(Ed. Note: For the complete Yarmouth-Falmouth and Greely-Cape Elizabeth softball, Falmouth-Greely boys’ lacrosse and Yarmouth-Falmouth, Yarmouth-Waynflete and Yarmouth-Brunswick girls’ lacrosse game stories, with photos and box scores, please visit theforecaster.net)

While tennis and track have gotten the jump on the other spring sports in starting their postseason (please see stories), everyone else is about to join in.

Baseball, softball and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse wrap up their regular seasons by the end of the week, then they will also begin vying for hardware.

Here’s a glimpse:

Baseball

The baseball regular season was coming to a close at press time and it looks like four of five local teams will qualify for the playoffs.

In Western A, Falmouth extended its win streak to nine games last week by downing visiting Cape Elizabeth (10-0, in five innings) and host Yarmouth (5-4). Reece Armitage threw a one-hitter, Will D’Agostino doubled twice, singled and drove in four runs, while Patrick Lydon doubled and drove in three runs and Colin Coyne had three hits in the win over the Capers. Against the Clippers, the Yachtsmen erased an early three-run deficit as Cam Guarino improved to 5-0 and Connor Aube, D’Agostino and Noah Nelson all produced multiple hits. Falmouth (13-2 and third in the Heal Points standings at press time) closed at Poland Tuesday.

In Western B, Greely finished the regular season 13-3 after wins over visiting York (8-4), host Kennebunk (4-1) and host Cape Elizabeth (1-0, in eight innings). Against the Wildcats, Connor Russell earned the victory and Chaz Reade had two hits and three RBI. Will Bryant pitched six strong innings against the Rams, Sam Porter earned the save and Reade drove in two more runs. In the win at the Capers, Bailey Train allowed only four hits in eight innings, striking out 11, and Reade drove in Cal Soule with the winner. The Rangers will be either first, second or third in the region when the playoffs begin.

Freeport needed to win its final three games to qualify and did just that, bouncing back from a 6-3 home loss to Yarmouth with victories at home over Old Orchard Beach (5-0) and at Traip (4-3) and Gray-New Gloucester (5-1) to wind up 7-9. Against the Rangers, Caleb Rice went the distance to earn the win. In the victory over the Patriots, Peter LaMagna threw a two-hitter, striking out seven. LaMagna also had three hits, stole three bases, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs.

“First, the defense was definitely making plays for me,” LaMagna said. “I was just throwing strikes.”

“(Peter’s) been that pitcher, where he pounds the mitt and gets ahead, and he’s very dominant,” said Freeport coach Bill Ridge.

The Falcons were eighth in the Heals at press time and will take part in a preliminary round playoff game next week.

Yarmouth was clinging to the 10th and final spot in Western B with an 8-7 record entering its finale Tuesday at home versus Kennebunk. The Clippers were coming off a 6-3 win at Freeport and a 5-4 home loss to Falmouth. Jordan Brown, Cody Cook and Luke Klenda all had multiple hits against the Yachtsmen.

In Western D, North Yarmouth Academy finished 1-12 after losses at Old Orchard Beach (11-1, in five innings), Waynflete (7-2) and at home to Sacopee (12-1). The Panthers were ninth in the Heals, but only seven teams make the playoffs.

The baseball playoffs begin Tuesday with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are Thursday, June 12 and the semis Saturday, June 14. All games will be played on the field of the higher seed.

Softball

On the softball side of the diamond, Yarmouth has discovered a flair for the dramatic which has shot it up the standings. Last week, the Clippers romped at Freeport (21-0, in five innings), rallied from a 7-2 seventh inning deficit to stun visiting Falmouth, 8-7, then came back from four down in the seventh at Sacopee to prevail, 11-9. Against the Falcons, Yarmouth benefited from 20 walks. Mari Cooper threw a five-hitter and tripled and Julia Anastos, Monica Austin and Kallie Hutchinson all had a pair of hits. In the rally against the Yachtsmen Friday, Abby Nielsen’s RBI triple got things started and after the tying runs scored on an error, Cat Thompson’s double was misplayed and Hutchinson raced home with the winner, setting off a raucous celebration.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play,” Thompson said. “It felt great (to see Kallie score). It’s pretty incredible. I think we all just really wanted it.”

“Anything can happen,” said Austin, who kept her team alive with a couple of tremendous defensive plays. “(Softball’s) a hard game to play in the field. We know we can do anything. You can get lucky. It was just our day. This game meant so much to the team. You know how big the Yarmouth-Falmouth rivalry is.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think we had a chance, but once we got that first run, we got confidence.” added Yarmouth coach Amy McMullin. “We’ve done it before. We always give it a fight. That’s something I love about this team.”

