Falmouth’s Kayla Sarazin fires a shot during last week’s home game with Kennebunk. Sarazin scored in overtime to give the Yachtsmen an 8-7 victory.

Greely senior Will Neleski delivers a strike during the Rangers’ 7-1 win at Yarmouth last week.

North Yarmouth Academy’s Ellie Hilscher competes in the racewalk during Monday’s meet at Greely.

As April gives way to May, the weather continues to pose a challenge, but local spring sports teams are hopeful of seeing more consistent action in the days to come.

There have been some positive signs in the early going this spring and that figures to continue.

Here’s a glimpse.

Advertisement

Baseball

Greely’s baseball team didn’t get to play a single preaseason game due to poor conditions, but the Rangers still managed to start 3-1. After a 9-2 win over Fryeburg Academy prior to the vacation week, Greely won at Cape Elizabeth (8-0) last Monday, then downed host Yarmouth, 7-1, Thursday before losing at York, 11-0, in five-innings, Monday (the Rangers’ first mercy rule loss since May 16, 2002 (10-0, in five-innings at Gorham). In the win over the Clippers. Will Neleski made his first start and went the distance, not allowing an earned run and striking out nine. The Rangers scored six of their seven runs with two outs, as Jacob Whiting hit a bases loaded double and Nick Butler had two hits and two RBI.

“We played in some (bad) weather the first couple games, but it was nice today and that helped the ball travel a little more,” Butler said.

“I got stronger in the middle innings,” Neleski said. “At first, I didn’t have much going right, but later in the game, my curveball was good.”

“We have an experienced group, so the work that we do in the gym or the parking lot, or on the middle school field, the key is getting some live pitching and when we do go against live pitching, we have good pitchers, so that really helped us,” added Rangers coach Derek Soule.

Greely was at Freeport Wednesday, visits Lake Region Friday and welcomes Poland Wednesday of next week.

Freeport started with an 11-5 home win over Lake Region, as Shea Wagner earned the victory, Gabe Wagner had three hits and an RBI, Toby Holt hit a two-run double and Anthony Panciocco added an RBI. Monday, the Falcons downed visiting Wells, 5-1, to improve to 2-0, as Heath Cockburn only allowed one hit in five innings of work, Gabe Wagner had two hits and Liam Holt drove in a pair. Freeport was at Traip Academy Tuesday and hosts Greely Wednesday, then travels to Cape Elizabeth Friday, hosts York Saturday and welcomes Cape Elizabeth Monday of next week.

Advertisement

Yarmouth started with a 7-1 loss at York, a 4-1 home victory over Gardiner and a 7-1 home loss to Greely. Against the Rangers, Jack Romano had two hits, but the Clippers were hindered by multiple mistakes.

“(Greely) did a great job,” said Yarmouth coach Marc Halsted. “They were a better team than us today. They were better prepared.”

The Clippers host Poland Wednesday, welcome Wells Friday and go to Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Falmouth tried four separate times to open its season last week and was postponed each time. Monday, the Yachtsmen finally started and lost, 2-0, at Portland. Ike Kiely had two hits and Garrett Tracy pitched well, but Falmouth fell short.

“Overall, we played very well, they just took advantage and we didn’t make a play when we needed to,” Yachtsmen coach Kevin Winship said.

After hosting Windham Tuesday, Falmouth travels to Biddeford Thursday, welcomes Thornton Academy Saturday and plays at South Portland Monday and Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

Advertisement

The Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team started with a 4-2 home victory over Richmond, then Thursday in a makeup game, fell, 8-6, at home to Traip Academy. Waynflete/NYA is at Buckfield Thursday and visits Sacopee Valley Monday.

Softball

Yarmouth’s softball team opened with a 4-1 home loss to York, then downed visiting Greely, 14-2, in five-innings. The Clippers were at York Tuesday, host Poland Wednesday, welcome Wells Friday and go to Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Greely began with losses at Wells (18-11), Cape Elizabeth (11-1), Yarmouth (14-2, in five-innings) and York (9-1). The Rangers were at Freeport Wednesday, visit Lake Region Friday, host Fryeburg Academy Monday and welcome Poland Wednesday of next week.

Freeport finally opened Monday with an 11-6 home victory over Wells. Brooke Pawlowski had three hits, and Jaclyn Burke and Alexa Koening had two hits and a pair of RBI apiece. The Falcons were at Traip Academy Tuesday and host Greely Wednesday, then travel to Cape Elizabeth Friday, host York Saturday and welcome Cape Elizabeth Monday of next week.

Falmouth returned to varsity play this spring with losses to visiting Noble (13-0, in five-innings), at Portland (7-3, in five-innings), at home to South Portland (14-2), at home to Sanford (10-4) and at home to Westbrook (22-4). In the loss to the Spartans, Liberty Ladd hit two home runs, doubled, tripled, scored three times and drove in three runs. The Yachtsmen go to Thornton Academy Wednesday, visit two-time defending Class A champion Scarborough Thursday, host Biddeford Friday, then play at Windham Monday of next week.

The Cheverus/NYA co-op softball team is off to a fast start, downing visiting Sanford (9-2) and South Portland (5-1). The Stags lost, 18-9, at home Biddeford Monday, to fall to 2-1. Cheverus/NYA plays at Windham Wednesday, hosts Westbrook Thursday and plays at Bonny Eagle Monday and Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Advertisement

Boys’ lacrosse

Falmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team has started fast out of the gates, beating host Kennebunk (9-3), visiting Gorham (16-7), visiting Scarborough (14-9) and host Scarborough (14-10). Tommy Fitzgerald scored six goals and Iyendae St. Louis added three in the first victory over the Red Storm.

“We made a point to bury them early,” said Fitzgerald. “We got going and it carried through the whole game.”

“We played really well tonight,” said Falmouth coach Dave Barton. “The guys are starting to see that every time we come out, we get a little bit better.”

In the second win over Scarborough, Fitzgerald and Peter Alexander each scored three times. The Yachtsmen hosted Cheverus Wednesday, play at rival Cape Elizabeth Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and visit South Portland Wednesday of next week.

Yarmouth opened with a 13-4 win over Greely, then dropped an 8-7 heartbreaker at Cape Elizabeth in overtime before downing host Kennebunk, 13-5, Saturday to improve to 2-1. Against the Capers, Gavin Hamm scored three times and goalie Spencer King made 16 saves, but Cape Elizabeth tied the score with 0.6 seconds left in regulation, then prevailed in overtime.

“Hats off to the Cape players who played hard all the way to the end,” said Clippers coach David Pearl.

Advertisement

Yarmouth got back on track against Kennebunk, as Hamm and Anders Corey each scored five goals.

“We practiced hard all week,” Hamm said. “We wanted to get it back and this game was our game to redeem ourselves.”

“We just tried to bring positivity to practice all week,” said senior defenseman Jake Rogers. “We put (the Cape loss) behind us and moved on to this game.”

“(Tuesday) was a hard loss, but the guys have a much shorter memory than I do,” Pearl said. “I’m really proud of the way they responded.”

The Clippers were at NYA Tuesday, visit South Portland Friday and return home Tuesday of next week to meet York.

Greely bounced back from a season-opening 13-4 loss to Yarmouth with victories over host NYA (11-4), visiting Class C champion Waynflete (12-2) and host Messalonskee (17-1). Ethan Fraser and Andrew Lawrence both scored twice in the win over the Flyers. Against the Eagles, Fraser scored five times, while Peter Lattanzi and Schuyler Wetmore each had three goals. After going to York Wednesday, the Rangers host Cony Saturday and Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Advertisement

Freeport has already doubled last year’s win total, sitting 2-1 at press time after a 5-3 home win over Fryeburg Academy, a 13-9 home loss to NYA and a 20-7 home victory over Cony. Ben Gormley and Sam Larochelle each had three goals against the Panthers. The Falcons were home with Cape Elizabeth Tuesday and go to Morse Saturday.

NYA sandwiched wins at Lake Region (9-6) and Freeport (13-9) around an 11-4 home loss to Greely. Ryan Baker, Xander Kostelnik and Mason Parks all had four goals against the Falcons. The Panthers hosted Yarmouth Tuesday, welcome Camden Hills Saturday and visit Waynflete Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, defending Class A champion Falmouth started with wins at Biddeford (10-2), at home over Kennebunk (8-7, in overtime) and at Messalonskee (16-7). Against the Rams, Caitlyn Camelio, Avi Fishman and Jo Stucker all scored twice, goalie Hannah Dubinsky made eight saves and Kayla Sarazin had the winning tally.

“We have a lot of seniors on the team who hadn’t beaten Kennebunk and we wanted this game,” Sarazin said. “They’ve always been our rival, so this is extra sweet.”

