After a year without, the 2021 spring sports campaign has been a great success for all involved.

And the best is yet to come.

For the first time since the winter season in 2019-20, high school sports will feature a full postseason and whether your sport is tennis, baseball, softball, lacrosse or track, there is much to look forward to in the days to come.

Here’s an overview:

Tennis

The team tennis playoffs were getting underway at press time.

Falmouth’s girls’ squad posted its 12th consecutive 12-0 regular season record, closing with a 4-1 victory at Portland. Falmouth earned the top seed in Class A South and was awaiting its quarterfinal round playoff foe at press time.

Falmouth’s boys, the three-time reigning champion, wound up 8-4 and fourth in Class A South after closing with a 3-2 loss to Portland. Falmouth hosted No. 13 Bonny Eagle (0-11) in the preliminary round Tuesday. The teams didn’t play this season.

In Class B, Yarmouth’s boys, the reigning champion, almost produced a perfect regular season, but lost, 3-2, to 12-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete in the finale to finish 11-1, which was still good for the top spot for the Class B South tournament. The Clippers will host a quarterfinal Thursday against a yet-to-be-determined foe.

Freeport finished 7-5 and second in Class B South after closing with a 5-0 home win over Fryeburg Academy. The Falcons host a yet-to-be-determined foe in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Greely wound up 8-4 and third following a 4-1 home win over Lake Region. The Rangers play host to No. 6 Cape Elizabeth (4-7) in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Greely twice beat the Capers this year, 5-0 away and 3-2 at home.

Yarmouth’s girls surged late, finishing 9-3 after a a 5-0 season-ending home win over Waynflete, the Clippers’ fifth-straight victory. Yarmouth earned the No. 2 seed in Class B South and will host a quarterfinal Thursday against a yet-to-be-determined foe.

Greely also posted a 9-3 record, good for the No. 3 spot in Class B South, after closing with a 3-2 win at Lake Region. The Rangers host a quarterfinal Thursday against a yet-to-be-determined foe.

Freeport earned the No. 8 seed in Class B South after a 5-6 season, which ended with a 4-1 win at Fryeburg Academy. The Falcons hosted ninth-ranked Lake Region (5-5) in the preliminary round Tuesday. Freeport won the regular season meeting, 5-0.

In Class C South, the North Yarmouth Academy boys finished 5-6 and fourth in the Heals. The Panthers host No. 5 Boothbay (6-4) in the quarterfinals Thursday.

NYA’s girls closed at 0-11 after a 3-2 loss at St. Dom’s in the finale last Tuesday. The Panthers will be on the road for a preliminary round match.

Looking ahead, the semifinals will be held Saturday, on the courts of the higher seeds. The regional finals are Wednesday of next week in Lewiston and the state matches are also in Lewiston on Saturday, June 12.

Baseball

Greely and Yarmouth’s baseball teams were vying for the top spot in the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time.

The Rangers extended their win streak to six games and improved to 12-3 after victories last week at home over Freeport (12-0, in five innings), at Gray-New Gloucester (12-1) and a doubleheader sweep over the Falcons (3-2 and 3-0). In the first win over the Falcons, Ryan Kolben doubled, homered, scored four runs and drove in four runs, while Zach Johnston threw a three-hitter. Against the Patriots, Brady Nolin had four hits, including a home run, and Max Cloutier added three hits. In the first game of the doubleheader, Nolin homered, Johnston came on in relief to earn the victory and Cooper Neleski walked with two outs and the bases loaded to win it.

“I was looking for a fastball anywhere toward the inside,” Neleski said. I was looking fastball-in.”

“We were excited to win,” Johnston said. “It was everything you want in a high school game.”

“Cooper’s been swinging the bat really well the past two weeks and I have as much confidence in him in that situation as anybody,” Greely coach Derek Soule added. “We had our chances early I thought to blow that open. We continued to hit the ball hard the next few innings, then we struggled to make solid contact. You let a good team hang around, those things always seem to come back and get you when you don’t take advantage of opportunities. That’s baseball.”

Johnston then threw six shutout innings in the nightcap, with Mark Axelsen earning the save. Kolben delivered the big blow, a two-run home run.

“It felt amazing to get the sweep,” Kolben said. “Much needed. Good times.”

The Rangers (second in Class B South entering the week) closed with a home game versus Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

“We’ll see where the final Heals are,” Soule said. “It should be Yarmouth and us close for the one and two seeds. We’d like to host. I’ve had the privilege of coaching for and being an assistant for championship teams. I think the potential is there. We have a solid lineup, a couple really solid starting pitchers, then you have the catcher, the defense and good chemistry. Maybe more important than anything, they’re competitive kids. We’ll see what happens.”

