(Ed. Note: For the complete Falmouth-Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth-South Portland boys’ lacrosse and Falmouth-Waynflete and Falmouth-York girls’ lacrosse game stories, see theforecaster.net)

The spring sports stretch run has begun and the next couple weeks promise to bring plenty of drama as local teams jockey for playoff spots.

Last week saw no shortage of big games and there are some compelling matchups on tap in the days to come as well.

Here’s a glimpse:

Baseball

Greely’s defending Class B state champion baseball team has won four in a row and improved to 9-2 after recent victories at Cape Elizabeth (5-4), at home over Freeport (4-1) and at Fryeburg Academy (11-0 in five innings). Will Bryant earned the victory against the Capers, only allowing one earned run in six innings. He struck out eight. The winning run scored on an error. In the victory over the Falcons, the Rangers erased a deficit with four runs in the fifth. Bryant doubled and singled and Jordan Merrifield got the win in relief. Against the Raiders, Merrifield allowed just one hit over four innings, striking out seven, and Chaz Reade and Cal Soule both drove in a pair of runs. Greely (first in the Western Class B Heal Points standings at press time) was home with Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday, goes to Falmouth Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and visits York Wednesday of next week.

Yarmouth increased to 7-4 and sixth in Western B after bouncing back from an 8-3 loss at Poland with a 7-4 home victory over Wells and a 10-0 five inning home win over Old Orchard Beach. Jordan Brown had three hits against the Warriors. In the victory against the Seagulls, Luke Klenda threw a one-hit shutout and struck out 10, while Conor O’Donnell had three hits and drove in two runs. The Clippers hosted Falmouth Wednesday, welcome York Friday and go to Freeport Wednesday of next week.

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Freeport increased its win streak to three with a 4-2 victory at Gray-New Gloucester last Wednesday, then lost, 4-1, at Greely Friday and fell to 4-6 after a 5-4 setback at Kennebunk Monday. In the victory, Jack Davenport struck out 13 en route to earning the win.  After hosting Lake Region Wednesday, the Falcons (eighth in Western B) visit Poland Friday, welcome Traip Academy Tuesday and play host to Yarmouth Wednesday of next week.

In Western A, Falmouth lost at home to Lake Region last Wednesday, 6-2, then bounced back to beat host Wells (4-1) and Kennebunk (8-2), before falling 7-4 with a 5-3 home loss to Wells Monday. The Yachtsmen were 6-0 on the road and 1-4 at home at press time. Reece Armitage and Chris Camelio combined to beat the Warriors. Against the Rams, Cam Guarino earned his fourth victory and Reece Armitage, Robbie Armitage, Connor Aube and Connor Emmertz had multiple hits. Monday, Connor MacDowell had three hits and two RBI in a losing effort. Falmouth (first in the Heals) went to Yarmouth Wednesday, plays host to Greely Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and visits Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

In Western D, North Yarmouth Academy took a 2-8 record into Wednesday’s home game versus Sacopee Valley. Last week, the Panthers lost at home to Traip Academy (14-3) and at Old Orchard Beach (12-2), then handled visiting Waynflete, 17-1. Johnny Busolin had two hits against the Rangers. NYA (ninth in the Heals) goes to Temple Academy Thursday, hosts Greater Portland Christian School Saturday, visits Old Orchard Beach Tuesday, then goes to Waynflete the following day.

Softball

At the start of the week, Greely was riding a five-game win streak, boasted a 7-2 record and was third behind York and Lincoln Academy in the Western Class B Heal Points standings. The Rangers rolled in their only game last week, 13-0, at Cape Elizabeth, behind Miranda Moore’s four-hitter and two triples from Haley Felkel. Greely went to Fryeburg Academy Tuesday and hosted Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday, plays at Falmouth Friday, hosts Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week, then visits York the following day.

Yarmouth fell at Poland last Wednesday, 14-9, then improved to 9-2 with home wins over Wells (10-4) and Sacopee Valley (8-0). Against the Warriors, Cat Thompson had three hits and two RBI and Eleanor O’Gorham drove in three runs. Mari Cooper threw a three-hit shutout against the Hawks and drove in three runs and Sydney St. Pierre had two hits. The Clippers (fourth in Western B) hosted Falmouth Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome York Friday and play at Freeport Wednesday of next week.

