturday. NYA fell behind 6-0 and never recovered despite a pair of goals from junior Courtney Dumont and 16 saves from senior goalie Abigail Moss. Monday, however, the Panthers returned to their winning ways, rolling to an 11-4 home victory over York behind three goals each from senior Rachel Darby and sophomore Becca McKelvy. NYA (second to Yarmouth in the Eastern B Heals) hosted Falmouth in its regular season finale Wednesday (too late for print).

Freeport fell to 5-6 Monday with a 16-7 loss at Wells. The Falcons (fifth in the standings) were at Sanford Tuesday (too late for print).

In Western B, Falmouth appears destined for the No. 4 seed. The Yachtsmen (4-6) were home with Greely Tuesday and went to NYA Wednesday (both games were too late for print).

Greely is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time, but helped itself Monday with a 13-12 home win over Massabesic, thanks to senior Brit Ames’ late goal. The Rangers (2-8 and sixth in the standings) needed wins at Falmouth Tuesday and at home against Marshwood Wednesday (both games were played to late for print) to keep hope alive.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net