Yarmouth was first at 12-3 at press time following a come-from-behind 3-2 home win over Poland last week. Jack McGrath’s single tied it in the bottom of the seventh and Gibby Sullivan’s base hit won it. Sulllivan, Will Cox and Matt Robichaud all had two hits and McGrath earned the victory in relief. The Clippers finished at Poland Tuesday.

Defending regional champion Freeport fell to 9-6 and eighth in Class B South after three losses to Greely, 12-0 (in five innings), 3-2 and 3-0. The Falcons managed just eight hits total in the three contests. In the middle game, Keigan Shea had a two-run single.

“We battled,” Freeport first-year coach Steve Shukie said. “We’ve played six games against probably the top two teams in Class B and in only one of those six games we were out of it.”

The Falcons, who have dropped six in a row, hoped to close with a win at Lake Region Tuesday.

“I think we have the pitching to compete,” Shukie said. “We’ll see if (Greely and Yarmouth) can beat us four times. That’s what we’re counting on.”

In Class A South, Falmouth was 12-3 and fifth following a doubleheader sweep of visiting Portland (10-0, in five innings, and 13-2, in five innings) and a doubleheader split against visiting Cheverus (a 2-1 loss and an 8-0 victory). Against the Bulldogs, Gus Ford hit a three-run home run and Ben Wilson threw a four-hit shutout in the opener, while Sean Dilworth and Sam Kidder both launched grand slams in the nightcap. Ford hit another home run and Brady Coyne added four hits. In the victory over the Stags, Patrick Gill drove in three runs and Coyne added two RBI, while Eli Cowperthwaite earned the win. Falmouth closed at Windham Tuesday.

In Class C South, the Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team was 10-5 and fourth following a 4-3 loss at Fryeburg Academy and a 4-1 home win over Richmond. Waynflete/NYA finishes with a home game versus Lake Region Wednesday.

The baseball playoffs begin with play-in games Saturday. The preliminary round is Tuesday of next week, the quarterfinals next Thursday and the semifinals Saturday, June 12. All of those games will be played on the fields of the higher seeds.

Softball

Turning to softball, Greely was 7-8 and 13th in the Class B South Heals following a 5-0 win at Freeport, a 12-11 loss at Gray-New Gloucester and a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Falcons, 8-0 and 6-3. In the first victory over Freeport, Lily Rawnsley pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts and Mia Wright drove in three runs with a pair of hits. Rawnsley had three hits and five RBI against the Patriots, but the Rangers couldn’t hold a three-run seventh inning lead. In the opener of the doubleheader, Rawnsley threw a shutout and Delia Knox had three hits and four RBI. In the nightcap, Olivia Stewart drove in two runs. Greely closed at home versus Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

Yarmouth was 1-14 and 15th in Class B South following an 18-2 (five-inning) home loss to Poland last week. The Clippers closed at Poland Tuesday.

Freeport fell to 2-13 and 16th in the region after a 5-0 home loss to Greely and a doubleheader sweep at the Rangers, 8-0 and 6-3. Rosie Panenka had a pair of hits in the final game. The Falcons closed at Lake Region Tuesday.

In Class A South, Falmouth wound up 3-13 and 15th in the Heals after a 17-1 (five-inning) loss at South Portland and a home doubleheader sweep against Cheverus (9-3 and 11-8). Eve Chase had three hits and three RBI in the second loss to the Stags.

In Class D South, NYA was 7-5 and sixth following a doubleheader split at Richmond (an 8-6 win and an 8-7 loss) and a 7-5 home loss to Lake Region. Against the Lakers, Acadia Gee had three hits. The Panthers played a a home doubleheader against Sacopee Valley Tuesday and close at Fryeburg Academy Wednesday.

The softball playoffs begin with play-in games Saturday. The preliminary round is Tuesday of next week, the quarterfinals next Thursday and the semifinals Saturday, June 12. All of those games will be played on the fields of the higher seeds.

Boys’ lacrosse

Don’t look now, but Yarmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team is coming to life. After a 10-7 home loss to two-time reigning Class A champion Thornton Academy last Tuesday, the Clippers stunned host Falmouth Friday, 11-9, to improve to 5-6. Steve Fulton and Peter Psyhogeos both scored twice in the loss. In the victory, Psyhogeos and Aksel Yeo both had three goals, while Fulton and Killian Marsh added two apiece. Yarmouth (seventh in the Class B state Heals) closes at home versus York Wednesday.