Saturday morning, the Clippers traveled to Sacopee and needed to score six in the seventh to steal another one. This time, Austin delivered the winning hit and Thompson doubled and homered.

“It’s crazy,” McMullin said. “It’s giving me so many gray hairs.”

Yarmouth (9-6 and sixth in the Western B Heals at press time) hosted Kennebunk in the regular season finale Tuesday. The Clippers will likely avoid a prelim and could even host a quarterfinal.

Greely finished 11-5 after wins at Old Orchard Beach (32-6, in five innings), York (5-1) and Kennebunk (7-2) and losses at home to Falmouth (13-0,) and at Cape Elizabeth (10-6). Miranda Moore struck out six and doubled against the Wildcats, in a game which saw Elyse Dinan homer. In the loss to the Capers, the Rangers were done in by eight wild pitches. The Rangers now await their playoff seed and foe.

“I hope we figure it out,” Greely coach Jess Brady said. “We don’t have much time. As I’ve said all year long, we have all the right pieces. We just need to put it together. If not, it will be too late.”

Freeport finished 4-12 and will miss the playoffs for the 12th straight season. The Falcons closed with a 21-0 (five inning) home loss to Yarmouth, a 13-1 home win over Old Orchard Beach, an 11-7 victory at Traip and a 5-3 setback at Gray-New Gloucester. Morgan Karnes had two doubles and four RBI and Bailey Karnes added three hits against the Seagulls. Jill Baker and Nicole Perry had multiple hits against the Rangers. Freeport was 14th in Western B at press time. Only 10 teams qualify for the postseason.

In Western A, Falmouth lost at home to undefeated, top-ranked Cape Elizabeth (6-1), let a five-run lead slip away at Yarmouth in an 8-7 loss, then bounced back for a 13-0 victory at Greely. Emily Beaulieu had multiple hits against the Capers. Liz Walker homered at the Clippers, but the Yachtsmen were done in by seven errors.

“You’ve got to catch the ball,” said Falmouth coach Ray Fox. “You’ve got to stop the ball. You can’t win with seven errors.”

The Yachtsmen got the bad taste out of their mouths from the Yarmouth game by scoring eight times in the first inning at Greely and they didn’t look back. Walker homered again and Amanda Carver threw a three-hit shutout. Falmouth (9-6) was eighth in Western A entering Tuesday’s finale at Poland and hoped to earn a home prelim.

The softball playoffs begin Tuesday with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are Thursday, June 12 and the semis Saturday, June 14. All games will be played on the field of the higher seed.

Boys’ lacrosse

It appears that all five local boys’ lacrosse teams will make the playoffs.

Falmouth was 9-2 and second in Western B heading into its home finale versus undefeated, defending state champion Cape Elizabeth Wednesday. Last week, the Yachtsmen beat visiting Greely, 15-8, then lost at Kennebunk, 11-8. In the victory, senior standout I.V. Stucker had seven goals.

“We just had to capitalize on the opportunities we were given,” Stucker said. “We had to keep our heads. Greely’s definitely a rival. We always play our best against them.”

“I.V. is getting better and better at recognizing what the defense is giving him,” said Falmouth coach Mike LeBel. “If he’s feeling it, that’s fine. He has the green light.”

Greely was 7-4 and fourth in Western B at press time after a 15-8 loss at Falmouth and a 5-2 victory at NYA. Sam Doolittle, Will Peck and Owen Potenziano all had two goals in the loss.

“We started to put things together in the second half,” Storey said. “The whole first half, we didn’t come to play. We kind off dropped off again in the fourth quarter.”

Mitch Mullin had three goals at NYA. The Rangers close at home versus Kennebunk Thursday.

In Eastern B, Yarmouth has slipped to third in the standings with a 6-5 mark after losses last week to visiting Kennebunk (11-4) and at Cape Elizabeth (9-4). Joe Oliva scored twice against the Capers. The Clippers wrap up the regular season Friday at home versus NYA.

Freeport was fourth in Eastern B at press time after improving to 7-4 with a 9-5 victory at Lake Region last week. Ramsey Dodge had three goals. The Falcons close at Waynflete Thursday, seeking their first eight-win season since 2010.

NYA fell at Cape Elizabeth (9-3) and at home to Greely (5-2) last week to drop to 2-9, but the Panthers held the eighth and final Eastern B playoff spot. Jake Rasch had two goals against the Capers and Trevor Lachance had two against the Rangers, in a game that doubled as a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project. NYA closes at Yarmouth Friday.

