The Morse High School spring sports teams are scheduled to open there respective campaigns this week and next.

Baseball

Coach — Garrett Olson, with assistant Rick Davis.

2012 highlights — 12-4 in regular season, No. 3 in Western Class B. Beat Gray-New Gloucester 7-6 in quarterfinals, lost to Falmouth 3-0 in semis.

Personnel lost — Zach Groat (P/SS), CJ Hardin (CF/P), Wade Hunt (C), Chris Luedee (INF/P), Zach Fone (OF), Gary Stevens (2B), Wyatt Jenec (OF).

Personnel returning — Aaron Barrett (captain, P), Paul Whalen (captain), Aaron Doughty (captain, C), Josh Moser, Liam McDonough (SS), Chris Paulus (1B), Trenton Moore (P/3B), Ethan Winglass, Josh McDougal

Newcomers — Dakota Jacobs (P) Casey Watson (INF) Zack Holbrook (C/2B) Andrew LaCavera (C/2B)

“We are coming off a great year in 2012 with only a few holes to fill left by Hunt and Groat. We have a great deal of young talent that is competing to fill those roles. Aaron Doughty looks to fill Hunt’s shoes behind the plate for the 2013 season. We have all of our starting pitching back with Trenton Moore and Aaron Barrett. Liam McDonough and Dakota Jacobs will also see time on the mound in 2013.

“Our defense will continue to be very solid as it was in 2012 with Paulus at first base, and Moore and McDonough on the left side of the infield. We have several underclassmen competing for starting roles — Josh McDougal, Andrew LaCavera, Zack Holbrook, Keegan McDonough.

“I expect Morse to be very competitive in 2013. A great deal of our success will come from our pitching and defense. Our offense should see an improvement from 2012 with a great deal of speed on the base paths.”

“Our schedule should be strong. We start out with a big game against Maranacook on the 17th and our biggest test will be Waterville at home on May 8.

“Also, the middle school program has been very successful thanks to Mark Anderson at the middle school level. I have the largest classes of freshmen and sophomores this year than I have ever had at Morse.”

Season opener — April 19, home with Lincoln Academy (4 p.m.).

Key dates — April 24, home with Oceanside (4 p.m.); May 8, at Medomak Valley (4 p.m.); May 28, season’s finale, home with Nokomis (4 p.m.).

Softball

Coach — Will Laffely.

2012 highlights — 3-13 in Class B, no postseason.

Personnel lost — Brianna Bigelow (CF), Courtney Feeney (OF/IF), Hannah Russell (1B), Katie Henrikson (SS).

Personnel — Seniors tri-captain Niesa Ryder (catcher, four-year varsity), tri-captain Megan Hixon (2B), tri-captain Lucy Rawson (3B), Nichole Mitchell (OF); juniors Jacelyn McNeill (P), Nicole Laggan (SS, moving from LF), Kate Dube (1B, INF, OF), Morgan Cram (INF), Lauren Chandler (OF); sophomores Leia Graves (OF), Alesha Aucoin (OF); freshman Meghan Stover (IB, C).

Those who will play jayvee for the most part, but on the varsity roster include sophomores Emily Newell (C), Micailla Barone (INF, OF), Leslie Wyman (1B), Miracle Trimble (OF) and Courtney Curtis ( INF OF), along with freshmen Ali Gagnon (P, IF) and Megan Curtis (INF, P).

Coach’s comments — “As you can see, we are pretty young. The outfield will be completely firsttimers at the varsity level. The senior captains are doing a great job leading us each day.

“We need to replace the experience we lost from last year in Bigelow (center), Henrikson (short), Russell (1B), and Feeney ( OF). This group, besides some good defense also, were our best offensive threats in most games. Hannah had real good power.

“I am hoping our pitching will be improved with both Jacelyn and Megan having a couple years of experience throwing at the varsity level. We lost several one-run games last year, three that I recall ended with three-run homers or a grand slam late in the sixth or seventh inning to beat us.

“We need to cut down on our turnovers this year and score a run or two more each outing. Most of the turnovers were throwing errors. I’m really preaching more focus at all times since practices began.”

“I think teams to watch out for are Oceanside, Medomak Valley and Maranacook.”

Season opener — April 19, home with Lincoln Academy (4 p.m.).

Key dates — April 24, home with Oceanside (4 p.m.); May 8, at Medomak Valley (4 p.m.); May 28, season’s finale, home with Nokomis (4 p.m.).

Boys lacrosse

Coach — Jay Paulus.

2012 highlights — 6-6 in regular season, No. 7 in Eastern B. Lost to Gardiner 9-4 in quarterfinals.

Personnel lost — Alex Small (GK), Kai Whitehead (MF), Schulyer Mace (MF), Zach Hersey (MF), Max Rawson (MF), Codi Fitzgerald (D), Max Unkenholz, Lyle Douglass and Neil Crowley.

