School districts in Maine have been wrestling with the dilemma, balancing financial concerns with the desire to reward coaches for work they do with student-athletes throughout the year.
The Red Storm have won 60 consecutive games and three Class A state titles in a row. And they've had fun doing it.
This year's squad is dominated by juniors and seniors.
Pitching, hitting or fielding – the junior was the focal point of the Red Storm's Class A championship team.
The pitcher/shortstop is chosen as the state's top senior player.
Among them, Westbrook hires a Portland High grad as its new football coach.
The Red Storm extend their winning streak to 60 and win their third consecutive Class A championship, 11-1 over Skowhegan.
Kenzie Dore's three-run homer breaks it open as the Witches win their second straight state title.
York, meanwhile, looks to win its first Class B title since 1989 in a game against defending state champ Brewer.
The Bulldogs beat Dexter, 7-1, for the fourth state title in six years.
The top-seeded Bulldogs are headed to another Class C state championship game after beating the Hawks in nine innings, 4-3.
The top-ranked Red Storm defeat second-seeded Thornton Academy, 8-4, to win their third consecutive regional crown and 59th game in a row.
The Wildcats score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the Class B South title with a 3-2 win over Fryeburg Academy.
The top-ranked Red Storm get no-hit pitching and plenty of hitting in a 12-0 rout of South Portland in the Class A South semifinals.
The sixth-seeded Hawks down third-ranked Hall-Dale 7-6 and will play in the Class C South baseball semifinals.
The fifth-ranked Red Riots get stellar pitching from Mia Micucci to defeat No.4 Massabesic in a Class A South quarterfinal.
Softball: Lake Region scores three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to slip past Wells and into the Class B South quarterfinals.
The Scots come back from a 9-0 deficit to defeat Cheverus/NYA 12-9 by scoring six runs in the fifth and sixth innings of their Class A South prelim.
The Red Riots score four runs in the first and three in the second to advance to Thursday's Class A South quarterfinals against Massabesic.
The Red Storm, who have won 56 consecutive games, enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Class A South for the 12th time in 13 years.
Abby Orso strikes out 15 as York secures the top spot in the Class B South standings with a win at Fryeburg Academy.
Expectations weren't high for either team, butt when the playoffs begin next week, both loom as threats to the teams at the top.
Whether starring on the field or working behind the scenes, the senior gets the job done for the Rams.
Baseball: Garrett Tracy gets lots of offense support in a 15-0, five-inning win over Sanford.
The Red Storm get their 53rd straight softball victory, rallying for a 5-4 win over Biddeford.
The Red Storm hold on in a tense seventh inning for a 5-4 victory in a game between the two top teams in Class A South.
There's a slew of long-ball hitters in high school softball this spring, leading some to believe that hitters are finally catching up with pitchers.
Danica Gleason, 24, of South Portland is now running the indoor softball and baseball training center in Scarborough.
Raegan Kelly comes through as a pitcher and hitter to help the Knights defeat Windham, 4-1.
The No. 1 team in the Class A South Heal point standings improves to 11-0 with a 3-0 victory over Massabesic.
Abby Miner and Hannah Collins each hit two home runs as the top-ranked Trojans overpower the second-ranked Knights, 13-5, to remain unbeaten.
A talented volleyball and softball player, the senior also excels in the classroom and is an exceptional artist.
Abby Orso only gives up one hit while Kayla Dredge drives in three runs to pace the Wildcats to an 8-0 win over the Patriots.
Oliver Leonard pitches a seven-hitter as the Rams improve to 5-1 with a baseball victory.
Beyond almost daily postponements, the damp weather is keeping high school teams off their fields for valuable practice time.
The Knights get the tying run in the sixth inning and the winning runs in the seventh to improve to 3-0.
Scarborough, Noble and Sacopee Valley are among Maine teams honing their skills in warmer climates.
Thornton Academy tops our list of the most intriguing teams in southern Maine.
These players are among the best in southern Maine entering the 2019 season.
After combining with Maine Girls' Academy the last two years, Falmouth is going solo this spring and has been bolstered by the addition of 10 freshmen.
Wells gets 19 hits and defeats the defending Class B South champion Rangers.
As a sophomore, Orso was 3-0 with no runs allowed before breaking her non-throwing arm and missing the rest of the season.
Portland has high hopes even if the Bulldogs do have to start the year in a basement.
This year's squad includes three sophomores and a junior.
The pitcher/shortstop hit nearly .700 and is heading to the University of Maine.
The senior pitcher/outfielder led the Red Storm to back-to-back Class A state championships.
A clutch defensive play helps the Witches finish an undefeated season.
The Red Storm finish an undefeated season with a mercy-rule win against Oxford Hills, 12-0.
The Bulldogs beat Narraguagus, 7-3, for their third state championship in five years.
Scarborough goes for back-to-back titles in Class A, while Greely faces undefeated Brewer in Class B.
School districts in Maine have been wrestling with the dilemma, balancing financial concerns with the desire to reward coaches for work they do with student-athletes throughout the year.
