Baseball
Coach: Ricky Hession
Last year’s record: 6-10
Key players lost: Arlo Pike, Christian Napolitano, Connor Sirois, Casey Maturo, Tyler Fitz
Key players returning: Ethan Hamilton (sr., SS); Cam Phinney (jr., LHP/1B); Jack Bean (sr., RHP/IF)
Key newcomers: Jake Humphrey (so., 2B)
Key matchups: April 17 vs. Scarborough
Outlook: “We’re a veteran team with eight seniors and expect to be very competitive,” Hession says. “We have a lot of guys that have played a lot baseball; hopefully that translates to the field.” The Scots aren’t just experienced baseball players, they’re stacked with multi-sport athletes – boys who’ve had success on the football field and the basketball court, for instance. That fact should produce a winning mentality on the diamond this spring. “There are roles for guys, considering the depth of our team,” Hession says, “so the more we buy into those roles, and the quicker we do so, the better we are going to be throughout the season … We’re athletic, and hope to run, manufacture runs, pitch well and play good defense.”

Boys Lacrosse
Coach: Andrew Slefinger
Last year’s record: 7-6; fell 15-1 to South Portland in postseason
Key players returning: Tyler Williams (sr., A); Dylan Cobbett (sr., M); Brandon Caron (sr., D); Alex Dyer (jr., M); Nate Ferris (jr., D)
Key newcomers: Owen Harmon (so., LSM); Nick Klein (fr., M)
Key matchups: Windham, Portland, Massabesic
Outlook: “This year’s team is the most talented team I’ve seen in this program,” Slefinger says. “Practice tempo is high, as players are competing to earn and keep positions and playing time.” The Scots return their entire varsity squad, including 13 seniors, a baker’s dozen who’ll be relied upon for their experience and leadership as the season unfolds. The aim, of course, is to land a favorable playoff position, come June. “We’ll need to take each game one-by-one, building off our success and fixing our flaws,” Slefinger says. “I’m excited to get the season started.”

Girls Lacrosse
Coach: Judy Martin
Last year’s record: 3-9
Key players returning: Emma Walker (sr., D); Allie Carpine (sr., M); Lindsay Frazier (sr., M)
Outlook: “We’re looking to improve upon last year,” Martin says; “striving to make playoffs this year.” Walker, in Martin’s words, “has a great sense for the game. We’ll look to her to control the defense.” Carpine and Frazier are leaders on the field and off it, and Biegel “has lots of speed tenacity and inner drive … never lets up.”

Boys Outdoor Track
Coach: Mike Burleson
Last year’s record: Fourth at Southwesterns, sixth at States
Key athletes returning: Zack Allocca (sr., jumps/sprints); Andrew Pendleton (sr., sprints/relays); Aiden Willey (jr., distance); Justin Tomison (jr., distance)
Key meets: Black Bear Invitational
Outlook: The Gentlemen Scots graduated quite a few last June, but they return a lot of talent this year, too. Allocca won the indoor state crown in the Triple Jump this past winter, and took second in the Long Jump; he can be counted on to figure prominently in both events this spring as well. Willey has run a sub-4:30 on several occasions, ranking him high among the State’s distance runners. Pendleton is a regular contributor and Tomison has made major strides. The Scots also boast a strong group of up-and-comers looking to earn some accolades by making an impact. “With many underclassmen and new athletes, the Scots look to see major improvement throughout the season,” Burleson says. “The boys team is also reigning outdoor and indoor Class A South Sportsmanship Award winners.”

Girls Outdoor Track
Coach: Khabir Edwards
Key athletes returning: Ami Beaumier (sr., two mile); Kayla Raymond (sr., 800); Amelia Alexander (sr.); Kanani Lopes (sr.); Abby Nelson (sr.); Christine Toy (sr.); Lucy Weyand (sr.); Emma Abbott (jr.)
Key matchups: TA, Noble, Scarborough
Outlook: “The season looks promising,” Edwards says. “We have a strong core of seniors who are positioned to compete for tops spots at Southwesterns and States. Our returning veterans, including Emma Abbot and Emma Noonan, will round out a strong girls team. Also joining us for their freshman season in outdoor are Delany Hesler, Zoe Schmaling and Hannah Stevens.” Despite being young, that latter trio of girls his highly capable, and fans should keep an eye on them – not just for their potential, but as scorers from the get-go.

Softball
Coach: Jan Corliss
Last year’s record: 7-10, fell to Windham in postseason prelims
Key players lost: Sarah Champagne (C), Sadie Denico (P)
Key players returning: Sam Averill (sr., 2B, Captain); Mackenzie Emery (sr., 3B, Captain); Makayla Greene (sr., 1B, Captain); Sydney Gillingham (sr., OF, Captain); Emma Steinbuchel (sr., C); Hannah Kaspereen (so., C); Ari Mejias (so., SS)
Key matchups: Massabesic, Windham, Gorham
Outlook: The Lady Scots’ primary hurdle this year lies in their pitching. Kailee Cummings, a junior, saw varsity action in the circle last year, but the team’s other chief thrower will be freshman Emma Burnham. Capable though Burnham may be, she will of course lack experience to start and need to come into her own as quickly as she can. With returning starters at every position except pitcher, BE’s success, as Corliss says, “will depend on playing within ourselves, using our speed to our advantage and being smart at the plate. We have a lot of speed with Sam, Mackenzie, Syd, Emma Burnham, Morgan Drinkwater and Meg Champagne. If our substitute contact hitters – Spring Parsons, Cassidy Grass and Maddie Cole – can deliver in pressure situations, and our power hitters – Makayla, Emma Steinbuchel, Morgan and Ari – do their job, then we will be in the hunt for playoffs at the end of the season.” Corliss likes the Mustangs, the Eagles and the Rams as evenly-matched opponents. “A win against any one of them could mean our making playoffs again,” she says. 

Boys Tennis
Coach: Hossein Miremadi
Last year’s record: 5-7
Key players lost: Evan Smith, Aidan Rausch, Andrew Ettinger
Key players returning: Brandon Hogan, Nick Sawyer, Peyton Oertel
Key newcomers: Lewin Pillsbury, Gabe Daniels, Devin Maynard
Key matchups: Westbrook, Massabesic, Scarborough, Biddeford
Outlook: “The Scots lost five varsity players from last year’s squad,” Miremadi says, “including three of their top four. With several newcomers joining the team, BE will rely on the experience of Captains Hogan and Sawyer, with hopes that the doubles teams can gel early in the season and remain competitive in the SMAA.”

Girls Tennis
Coach: John Pelletier
Last year’s record: 0-12
Key players lost: Mingminh Lin
Key players returning: Julia Zampini (first singles), Marlee Walker (second singles), Lindsey Baldwin, Amanda Osmolski
Key newcomers: Avery Kimball, Lauren Esty, Haley Marsico
Key Matches: “I plan on having every match this season being a vital one!” Pelletier says.
Outlook: “Last year was a complete rebuild and we have six of our top seven returning,” Pelletier says. “My outlook is to have a strong growing season and our goal is to make the playoffs this year. It’ll be a great accomplishment for the young players to experience the playoffs this early in their tennis careers.”

Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME

Arianna Mejias is a talented member of the Lady Scots.

Cam Phinney returns this spring for the Scots.

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