Michael’s Top 5 spring stories

5) Tennis dominance continues

The Falmouth and North Yarmouth Academy girls’ tennis teams are starting to make it look easy. The Yachtsmen not only won their third straight Class B crown, but stunningly, didn’t drop a single match point all year. If that wasn’t enough, Analise Kump reached the state singles final. The Panthers have now won four straight Class C titles and lost just once this season, to Falmouth. There’s no reason to think both programs won’t keep the good times rolling in 2011.

4) Yarmouth baseball reaches regional final

The Clippers enjoyed their finest season in a decade of play since moving up to Class B, winning 15 of 16 contests while engaging in several thrilling finishes. Yarmouth rode its ace righthander Nick Whittaker, along with Aidan Sullivan and Campbell Haley and a potent, clutch-hitting attack to great things. Yarmouth lost, 7-0, at home May 12 to Cape Elizabeth, but avenged that loss eight days later with an 8-6 triumph at the Capers. That was part of a seven-game regular season-ending win streak which gave the Clippers the No. 2 seed in Western B. After narrow playoff wins over Gray-New Gloucester and Lincoln Academy, Yarmouth made the trip to St. Joseph’s College for the first time and gave the top-ranked Capers everything they could handle before Cape Elizabeth finally got to Whittaker in the bottom of the sixth and went on to a 5-1 victory. Now that the Clippers have gotten a taste of success, they should be regular contenders.

3) Boys’ lax teams denied by Cape

While many pundits and fans thought that the Falmouth or Yarmouth boys’ lacrosse teams would win Class B this year, it turned out that each would be victimized by the state’s most storied program. The Yachtsmen enjoyed undoubtedly their best campaign, beating Cape Elizabeth twice along the way, but in the Western B Final, Falmouth couldn’t hold a 4-1 lead and suffered an agonizing 7-6, overtime defeat at the hands of the Capers. The two-time defending state champion Clippers then gave it a try against Cape Elizabeth in the state game, but fell a goal short, 7-6.

2) Falmouth boys’ track overcomes all obstacles

Despite having its home track decimated by construction and facing stern competition in the league and across the state, the powerhouse Falmouth boys’ outdoor track team managed to repeat as Class B state champion. The Yachtsmen had elite scorers and a lot of depth and it added up to a perfect season. Falmouth won every regular season meet, held off its league foes at the Western Maine Conference championships, then had no peer at the Class B state meet. Don’t expect the Yachtsmen to slow down anytime soon.

1) NYA girls’ lax finally finishes the job

After successive state game losses to Waynflete (and five in nine seasons), the NYA girls’ lacrosse team wasn’t about to be denied this time around. After a tumultuous regular season which included tragedy, illness, ill-timed yellow cards and a pair of losses to rival Yarmouth, the Panthers showed what they were capable of at the end of the year when they beat Waynflete for a second time, leapfrogging Yarmouth into the top spot in the Eastern B standings. After crushing Morse in the semifinals, NYA avenged its two regular season losses with a 9-5 home win over the Clippers in the regional final. Then, the Panthers led Waynflete from start to finish in the state game and finally got to celebrate winning the big one. It won’t be the last.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

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Junior Lily Wellenbach and her NYA girls’ lacrosse teammates finally got over the hump this spring and beat Waynflete in the Class B Final.

The arm and bat of Yarmouth senior ace Nick Whittaker helped the Clippers reach the Western B Final for the first time.

Senior Karlee Biskup and the Greely softball team had a season to remember this spring.

Strong play from senior Josh Sturtevant and his teammates helped the Freeport boys’ lacrosse team advance to within a goal of the regional final.

Falmouth’s Will Wegener and his teammates repeated as Class B state champions this spring.