The weather was far from ideal, but the high school sports action was memorable this spring.

Lacrosse produced a pair of state champions, one a first-timer, and plenty of drama from start to finish. Falmouth’s boys finally reached the pinnacle, beating NYA in the state game. The Yarmouth girls vanquished recent nemesis NYA in the regional final, then held off Waynflete in a state game thriller. 

Baseball sent Greely to the Class B Final and three others to the playoffs, including Yarmouth, which fell to the Rangers in the regional final.

Softball saw three local squads, Falmouth, Greely and Yarmouth, move on to the postseason.

Track had its share of triumph, with some strong individual showings, while two Falmouth tennis teams won it all.

Before we move on to an all-too-short summer, here’s one final look back at the best of the spring season:

Michael’s Top Five Stories

5) Falmouth tennis teams do it again

The town of Falmouth has produced first-rate tennis for many years and this spring, for the first time since 2006, both Yachtsmen teams won Class B and did so in emphatic fashion. The boys and the girls went 12-0 in the regular season, as the girls’ squad didn’t drop a point. That trend continued in the playoffs, as Falmouth blanked Mountain Valley, Cape Elizabeth, Oak Hill and Waterville to win a fourth consecutive championship. The boys then completed their first title run since 2007 by defeating Morse, York, rival Cape Elizabeth (in a thriller), then Ellsworth.

4) Yarmouth softball posts 14 wins

The Yarmouth softball team missed the playoffs in 2009 and 2010, but the Clippers were one of the finest teams around this spring. Yarmouth had win streaks of three, five and six games en route to a 14-2 mark thanks to stellar effort from experienced players and some key contributions from valuable youngsters. The Clippers were upset in extra innings by Wells in the quarterfinals, but have returned to top contender status. The program’s future is bright.

3) Greely baseball gets to state final

The year 2011 is odd-numbered and no one does triumph in odd numbered years like the Greely baseball team. After winning Class B titles in 2007 and 2009, the Rangers almost did it again this spring. Despite struggling late in the regular season in losses to Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth, Greely wound up 13-3 and tied the Clippers for the top spot in Western B. After losing a coin toss to drop to second, the Rangers easily dismantled Maranacook, rallied past Falmouth, then raced to a big lead before holding off Yarmouth in the regional final. As expected, Greely got a superb pitching effort from junior ace Mike Leeman in the state final versus Waterville, but couldn’t score, getting shut out for the first time since April, 2005, and falling, 1-0. With most of the team returning, the Rangers will have a great shot at winning it all in an even numbered year next spring.

2) Falmouth boys’ lacrosse has no peer

After falling agonizingly shy of the state final in 2010 (an overtime loss to eventual champion Cape Elizabeth in the regional title game), Falmouth announced from the get-go that 2011 would be its year. The Yachtsmen dominated the Capers, 12-4, in the opener and only stumbled once (an overtime loss at Cape Elizabeth) during a dominant 11-1 regular season. Falmouth had homefield for the playoffs and it paid off as the Yachtsmen edged the Capers in the Western B Final, 11-9. Then, in a perfect display of the balanced, potent offense and smothering defense and goaltending which carried it all season, Falmouth brought down the curtain with a 15-4 win over NYA in the state final, giving the program its first championship. It won’t be the last.

1) Yarmouth girls’ lacrosse wins state final classic

For three successive springs, the Yarmouth girls’ lacrosse team had its season ruined by crosstown rival NYA in the regional final. This year, a core of 12 determined seniors made sure the Panthers nor anyone else would keep them from the pinnacle. The Clippers got off to a dominant start in 2011, scoring 16 goals in wins at NYA, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth, but a loss at Waynflete and injuries to seniors Kate Dilworth and Danielle Torres proved challenging. Showing the heart and intestinal fortitude of a champion, Yarmouth persevered and didn’t lose again, capping an 11-1 regular season with a decisive home victory over Waynflete. The Clippers trailed NYA at halftime of the regional final before coming to life in the second half and holding on for a palpitating 6-5 victory. That was a mere appetizer for the state final against Waynflete. After waiting nearly two hours after a weather delay, Yarmouth found itself in a knock down, drag out fight to the finish with the experienced Flyers and when senior star Becca Bell was controversially sidelined by a second yellow card early in the second half, the Clippers appeared doomed. But they rose off the deck and wouldn’t be denied. Senior Natalie Salmon had two clutch goals to turn the tide and with 6:40 to play, Torres scored on a free position. Yarmouth held on from there and won Class B for the first time since 2007, 9-8.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements

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Junior Mike Leeman helped carry Greely’s baseball team to the state final this season.

The stellar right arm and potent bat of senior Kelsey Freedman helped the Falmouth softball team make the playoffs.

The Yarmouth girls’ lacrosse team had plenty of hugs to go around after beating nemesis NYA in the regional final. The Clippers then went on and won the Class B title for the first time in four years.

Senior Finn Hadlock helped NYA’s boys’ lacrosse team make it to the Class B Final for the first time since 2007. The Panthers lost to powerhouse Falmouth.

Freeport’s Taylor Saucier was one of many standout runners, jumpers and throwers in our midst this season.