Freeport is off to a fast start, with a 5-0 record heading into Saturday’s game at Gray-New Gloucester. The Falcons’ big test comes Monday when they play at unbeaten Greely, also 5-0.

Greely is the Western Maine Conference favorite. The Rangers have most of their team back from the club that lost 1-0 to Waterville in the Class B state final. Jonah Normandeau will be on the mound for Greely. The Rangers have three pitchers who rotate starting assignments. Monday is Normandeau’s day to pitch.

Freeport got a clutch pitching performance Monday from reliever Josh Weirich, who came into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning at York.

The bases were loaded with nobody out and Freeport holding a two-run lead. All Weirich did was strike out the side to give his team a key win on the road.

Weirich also singled home a run in the third inning.

A TEAM CAN never have enough pitching, so even when it has a deep staff, it hurts when a pitcher is lost for the season or is limited because of injury. Cheverus sophomore Mitchell Powers, who pitched well as a freshman, will see limited action this season as he comes off elbow surgery in the offseason. Powers pitched the 10th inning for a save in a 2-1, 10-inning win over Windham on April 24.

“He didn’t have Tommy John surgery,” said Cheverus Coach Mac McKew. “After his freshman year in which Mitchell won three games, we thought we would have him for this season. But he probably won’t be totally back until next season.”

McKew said Powers injured his elbow in a fall during an AAU game.

The Stags can still use Powers as an outfielder, or as a relief pitcher like they did in the Windham game.

“He can’t hurt his arm. It’s just how much tolerance he has for the discomfort,” McKew said.

The Stags have three solid starters in Louie DiStasio, Harry Ridge and Ryan Casale.

“You can’t take any team lightly in this league,” said McKew. “We faced Cody Dube of Windham and Luke Fernandes of Marshwood. We were happy to split those games.”

SOUTH PORTLAND has been getting good pitching but has struggled to hit. April weather in Maine is not always conducive for hitting.

“When the weather warms up, hopefully we’ll start to hit,” said South Portland Coach Mike Owens.

The Red Riots suffered a blow when No. 2 pitcher Zac Marles broke his foot as he ran into the fence chasing a fly ball in foul territory. He will be out for the rest of the season.

“He pitched great against Kennebunk and was hitting the best of anyone on the team when he got injured,” said Owens.

Matt DiBiase is the team’s top pitcher, but he was a hard-luck loser against Massabesic last week. DiBiase pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts in a 3-1 loss.

“Every team in this league is capable of beating anyone else,” said Owens.

NORTH YARMOUTH Academy doesn’t have a baseball team this spring because not enough boys signed up to play.

“It was as simple as that,” said NYA Athletic Director Mike Dutton. “Without the level of interest, we didn’t have enough to play baseball. It wasn’t a budget issue. It wasn’t a field issue. We don’t even have our own field, but in the past we’ve had baseball, and good baseball. We will have baseball again next year, hopefully.”

The Panthers played on the town’s Bennett Field.

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, the Portsmouth High baseball program saw its national-record winning streak end at 89 games when the Clippers lost 5-4 Monday at St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover, N.H.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Portsmouth’s last defeat was in the quarterfinals of the 2007 state playoffs. The program has won four straight Class I Division II state titles.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH