The weather has cooperated, fans are back in the stands and spring sports athletes are relishing an opportunity to shine after losing out on the 2020 season.
It’s been largely good news all around and we still have several weeks to go until state championships are awarded.
Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a spring sports fan and the best is yet to come.
Here’s an overview:
Baseball
Yarmouth senior Will Dickinson pitches to Cape Elizabeth senior Jake Tinsman during the first game of a doubleheader last week. Dickinson and the Clippers prevailed in game one, 5-1, then lost the nightcap, 2-1. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster
Freeport’s baseball team still sported a perfect record at press time after improving to 9-0 with a 7-2 home win over Lake Region last Friday. Blaine Cockburn, Nathan Abbott and Gus Wing combined to throw a two-hitter. Cockburn, Caden Benedict and Elias Thomas all doubled and Anthony Panciocco had a pair of RBI. The Falcons host Yarmouth Tuesday, play a doubleheader at the Clippers Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for stories), then welcome Greely Tuesday of next week.
Greely improved to 6-2 and extended its win streak to four games after downing host Mt. Ararat (11-1, in five innings) and visiting Morse (7-0) in recent action. Against the Eagles, Brady Nolin had three hits and five RBI and also earned the victory. In the win over the Shipbuilders, Nolin threw six shutout innings, striking out 10, while Cooper Neleski had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Liam Sheff drove in a pair of runs. The Rangers hosted Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, go to the Capers for a twin-bill Saturday and visit Freeport Tuesday of next week.
Yarmouth was 7-3 at press time after winning two of three from Cape Elizabeth last week. The Clippers beat the visiting Capers, 10-0, in five innings last Tuesday, then split a doubleheader at Cape Elizabeth Friday, winning the opener, 5-1, and losing the nightcap, 2-1. In the game at Yarmouth, Jake Gautreau and Jack McGrath combined on a no-hitter; Will Cox singled, doubled, tripled and scored four runs; and McGrath added three RBI. In the opener of the twinbill, Will Dickinson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Gibby Sullivan had two hits, scored two runs and closed it out on the mound.
“It’s great to perform when you don’t have your best stuff,” Clippers coach Marc Halsted said. “Will threw 23 pitches in the first inning, hit a few guys and had a walk in there, then he had his best stuff in innings two through six. He had a nice, clean performance.”
In the loss, Yarmouth managed just three hits.
“This is the second doubleheader this season where we haven’t been great in the second game, but we allowed just three runs this week in 19 innings of baseball,” Halsted said. “When you allow three runs in a week and get two wins, that’s a good week.”
The Clippers were at Freeport Tuesday, host the Falcons in a doubleheader Saturday and play host to Fryeburg Academy Monday.
Falmouth improved to 6-2 Monday after a 4-3, come-from-behind win over visiting Thornton Academy, which hadn’t lost a game. Bennett Smith allowed two first inning home runs, but settled down and earned the victory, Gus Ford had a pair of hits and an RBI and Brady Coyne’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh won it.
“I was looking for a strike down the middle and that’s what I got,” Coyne said. “I knew I just needed a base hit. With a runner in scoring position, I knew a base hit would score him. The celebration was awesome. It’s a thrill.”
“I knew if I could pitch to my ability, I’d pull it off and I guess I did,” Smith said. “Later innings is when I start feeling good. I wanted to stay out there. My inside fastball was working really well for me and later on, I was throwing my curveball for strikes.”
“We needed a win against what I think is one of the top teams,” added Falmouth first-year coach Mike D’Andrea. “(Thornton Academy has) proved they’re a top team. I think we’ll see them again.”
Falmouth hosted Windham Tuesday and plays a doubleheader at Gorham Saturday.
“We’re still searching for consistency,” D’Andrea said. “This isn’t a team of nine guys, but of 14 or 15 guys. I’m happy that we go 12, 14 deep. We have some athletes in the field. I’m not worried about our defense. We just have to hit the baseball.”
The Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team continued its successful campaign last week, bouncing back from a 6-2 home loss to Berwick Academy with an 8-0 victory at Richmond. In the win, Luke Josephson threw a no-hitter and struck out 13. Waynflete/NYA fell to 5-4 Monday after a 3-0 loss at Sacopee Valley in a game it didn’t register a hit. Waynflete/NYA hosted St. Dom’s Tuesday, plays a doubleheader at St. Dom’s Friday and visits Berwick Academy Tuesday of next week.