“We all talked and worked well together,” Dubinsky said. “I was pretty nervous, but I knew the team had my back. They kept me confident.”

“This is huge for us,” added Falmouth coach Ashley Pullen. “Kennebunk is obviously one of the strongest teams in Class A, so to go toe-to-toe with them and win is huge.”

Advertisement

Camelio had four goals in the win over the Eagles and Summer Spiegel added her first varsity goal. The Yachtsmen hosted Marshwood Tuesday, go to Windham Thursday and play at Waynflete Monday.

Yarmouth beat visiting Freeport, 14-7, in its opener, then lost at home to Massabesic, 10-9. Ehryn Groothoff and Abi Thornton both scored four times in the victory, while Annie Lowenstein added three. In the setback, where the Mustangs got the winning goal with 10 seconds on the clock, Groothoff had four goals, while Lowenstein and Katelyn D’Appolonia each scored twice. Yarmouth plays at Kennebunk Friday, then has a Class B state final rematch Wednesday of next week versus Cape Elizabeth.

Greely split its first two games, downing NYA, 14-7, then losing to Kennebunk, 11-4. Saturday, the Rangers improved to 2-1 with a 16-4 home victory over Morse. Brooke Clement had four goals and Sam Goldburg added three. Greely goes to Waynflete for a playoff rematch Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), travels to Gorham Friday and goes to York Wednesday of next week.

Freeport started with a 15-3 home win over Fryeburg Academy, then lost, 14-7, at Yarmouth. Margaret Perrotta had three goals and goalie Piper Sherbert made 13 saves in the loss to the Clippers. The Falcons host York Wednesday, welcome Bonny Eagle Saturday and go to Boothbay in a makeup game Tuesday of next week.

NYA opened with a 14-7 loss to Greely, then downed visiting Lake Region, 12-10, in a playoff rematch, and beat visiting Mt. Ararat, 13-3. Catherine Reid and Emma Sharp both had three goals in the win over the Lakers. Against the Eagles, Natalie Farrell scored four times and Maggie Holt had three goals and four assists. The Panthers went to Sanford Tuesday and visit Camden Hills Saturday.

Outdoor track

Falmouth hosted Scarborough, Cheverus and Noble in a regular season-opening outdoor track meet last week.

Advertisement

The Yachtsmen boys finished second to Scarborough. The girls placed fourth (Noble finished first).

Greely hosted Freeport, NYA, Yarmouth and Gray-New Gloucester Monday.

The Rangers won the girls’ meet, with the Falcons placing second, the Clippers fourth and the Panthers fifth.

In the boys’ meet, Freeport was first, with Yarmouth second, Greely third and NYA fifth.

Tennis

Falmouth’s girls’ tennis team, which is riding an 11-year championship streak, extended its match win streak to 176 by downing South Portland (5-0), Scarborough (4-1) and Bonny Eagle (5-0). The Yachtsmen were home with Portland in a regional final rematch Tuesday.

The Falmouth boys, also defending Class A champions, opened with 5-0 victories over South Portland, Scarborough and Bonny Eagle. The Yachtsmen have a home test Friday versus Thornton Academy.

Advertisement

Freeport’s boys’ team, the defending Class B South champion, started with a 4-1 win over Greely and a 3-2 loss to defending Class C champ Waynflete. Monday, the Falcons beat St. Dom’s, 5-0, to improve to 2-1. Freeport hosts Cape Elizabeth Friday and goes to Yarmouth Monday.

The Freeport girls lost, 5-0, to Waynflete and beat St. Dom’s, 5-0, to open.

Greely’s boys started with a 4-1 loss to Freeport, then beat Cape Elizabeth, 4-1, the Rangers’ first victory over the Capers since the 2001 Western B Final. Monday, Greely edged NYA, 3-2, to improve to 2-1.

Greely’s girls opened with a 3-2 win over Cape Elizabeth in a playoff rematch.

Yarmouth’s boys opened with a 5-0 win over York and a 4-1 victory over Cape Elizabeth.

Yarmouth’s girls started Monday with a 4-1 loss to Cape Elizabeth. The Clippers had a key test at Greely Wednesday.

NYA’s boys started with victories over Cape Elizabeth (3-2) and St. Dom’s (4-1) and a 3-2 loss to Greely. The Panthers hosted Freeport Wednesday.

NYA’s girls lost to Cape Elizabeth, 5-0, and beat St. Dom’s, 5-0, to open the season.

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


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.