Personnel returning — Seniors Jay Saunders (Defense), PC Ostergaard (D), Alexander Paulus (Attack), Matt Buczkowski (Midfield); juniors Otto Werwaiss (A), Dylan Crowell (A), Oliver Kruze (M); sophomores Kevin Tolan (LSM), Alec Beveridge (M), Perry Chase (A), Miles Day (M), Josh Wright (M), Kyle Perry (D), Kevin Thibodeau (Goaltender).

Newcomers — Senior D’Vaughn Myers (M) and exchange student and freshman Ibe Mokeme.

Coach’s comments — “As head coach, we have worked aggressively to build the Shipbuilders’ program in my four years, and with the support from the AD and Morse, I will have Ryan Cook (played at Plymouth State), Robert Becker (Bates College, Washington College) and Stephen Mace (coaching with us for many years) as assistant coaches.

“Our goal this year is to win the KVAC championship. This squad of players is mentally strong, faster and quicker than the past four years. I’ve been coaching many of these kids since the third grade and they have what it takes to win championships. Our coach style and philosophy this year is to win games, while balancing the younger players coming up into the program.

“I know the schools we will be playing have improved their programs and are being coached hard. Camden Hills, Gardiner, St. Dom’s and Cony are focus teams. We never discount any team in our conference. We treat each game as if it was our last game of the season. Every day we reinforce the basic fundamentals of the game. Win, lose or draw, Morse will honor the game of lacrosse and play with finesse.”

Season opener — April 12, home with Mountain Valley (4 p.m.).

Key dates — April 19, at Gardiner (11 a.m.); May 3, at St. Dom’s (4 p.m.); May 29, season’s finale, away with Lincoln Academy (4 p.m.).

Girls lacrosse

Coach — Linda Levesque. 2012 highlights — 4-8 in regular season, No. 3 in Eastern Class B. Lost to Yarmouth 17-4 in semifinals.

Personnel lost — Christina Stuart (Attack), Lauren Crosby (A), Dori Brillard (Defense), Tori Field (A), Crystal Leavitt (GK), Hannah Leeman (A), Leigh Mathieu (D), Ali Miller (MF), Guerin Morissette (MF), Maddi Omo (D), Shannon Rice (MF).

Personnel returning — Sadia Crosby, captain (attack) still recovering from foot surgery after basketball season. Should return first or second week of the season. Also, Hannah Rossetti, captain (defense) is sole returning defender; Monica Frempong (attack) much improved stick skills. Seniors new to varsity include Tori Smith, Sadie St. Pierre (first-year, back-up goalkeeper); juniors Grace Koslosky (Attack), Paige Martin (M), Zoe Simard (Attack); sophomores Sophie Sreden (A), Bronwyn Morissette ((M), Ruth Nadeau (Attack).

Newcomers — Sophomores Anita Doughty, Shira Gersh, Mallory Goodine, Julia Hart, Grace Reno; freshmen Emma Rossetti, Isabelle Paulus.

Coach’s comments — “We had been stuck inside on a basketball court! It does nothing for your transition game. Our goal is to get better everyday, to play the game the right way, to gel as a team. Our strengths are great senior leadership and some promising young players. Weakness is youth and inexperience, replacing 11 graduated players, several who played varsity for four years

“The KVAC is growing. Oceanside, Lawrence, Erskine Academy and Winslow have interested girls and club teams. Perennial favorites include Mt. Ararat, Brunswick, Messalonskee and Cony.”

Season opener — Today, at Lincoln Academy (4 p.m.).

Key dates — May 14, at Mt. Ararat (6:30 p.m.); May 18, home with Brunswick at Hyde School (10 a.m.); May 28, season’s finale at Messalonskee (4 p.m.)

Boys tennis

Coach — Steve Boyce.

2012 highlights — 7-5 in Eastern Class B, lost to Maranacook 3-2 in quarterfinals.

Personnel lost — Mike Freeman, Dylan Harrington, Andrew Hart, Josh Heenie, Liam McDermott.

Personnel returning — Senior Sam Leeman and Nick Theriault, and sophomore Joe Streb.

Other roster players include seniors Michael Alvarez, Anthony Alvarez, Keegan Drouin and Kevin McKellar, junior Kyle Bonti and sophomore Sam Chipman.

Also, freshmen Oskar Matero, Hunter Reed and Kyle Simpson.

Coach’s comment — “One of my goals for this year was to have more boys come out for the team. With 12, I have attained that goal. Having achieved that, we are now focused on learning the game well enough, to make it to the playoffs for the second season in a row. But, with the exception of the three returning players, no one else has ever played tennis competitively.

“Our preseason has gone the way most spring preseasons in Maine go, inside practices with a couple cold and damp outside adventures. We can’t wait to get outside and be able to stay there.