Softball
Lily Rawnsley of Greely rounds third and scores during last week’s win at Mt. Ararat. Eli Canfield / The Times Record
Greely’s softball team enjoyed wins last week at Mt. Ararat (14-7) and at Yarmouth (18-0, in five innings), then fell to 4-4 after a 4-0 home loss to Morse Monday. Against the Eagles, Lily Rawnsley struck out 10 and had a pair of RBI, Hailey Stewart and Olivia Stewart both had three hits and Maia Wright hit a home run.
“I just wanted to throw strikes and hit my spots,” Rawnsley said. “I knew my teammates would take care of the rest behind me. We just wanted to keep our momentum up from the last game, and we did a good job of it.”
In the win over the Clippers, Rawnsley and Julietta Smithwick combined for a five-inning no-hitter, while Wright had three hits. The Rangers were home with undefeated Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, play a doubleheader at the Capers Saturday and visit Freeport Tuesday of next week.
Yarmouth fell to 0-9 after recent losses to visiting Cape Elizabeth (12-0, in five innings), at Cape Elizabeth in a doubleheader (12-0, in six innings and 18-4, in five innings), at home to Greely (18-0, in five innings) and at Brunswick (12-0, in six innings). After visiting Freeport Tuesday and going to Wells Friday, the Clippers host Freeport in a doubleheader Saturday and play host to Fryeburg Academy Monday.
Freeport fell to 0-9 following Friday’s 19-3 (five-inning) home loss to Lake Region. After hosting Yarmouth Tuesday, the Falcons visit the Clippers for two games Saturday and host Greely Monday.
Falmouth was 3-7 after a 13-1 (six-inning) home loss to Thornton Academy and a 12-5 win at Deering. In the victory, Cam Birks singled, tripled, drove in three runs and earned the win on the mound. Falmouth hosts Windham Wednesday and plays two games at Gorham Friday.
NYA returned to action last week after more than two weeks off and dropped a doubleheader at Gray-New Gloucester (13-1, in five innings, and 4-2). Monday, the Panthers fell to 2-3 after a 17-4 (five-inning) loss at Sacopee Valley. Carly Sanzo hit a three-run home run against the Hawks. NYA hosted St. Dom’s Tuesday, plays a doubleheader at the Saints Friday and hosts Old Orchard Beach Monday.
Boys’ lacrosse
Falmouth senior Sam Gearan sends a Thornton Academy ball-handler flying during the Yachtsmen’s overtime win at the Golden Trojans last week. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster
Falmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team remained unbeaten last week after a dramatic, come-from-behind 9-8 overtime win at two-time reigning Class A champion Thornton Academy. Wyatt Kerr scored the tying goal in the fourth quarter and Satchel Kaplan played the hero in OT.
“I took the dodge and I saw the right side of the net open,” Kaplan said. “I got my hands free and decided to take the shot and it worked. I couldn’t really tell you what happened. I kind of went numb. I was just in the moment and it felt pretty good. I’ve had a sour taste in my mouth for two years from when they did something like that us to beat us (in the 2019 Class A state game). .”
“I love this group,” added Falmouth coach Dave Barton. “They’re at their best when the stakes are the highest. The guys don’t make it easy. They’re giving me gray hairs at 31.”
Falmouth took a 6-0 record to Windham Tuesday. After going to South Portland Thursday, Falmouth faces two huge road tests, at undefeated Cape Elizabeth Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and at Scarborough Monday.
“We haven’t scratched the surface yet of what we can be,” Barton said. “Knowing the potential we have, I don’t think we’ve played our best game, but we battle every time.”
Greely had its four-game win streak snapped with a 14-4 home loss to Cape Elizabeth last Thursday. Monday, the Rangers fell to 4-4 after a 12-8 loss at unbeaten Gorham. Greely welcomes South Portland Saturday.
Reigning Class B champion Yarmouth began the week 4-4 after an 11-2 win at Freeport and a 15-1 home loss to Cape Elizabeth last week. In the victory, Peter Psyhogeos had four goals and two assists. The Clippers play at Kennebunk Friday and host Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.
Freeport fell to 0-7 after losses last week to visiting Yarmouth (11-2) and at Cheverus (11-10) and a 21-3 loss at Cape Elizabeth Monday. The Falcons go to Brunswick Friday, host Morse Saturday and welcome Gray-New Gloucester Monday.
Reigning Class C champion NYA improved to 6-2 after recent home wins over Gray-New Gloucester (15-2) and Gardiner (12-4). Against the Patriots, Brayden Warde had four goals and three assists. In the win over the Tigers, Warde scored three times. The Panthers welcome Berwick Academy Wednesday, have a pivotal showdown at Waynflete Friday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and visit York Monday.
Girls’ lacrosse
Greely’s Charlotte Taylor drives with the ball during the Rangers’ home win over Scarborough last week. Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald
On the girls’ side, two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth and powerhouse Yarmouth were on a collision course for a showdown Tuesday evening (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story).