Freeport fell to 0-10 after recent losses at Gray-New Gloucester (18-1 in five innings), Traip Academy (13-2) and Kennebunk (8-3). The Falcons (15th in Western B) hosted Lake Region Wednesday, visit Poland Friday and host Traip Academy Tuesday and Yarmouth Wednesday of next week.

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In Western A, Falmouth extended its win streak to five after recent victories over visiting Lake Region (8-2), at Wells (8-4) and Kennebunk (7-2) and at home over Wells (9-0). Julia Treadwell earned the win and Elizabeth Walker homered against the Lakers. In the first win over the Warriors, Maddie Rouhana had three hits and Treadwell earned the win and had a pair of hits. Treadwell homered against the Rams and Walker added four hits and three RBI. In the second win over Wells, Treadwell put on a show, throwing a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and on offense, homering, singling, tripling and driving in five. Rouhana also had three hits. The Yachtsmen (7-4 and 7th in the Heals) were at Yarmouth Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Greely Friday and go to Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Yarmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team had a pair of breakthrough wins last week. First, the Clippers handled visiting rival NYA, 14-3, behind four goals from Joe Oliva and three from Bill Jacobs. Friday, Yarmouth went to defending Class A champion South Portland and hung tough throughout, tying the game with 15 seconds left when Tim Pietropaoli scored out of a timeout, then winning it, 7-6, when Will Garrett scored with 1:53 remaining in overtime.

“Coach told us to stay true to our game,” Garrett said. “We came out with energy and momentum and that led us to winning the game.”

“These comebacks and the excitement of seeing of the team play to its potential are things you remember,” said Yarmouth coach David Pearl. “One of the reasons I love coaching this team is that I feel any time we step on the field, we can win. We felt coming here, what do we have to lose? We had an opportunity to do something great. Defeating a great, loaded, undefeated team. I think that helped with nerves. We talked about playing with confidence and we did.”

The Clippers (5-2 and third behind Maranacook and Gardiner in the Eastern Class B Heal Points standings) went to Falmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), host Waynflete Friday and go to Kennebunk Wednesday of next week.

“We just have to stay determined,” Pietropaoli said. “The coaches will help us, but we have to have the inner drive to keep going.”

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NYA improved to 3-4 and fourth after beating host Wells (17-6) and visiting Gardiner (8-4). The Panthers went to Kennebunk Tuesday, host Fryeburg Academy Friday and host Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Freeport won at Fryeburg Academy (10-9), then fell to 4-4 after an 18-1 home loss to Gorham. Against the Raiders, Ramsey Dodge and Sam Wogan both had three goals, while Zac Wogan made seven saves. The Falcons (fifth in Eastern B) went to York Tuesday and host Greely Saturday.

In Western B, Falmouth fell to 5-2 after a 19-11 home loss to two-time defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth last Tuesday. The Yachtsmen erased an early 5-0 lead and were tied, 9-9, in the third period before the Capers pulled away. Jack Scribner scored seven goals, but it wasn’t enough.

“Luckily, Scribner stepped up,” said Falmouth coach Mike LeBel. “That’s the best performance I’ve seen an attackman put forth this season. It’s really impressive he could score like that against that defense.”

The Yachtsmen (third in the Heals) hosted Yarmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Wells Friday and play at Greely Wednesday of next week.

Speaking of Greely, the Rangers improved to 5-2 and second in Western B after home wins last week over Kennebunk (13-9) and Messalonskee (9-6). Tim Adams had five goals versus the Rams and added three more against the Eagles. After going to Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, Greely is at Freeport Saturday and hosts Falmouth Wednesday of next week.

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Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Falmouth responded to its lone loss with impressive wins at Waynflete (13-6) and Gorham (14-6) and at home over previously undefeated York (11-2). Sydney Bell had six goals and four assists as the Yachtsmen won at the Flyers for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons.

“We did everything we were supposed to,” said Bell. “We were first to ground balls, hit our passes, we played tough and got through it. We were nervous coming in because we knew Waynflete’s a tough team. You can’t ever underestimate a team like them.”

“Sydney is a great player, a great athlete,” said Falmouth coach Kait Johnson. “It’s crazy because she still has so much untapped potential. It’s exciting. She’s worked on being a playmaker. She’s excelling at that. She gets better and better with experience.”