Greely’s skid hit five games and the Rangers dropped to 4-7 and 11th in Class B after an 8-3 home loss to Waynflete and a 15-10 setback at York. Against the Flyers, Greely didn’t score in the first half and fell behind, 5-0, but D.J. Kenney scored twice and Elias Leggat-Barr added another goal before the Rangers failed to score in the fourth quarter.

“We talk about focusing on one thing at a time and worrying about the little things and we’ve been unable to put the pieces together,” Greely coach Michael Storey said. “It’s very frustrating. It’s a disappointing direction to be heading in.”

The Rangers finish the regular season at home against Freeport Wednesday.

“Where we’re seeded for the tournament doesn’t matter, but we have to get back on track or we won’t go very far,” Storey said. “We’re in a mental and physical slump right now. We’re trying to figure out how to solve that puzzle. I believe the opportunity is still there to fix it and figure it out. It’ll take all of us.”

In Class A, Falmouth’s skid hit three games Friday with an 11-9 home loss to Yarmouth. Kaz Berry and Gio Ciraulo both scored twice. Falmouth (8-3 and first in Class A North) closes at Berwick Academy Wednesday.

Reigning Class C champion NYA finished the regular season 7-5 after a 15-2 home win over Freeport last week. Brayden Warde scored six times and Chris Hamblett tacked on five goals. The Panthers were ranked third in the Class C state Heals at press time.

Freeport fell to 1-10 and 11th after last week’s 15-2 loss at NYA. Justin Cogswell and Deven Hannan each scored a goal. The Falcons finish at home versus Greely Wednesday.

The boys’ lacrosse playoffs begin with the preliminary round Saturday and Monday. The quarterfinals are Wednesday and Thursday of next week and the semifinals Friday and Saturday of next week. All of those games will be played on the fields of the higher seeds.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Yarmouth is peaking as the regular season ends. The Clippers made it eight straight wins and improved to 9-1 and first in the Class B state Heals after home wins over NYA (14-5) and Cape Elizabeth (13-5). Against the Panthers, Katelyn D’Appolonia led the way with five goals. In the win over the Capers, on Senior Night, Annie Bergeron, Annie Lowenstein and Aine Powers all scored three goals, while D’Appolonia scored twice and assisted on three goals.

“We’ve really grown together as a team,” Powers said. “Seeing how our attack and defense talk and how it flows is just amazing.”

“It means so much to win on Senior Night,” Lowenstein said. “It’s the first time in 16 years we’ve fielded all 11 field players as seniors. That just speaks to how much our class has worked and grown up together playing. We all feel so passionate about the game and it makes us stronger as a team. We have a lot of talented players and that brings us together.”

“It was a fun game,” said longtime Clippers coach Dorothy Holt. “Cape’s a good team. You can’t count them out. Obviously (Senior Night) was big for us and we came in a little jittery, then we got our game face on. The seniors showed who they are. It was a great week for us.”

Yarmouth was at Freeport Tuesday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and closes at home versus York Thursday.

“We’re in a good place and we’re gearing up and that’s what should be happening at this time of year,” Holt said. “We just want to keep playing Yarmouth lacrosse and taking it game by game and hoping we can perform. We’d like to be home for the playoffs. This group is ready. After a year off, we’re just thankful to be here every day. I’m so confident in the girls. They have confidence in each other and it shows.”

Greely was 8-3 and third in Class B following a 12-6 home win over Freeport Friday. Carley Ferentz scored four times and Elsa Dean-Muncie and Lauren Dennen each added three goals. The Rangers closed at home versus Cape Elizabeth Tuesday.

In Class A, two-time reigning champion Falmouth closed with an abundance of excitment, losing at home to undefeated Kennebunk (17-11), rolling at Cheverus (15-2), then surviving visiting Scarborough in overtime, in the finale, 11-10, to wind up 9-3. Against the Rams, Sloane Ginevan scored six times, but Kennebunk closed on a 10-3 run.

“Despite the final score, I’m really proud of how we played today,” Falmouth coach Ashley Pullen said. “It could have gotten out of hand, but I give the girls credit for bouncing back. We’ve seen Kennebunk score almost at will against other defenses. They have an arsenal. This was a game where the team that had the ball was dangerous. When we had the ball, we did great things with the ball. When they had the ball, they did great things. We just couldn’t get out of the hole.”

Ginevan scored five goals and Avi Fishman added three in the win over the Stags. The Falmouth-Scarborough game proved to be an instant classic, as the contest was tied five times and the lead changed four times. Ginevan’s fifth goal forced the extra session and Eva Clement’s fourth goal won it. Falmouth goalie Patty Riley made a huge save in overtime to keep the game alive.