The lacrosse playoffs begin with the quarterfinals Wednesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

There’s been plenty of drama on the girls’ side, with 50 minutes not always being enough.

Yarmouth continues to lead the way as it increased its win streak to 10 and improved to 10-1 with recent victories over visiting Falmouth (17-9), host Waynflete (7-6, in overtime) and visiting Brunswick (14-2). Grace O’Donnell had six goals, Shannon Fallon four and Molly Maguire returned to action and scored twice with one assist against the Yachtsmen.

“It felt great,” Maguire said. “I really missed being out there. I felt a little winded, but I’m excited to be back.”

The Clippers took a 6-2 lead at the Flyers early in the second half, but didn’t score again in regulation, as Waynflete rallied to force OT. There, O’Donnell scored and Yarmouth held on for a palpitating victory. O’Donnell had three goals and freshman goalie Mary Kate Gunville made nine clutch saves.

“We were able to come through,” O’Donnell said. “It was anybody’s game. I’d say we’re pretty evenly matched. We were really lucky to come out with a win.”

“It was so exciting,” said Lane Simsarian, who scored a goal and was a key player all over the field. “It was right down to the wire. It was really stressful, but I’m really glad we did it.”

“I try to keep my heart rate low and keep my head in the game,” Gunville said. “I know I have to stop the ball when it comes to me. It was exhilarating.”

“(Going into overtime) I just told them to play like they knew how to play,” Clippers coach Dorothy Holt added. “We were being lulled into a slow game. We don’t practice like that. Once we went back to what we knew, we got confidence.”

Yarmouth had little trouble versus Brunswick, racing to a quick 8-0 lead and utilized several young players in the second half. O’Donnell had four goals, Fallon three and sophomore Sophia Harrison and freshman Cory Langenbach both scored their first varsity goals.

“Being a part of this team has been great,” Harrison said. “I think individually, we started with a lot of talent. The challenge was working together and learning how each other plays. We’ve done that.”

“We hadn’t heard much about Brunswick,” Fallon said. “Dorothy told us to come out and focus on playing our game.”

“This is what we needed today after such an emotional game Saturday,” Holt added. “I was a little worried about these guys, but they came out like I needed them to. I’m so impressed with the level of play. We played as well as we have as a team.”

The Clippers have the top spot in Eastern B locked up. They closed at home versus Kennebunk on Senior Night Wednesday.

Freeport has already produced the best season in program history and improved to 9-2 after a 10-4 home win over Gould last Thursday and a 16-10 victory at Wells Monday. Emily Johnson scored three times, while Courtney Broderick, Meredith Broderick and Lexi Peacock each added a pair against Gould. In the win over the Warriors, Lily Johnston scored four times and Meredith Broderick added three goals. The Falcons looked for their first-ever double digit win season Wednesday when they hosted NYA.

Speaking of the Panthers, they eked out a 17-15 home win over Wells and fell at home to York (16-8) last week. Olivia Madore had four goals in the victory. Madore, Abby McKelvy, Juju Tardif and Alex Wahlstrom each scored twice against the Wildcats. NYA (4-7) is fifth in Eastern B and will snap a two-year playoff drought. The Panthers closed at Freeport Wednesday.

In Western B, Greely saw its skid hit four games last Wednesday with a 9-6 home loss to Cape Elizabeth, but the Rangers bounced back to win at Gardiner (15-4) and upset host Kennebunk (8-6) to improve to 5-6 (and fifth in the Heals). Against the Capers, Gabby Bouchard had three goals and Teal Otley two. Otley scored twice in the win over the Rams. Greely closed the regular season at home versus Falmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

The Yachtsmen dropped to 3-7 and sixth after losing at Yarmouth (17-9) and home to Cape Elizabeth (10-7). Sydney Bell had three goals against the Clippers.

“The talent’s there, we’re just struggling putting the pieces together,” first-year Falmouth coach Kait Johnson said.

After playing at Greely Tuesday, the Yachtsmen wrap up the regular season Wednesday at home versus York.

The lacrosse playoffs begin with the quarterfinals Wednesday.

Sun Journal staff writer Randy Whitehouse contributed to this story.

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

Sidebar Elements

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After scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun visiting Falmouth, 8-7, Friday, Yarmouth’s softball team reacts accordingly. The Cardiac Clippers then rallied from four runs down to win at Sacopee Saturday, 11-9.

North Yarmouth Academy sophomore Trevor Lachance fires a shot while being pressured by Greely sophomore Sam Peck. The Rangers won, 5-2, in a game which doubled as a third annual benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project. NYA players wore special camouflage uniforms and there was a pregame ceremony.

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