Against the Wildcats, the Yachtsmen shot to a 9-1 halftime lead and goalie Sarah Hutcheon stole the show with 16 saves. Bell, Leigh Bernardy, Elle Fitzgerald and Olivia Stucker all scored twice as Falmouth improved to 6-1.

“Our defense played so well,” said Hutcheon. “They crashed really fast and we didn’t let them in. We made sure at halftime to stay focused and play like it was 0-0. I’m just making sure I’m lined up on my crease and that they don’t see a lot of net.”

“Our team’s figured out how to work together,” Stucker said. “We aren’t selfish. We look for each other. Honestly, we just have fun out there. We didn’t have to use our plays, we just saw each other and had a good time. We played like it was close the whole time, but we played like I’ve never seen us play before.”

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“I’m really proud of the team,” Johnson added. “We wanted to make a statement today and I think we did. Before the game, our whole focus was just putting a full game together of Falmouth lacrosse, which is team play. We do our best when we have a lot of different people scoring. The first half was an amazing half.”

The Yachtsmen (second to Kennebunk in the Western B Heals) goes to Lake Region Thursday, then have a pivotal showdown at Kennebunk Tuesday.

Greely fell to 2-4 with its fourth consecutive setback, 12-5, at defending Class A champion Massabesic Saturday. Kelsey Otley had three goals. The Rangers (ninth in Western B) were home with Gould Academy Wednesday, play at defending Class B champion Yarmouth Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and host Freeport Tuesday.

In Eastern B, Yarmouth is hitting its stride. After a 14-2 romp at Fryeburg Academy (Cory Langenbach and Emma Torres both scored three times and Shannon Fallon added two goals), the Clippers earned an impressive 15-12 home win over Scarborough Friday to balance their record at 3-3. Against the Red Storm, Lane Simsarian had five goals, Fallon had four and Torres added three. Yarmouth (fourth in Eastern B) was home against Lake Region Tuesday, welcomes Greely Thursday and goes to Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Freeport got in the win column twice last week, 10-5 at Wells and 16-4 at Gardiner, to improve to 2-4 (and sixth in the Heals). The Falcons hosted Morse in a playoff rematch Tuesday, welcome NYA Thursday and go to Greely Tuesday of next week.

NYA fell to 1-6 and eighth after losses last week at Lake Region (12-2) and at home against McAuley (15-11). The Panthers hosted Wells Tuesday, go to Freeport Thursday and go to York Tuesday of next week.

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Outdoor track

NYA and Yarmouth joined Old Orchard Beach in an outdoor track meet last Thursday. The Clippers won the girls’ meet, while the Panthers came in third. Yarmouth got wins from Emma Egan in the 100 (13.34 seconds), 200 (27.24), high jump (5 feet-3 inches) and long jump (15-0), Gabby Beaulieu in the racewalk (10 minutes, 11.90 seconds), Abigail Hamilton in the two-mile (12:25.70), Simone Laverdiere in the 800 (2:39.40), Meaghan Gorman in the shot put (28-11.5) and Johanna Hatten in the javelin (77-0). NYA’s first-place finishers included Hannah Austin in the mile (5:38.60) and Muriel Adams in the discus (113-7).

The Clippers were second and the Panthers fourth in the boys’ meet. Yarmouth got wins from Luke Laverdiere in the mile (4:31.60), Sam Gerken in the 400 (52.84), Tucker Whitney in the high jump (5-8) and long jump (18-6.5), Darren Shi in the shot put (49-8) and its 400 (47.24) and 1,600 (3:43.80) relay teams. NYA got a win from Xander Bartone in the 800 (2:06.10).

Freeport joined Kennebunk, Waynflete and Wells at Cape Elizabeth. The girls tied Kennebunk for third, while the boys came in fourth. Female first-place finishers included Johanna Bogue-Marlow in the 200 (29.16), Diamond Morris in the 300 hurdles (56.74), Hannah Schnyder in the long jump (15-4.25) and the 400 relay team (56.95). The boys got a win from Henry Jaques in the two-mile (9:57.82). 

Greely joined Mountain Valley, Poland and York at Fryeburg Academy and the Rangers were second to the Wildcats on both the boys’ and girls’ sides. Boys’ winners included Ryan Morrison in the 800 (2:05.01) and mile (4:38.79) and Ben Ray in the pole vault (12-0). Girls’ winners included Siana Emery in the racewalk (8:46.58), Emily Mason in the two-mile (12:10.67), Samantha Kane in the discus (86-7), Kristina Volta in the long jump (15-3) and Lucy Wetzel in the pole vault (8-6).