Falmouth improved to 6-1 last Wednesday with its fifth consecutive victory, 10-5, over visiting, two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth. Eva Clement scored six goals. After playing at Yarmouth Tuesday, Falmouth goes to Lewiston Thursday, hosts Cheverus Saturday and plays host to undefeated, powerhouse Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.
Yarmouth, meanwhile, made it four wins in a row and improved to 5-1 Friday after a 16-1 home victory over Brunswick. Katelyn D’Appolonia had four goals and four assists and Anna Thornton added three goals. The Clippers are back in action Monday at Greely.
Speaking of Greely, the Rangers extended their win streak to three and improved to 5-2 after wins last week over visiting Scarborough (7-1) and host Lake Region (8-7). Elsa Dean-Muncie scored four goals and Greely’s defense allowed just five shots on cage from the prolific Red Storm.
“I think it was just getting in a mindset of playing our game,” Dean-Muncie said. “It doesn’t matter who we go up against but focusing on what we can control and how we’re playing.”
“We’ve worked hard on our clear and it looked great today and we work so hard on our doubles,” defender Abby Taylor said. “We’ve worked so hard on communication. Our talking has gone up, as well as our trust in each other, which is huge.”
“I’m so proud of them,” added Rangers coach Becca Koelker. “The best defense is when your attack has the ball. Our attack did a really good job just holding possession. We got ground balls and didn’t give them second chances, which is improvement from a few days ago.”
In the win over the Lakers, Dean-Muncie again led the way with three goals and Sam Goldburg added a pair. Greely was at York Tuesday, welcomes Gorham Saturday and plays host to Yarmouth Monday.
“It doesn’t get any easier but that’s how we love it,” Koelker said. “We want the tough games.”
Freeport beat visiting St. Dom’s, 19-7, last week for its fifth straight win to start the season, as Meredith Feller scored four goals, Hannah Groves added three goals and two assists and Ellie Whittier finished with three goals. Saturday, the Falcons fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 9-8 home loss to Cape Elizabeth. Savannah Tracy had three goals and Kate Tracy added two, but a late rally fell just short.
“This is what I wanted, a great game,” said Freeport coach Marcia Wood. “We haven’t played a team as skilled as Cape, or a team that rides like them in the midfield. I wanted to keep it close, so I’m glad we did. I hope this proves to the girls that we can hang with these top teams if we put it all together. Down by three, we didn’t give up. I’m super-proud of how we fought back.”
The Falcons host Waynflete Wednesday, welcome Morse Saturday and play at NYA Monday.
“Now our schedule gets tougher,” Wood said. “I just want to keep everything a game. We can see what to work on.”
NYA improved to 5-2 after a dramatic 12-11 win at Cheverus Friday. Lily Weinrich scored five times and Maggie Holt added four goals, including the winner. The Panthers hosted Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, visit Fryeburg Academy Friday and host Freeport Monday.
Tennis
Yarmouth’s reigning Class B state champion boys’ tennis team improved to 8-0 Monday with a 3-2 victory over previously undefeated, 12-time Class C champion Waynflete. The teams play again Tuesday of next week in Portland.
The Clippers girls, meanwhile, improved to 6-3 after recent wins over Greely (3-2), NYA (5-0) and Waynflete (3-2).
NYA’s boys were 5-3 following Monday’s 5-0 win over Lake Region.
The Panthers girls fell to 0-8 after a 4-1 loss to Lake Region Monday.
Greely’s boys were 6-4 after a 4-1 loss to Yarmouth and a 3-2 victory over Cape Elizabeth.
The Rangers girls fell to 7-3 after Monday’s 3-2 loss to Cape Elizabeth.
Freeport’s boys took a 4-5 mark into Tuesday’s match at Lisbon.
The Falcons girls fell to 3-6 after 5-0 losses last week to Brunswick and Cape Elizabeth.
Falmouth’s boys beat Cheverus last week by a 3-2 score, then fell to 6-3 Monday after a 3-2 loss at Thornton Academy.
The Falmouth girls’ squad improved to 9-0 Monday with a 3-2 home win over Thornton Academy.
Track
In track last week, Yarmouth hosted a seven-team meet which also included Freeport, Greely and NYA.
In the boys’ competition, the Rangers finished firs, the Clippers were fourth, the Falcons fifth and the Panthers sixth.
In the girls’ meet, also won by Greely, Freeport was runner-up, Yarmouth finished fifth and NYA was sixth.
Falmouth competed at Gorham. The boys placed first and the girls were second to the Rams.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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