“Our obvious weakness is that we lack experience on the tennis court. But, our strength is that each of the 12 players has the desire to get better along with a strong competitive spirit. A good number of the players have competed successfully in other varsity sports at Morse and have a good sense of what it takes to be successful.

“The league will still have the perennial strong teams such as Lincoln Academy and Camden Hills. I am hoping that we are able to surprise the remaining teams and win a few of those matches.

“I am looking for our number one player Sam Leeman, state singles quarterfinalist in 2012, to hold his own throughout the season. I expect that we could be competitive at the remaining single positions and hope that we develop some good doubles teams along the way. Our athleticism and competitive drive will hopefully make up for our lack of experience.

“It should be a fun season as this group of young men has been fun to coach to date.”

Season opener — April 22, home with Medomak Valley (4 p.m.).

Key dates — May 3, home with Camden Hills (4 p.m.); May 9, home with Lincoln Academy (4 p.m.); May 21, season’s finale, home with Gardiner (4 p.m.).

Girls tennis

Coach — Barbara Boyce.

2012 highlights — 3-9 in regular season, no postseason.

Personnel lost — Mikaela Martin, Alice Stenquist, Elizabeth Young, Annie Suitor, Isabelle Wilson.

Personnel returning — Eleba Valino, exchange student. Senior Arianna Malcolm, juniors, Meaghan Harper, Courtney Mitchell and Lynn Swanson, and exchange student Katrin Ralsen from Germany.

Coach’s comments — “Losing six starting seniors to graduation, I was concerned about the 2013 season. Fortunately, 21 players have come out to compete for seven varsity spots. They include 12 freshman, two sophomores, four juniors, a senior and two exchange students.

“I expect Spanish exchange student, Elena Valino, with her previous experience and strong skills, to step into the No. 1 singles position. If the spring weather is kind, we will continue our challenge matches to determine the rest of our lineup.

“Many of our beginners are progressing nicely in learning the fundamentals and will fill spots in the line-up.

“We enjoy competing in a strong league, with Camden Hills and Waterville usually the top contenders. And, although Morse has many players that are new to tennis, I am pleased with their progress and impressed with the efforts of our more senior players to help develop our beginners. This should help to place us in the middle of the pack in our league with the goal of securing a spot in the playoffs. Now all we need is warm temps and a calm breeze!”

Season opener — April 22, at Medomak Valley (4 p.m.).

Key dates — April 26, at Maranacook (4 p.m.); May 6, home with Oceanside (4 p.m.); May 21, season’s finale, at Gardiner (4 p.m.)

Track

Coach — Shawn Guest.

2012 highlights — Boys 11th in Class B KVACs, with Joel Harris winning the high jump, while the girls took ninth in KVACs, with Kerry Cummings capturing the 1600 race/walk.

Personnel lost — Cummings.

Personnel returning — Seniors Danica Moore (distances), Liz Walfield (hurdles, sprints), Nate Stover (distances); juniors Rachel Detwiler (HJ, middle distances), Amy Franklin (distances), Savannah Simmons Grover (TJ, javelin, HJ), Kyle Bauer-Hummel (sprints), Noah Lapointe (distances), Aidan McGowan (sprints); sophomores Maris Adler (distances), Angela Cafarelli (sprints, PV), Lea Maehnitcky (sprints), Lauren Pelletier (sprints, jumps), Katrina Warnke (jumps), Chad Bonti (HJ, middle distances), Max Lareau (sprints), Corey Lent (sprints), Cody Maranius (PV, sprints), Paden Stanton (sprints), Balt Von Heune (distances).

Newcomers — Senior Abby Moore (distances); freshmen Amelia Franklin (distances), Maeve McGowan-Middle (distances), Gavin Day (PV, sprints), Sean Detwiler (sprints), Charles Moore (sprints), Aaron Ouellette (distances), Nathaniel Rines (distances), Chris Walfield (distances).

Coach’s comments — “The year has started out all right as we have been outdoors for running, but not field events, yet. I would say that we have a very young team with a lot of kids who seem enthused about track. Attendance has been great and they have worked hard up to this point. If we have a strength it would be in our distance runners. Coach Mike Rice does a great job with those kids year-in and year-out.

“Weakness are in the throws. Right now we have one returning thrower for girls and none for boys. Our sprinters and jumpers may surprise by years end, as they have been working really hard. We have several sibling rivalries on this year’s team. I would say Waterville, Belfast, and Erskine Academy would be the teams to beat in KVAC.”

Season opener — Friday at Mt. View with Lincoln Academy and Oceanside (3:30 p.m.).

Key dates — May 17, at Mt. Ararat (3:30 p.m.); May 25, KVAC Championships at Morse (9 a.m.); June 2, State Class B Championships at McMann Field in Bath (9 a.m.).