Falmouth joined Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region and Seacoast Christian at Traip Academy and both the boys and girls both came in first. Boys’ winners included Josh Simensky in the mile (4:39.29), Andy Clement in the 300 hurdles (42.42), Bryce Murdick in the 800 (2:06.81), Matt Edmonds in the discus (126-0) and shot put (43-6), Michael Sanzari in the triple jump (37-9), Aaron Thomas in the pole vault (12-7) and their 400 (45.65), 1,600 (3:44.05) and 3,200 (10:07.97) relays. The girls got wins from Mira Wyman in the 800 (2:30.97), Adelaide Cooke in the discus (107-6) and shot put (35-4), Jalique Keene in the javelin (161-3), Meghan Charest in the racewalk (9:56.40) and their 400 (54.14), 1,600 (4:26.29) and 3,200 (12:00.86) relays.

Tennis

The state singles qualifying tournament was held over the weekend. Falmouth’s Olivia Leavitt, the top seed and defending girls’ champion, advanced to the Round of 32 with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Windham’s Sarah Rich. Also advancing were Falmouth’s Julia Brogan (a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Cape Elizabeth’s Erin Whitcomb), Greely’s Izzy Evans (a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Thornton Academy’s Emily Ribaudo), NYA’s Lena Rich (a 6-0, 6-0 winner over McAuley’s Kiera Kenneally), Falmouth’s Caroline Ray (a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Cheverus’ Elliana Budri), NYA’s Mary Morris (who beat Deering’s Priscilla Maccario, 8-2, and Thornton Academy’s Eva Sachs, 6-2, 6-1), Yarmouth’s Emily Parker (who beat Waynflete’s Sidara Cash-Sortwell in a walkover and Gorham’s Whitney King, 6-4, 6-3) and NYA’s Mina Stam (a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Deering’s Maddie Abbott). Leavitt will be seeded first, Brogan third, Evans fourth, Rich sixth, Ray seventh, Stam 13th, Parker 16th and Morrison 17th when the tournament resumes with the Round of 32 Friday, May 29.

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On the boys’ side, Falmouth’s Aidan McGrory advanced after beating Freeport’s Nathan Small (8-0) and Massabesic’s Andrew Marcotte (6-0, 6-1). Also advancing were Falmouth’s Alex Klemperer (an 8-0 winner over Bonny Eagle’s Nicholas Bean and a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Greely’s Mitchell Day), Falmouth’s Peter Stegemann (an 8-2 winner over York’s Mark Kalnin and a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Scarborough’s Andrew Paradis) and NYA’s Brad Potter (who beat Freeport’s Caleb Abbott, 8-3, and Scarborough’s Riley Arsenault, 6-1, 6-3).

The team regular season is winding down. Falmouth’s girls, the defending Class A champion, extended their match win streak to 117 and improved to 8-0 after 5-0 wins last week over Greely and Cape Elizabeth. Defending Class B champion Greely bounced back from two losses to Falmouth with a 3-2 victory at Yarmouth to improve to 7-2. The Clippers fell to 3-6 after losing to the Rangers. Freeport began the week 0-9 and sought its first win Wednesday at home versus Kennebunk. NYA made it seven straight wins and improved to 8-1 after beating four-time defending Class C champion Waynflete for the second time Friday, 5-0.

On the boys’ side, defending Class A champion Falmouth improved to 8-0 with wins last week over defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth (4-1) and Kennebunk (5-0). Yarmouth extended its win streak to six last week and took a 6-2 mark to Freeport Tuesday, which began the week 1-6. Greely was 3-7 heading into season-ending matches versus Falmouth and NYA. NYA began the week 0-8.

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

Sidebar Elements


Falmouth’s Sydney Bell eludes a Waynflete defender during last week’s 13-6 victory. Bell had six goals and four assists as the Yachtsmen won at the Flyers for the third time in four seasons.

Yarmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team mobs senior Will Garrett (6) after Garrett’s goal caps a 7-6 overtime win at defending Class A champion South Portland Friday night.

Freeport’s Henry Jaques leads the field en route to a victory in the two-mile during last week’s meet at Cape Elizabeth.


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