“What a game!” Clement said. “We’ve had a few games like this recently and it’s good to come out on top. We were confident going into overtime. I was trying to place the ball up top. I was happy where it ended up. I hit the post like three times and I was frustrated earlier, so I was happy it didn’t hit the post. I really wanted it.”

“I was so happy when we scored,” Riley said. “Eva’s always amazing. That goal was so beautiful. This shows we work really well together. We connected and the energy flowed.”

“This is what every coach would want going into the postseason,” Pullen added. “You can’t ask for a better end to the regular season than this. Both in momentum and your team believing in itself to come back and win a close game in overtime.”

Falmouth, which was first in Class A North at press time, is trying to hold off Windham and Oxford Hills for the top spot in Class A North.

“Now, we just need to take it one game at a time and make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves,” Pullen said. “We’re grateful to get some much-needed rest next week. That will be helpful. We have a ton of heart and that’s the X-factor. We have a lot of athleticism and skill too.”

Freeport was atop Class C at 9-2 after a 19-5 win at St. Dom’s and a 12-6 home loss to Greely. Meredith Feller scored five goals and Savannah Tracy added four in the victory. Feller also scored four times against the Rangers. The Falcons closed at home versus Yarmouth Tuesday.

NYA dropped its final three regular season contests to finish 7-5. Last week, the Panthers lost at Yarmouth (14-5) and at Waynflete (5-4). Maggie Holt scored three times against the Clippers. In the loss to the Flyers, Vy Tran scored twice and Holt had three assists, but NYA couldn’t hold a late lead.

“It was a great game,” Panthers coach Julia Sterling said. “Waynflete’s very good. A huge rival. They have a strong zone (defense), that we’re not used to and we love to play on turf (Waynflete’s surface is grass). We played a great game. We’re missing couple players, but the girls worked hard.”

NYA was fourth in Class C at press time and believes it can make a playoff run.

“We just have to work on what we do well,” Sterling said. “We’ve changed some people around and we’ll get a little rest. We’ve played tough teams and we’ve done well. The girls are upbeat and confident and we look forward to the tournament. I think we can make a run. The girls want it.”

The girls’ lacrosse playoffs begin with the preliminary round Saturday and Monday. The quarterfinals are Wednesday and Thursday of next week and the semifinals Friday and Saturday of next week. All of those games will be played on the fields of the higher seeds.

Track

The outdoor track state championship meets are Saturday. Class A will be held in Waterboro, Class B in Bath and Class C in Brewer.

Last weekend, the Western Maine Conference held its championship meet in Naples. In Division I, Greely’s girls were second to York, while Freeport was fifth and Yarmouth sixth. The Rangers got a win from Olivia Marsanskis in the pole vault (9-feet). The Falcons got first-place performances from Avery Baker-Schlendering in the high jump (4-8) and Shaina Curry in the long jump (15-2.25).

In the boys’ meet, also won by York, the Rangers were runners-up, the Clippers fifth and the Falcons sixth. Greely got wins from Evan Dutil in the 100 (11.64 seconds), Sam Wilson in the 800 (2 minutes, 5.77 seconds), Leif Harvey in the mile (4:40.22) and its 4×400 (Davis Geary, Wilson, Harvey and Gage Cooney, 3:41.70), and 4×800 (Harvey, Hayden MacArthur, Mitchell Parent and Wilson, 8:45.49) relay teams. Yarmouth’s Frazier Dougherty won the 400 (53.22), Ethan Hennig was first in the 100 (23.92) and shot put (11-2.5) and the Clippers took the 4×100 relay (Dougherty, Owen Gillian, Wes Merrill and Davis Young, 46.89). Freeport’s Enoch Beaudreau was first in the pole vault (11 feet).

In Division, the NYA/Maine Coast Waldorf girls were second behind Poland. Maeve Woodruff took the 800 (2:27.91) and the mile (5:31.76), Marion Robbins won the shot put (26-0), Madeleine Vaillancourt was first in the discus (74-7) and the Panthers won the 4×400 relay (Lydia Sharp, Emma Collins, Emma Haims, and Woodruff, 4:40.02).

The NYA/MCW boys placed fifth (Poland was first). Josh Huntsman won the shot put (39-10.5).

Falmouth’s boys were first at a four-team regular season-ending meet at Thornton Academy, while the girls’ squad placed third. Ben Greene set a new school mark in the boys’ 800 (1:55.34).

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

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