With a wonderful hint of summer in the air, the spring sports season is underway.

Baseball, softball and boys’ and girls’ tennis started in earnest Monday. While the boys’ lacrosse season began with a bang with a rematch of last year’s Class B state final, that sport, along with track, didn’t really get rolling until after this edition went to press. We’ll have more on lacrosse and track next week.

Baseball

On the diamond, Greely is off to the hottest start.

The Rangers opened with a 12-5 win at Sacopee back on April 16, then eked out a 6-3 (eight inning) victory at Lake Region Friday and crushed visiting Fryeburg 12-1 (in five innings) Monday. In the win over the Lakers, seniors Ryan Howland and Pat Copp hit home runs to break an eighth inning tie. Senior Kevin Hart’s grand slam and a stellar outing from classmate Sam Stauber on the hill were more than enough against the Raiders. Greely was at Falmouth Wednesday, visits York Friday and is home with Wells Monday.

Falmouth returned from a spring break trip to Florida and earned a huge win Monday. The Yachtsmen, who fell 8-1 at defending regional champion Cape Elizabeth back on April 16, went to Yarmouth Monday for a showdown with the Clippers, who were 1-0 after beating NYA, 5-2, April 16.

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Falmouth led 1-0 after the top of the fourth, but in the bottom half, Yarmouth struck for two runs, capped by an amazing circus catch from senior Chan Arndt, who leapt over the catcher and touched home plate with his hand to score on a sacrifice fly. Ultimately, however, the Yachtsmen would rally for two in the seventh to win 3-2 and even both teams’ records at 1-1. Junior Mitch Beaulieu got the win. Clippers junior Nick Whittaker, who allowed just three hits, was the hard-luck loser.

Falmouth hosted Greely Wednesday (too late for print), is at Fryeburg Friday and welcomes Gray-New Gloucester Monday.

Yarmouth looked to get back in the win column Wednesday (too late for print) when it hosted York. The Clippers welcome Lake Region Friday and go to Poland Saturday.

Freeport is still seeking its first win since the 2007 season. After opening with a 14-0 (five inning) loss to Poland on April 16, the Falcons came much closer at Gray-New Gloucester Monday, but fell 3-0. Freeport was at Fryeburg Wednesday (too late for print), hosts Cape Elizabeth Saturday and welcomes York Monday.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy bounced back from early losses to Yarmouth (5-2) and Gray-New Gloucester (4-3) with an 11-1 win at Gould Saturday and a 5-4 (eight inning) triumph Monday at Old Orchard Beach. At Gould, junior Dean Darien had three hits and drove in two runs. Against the Seagulls, Darien had the go-ahead sacrifice fly and also earned the victory on the mound.

The Panthers were home with Sacopee Wednesday (too late for print), host St. Dom’s Friday and welcomes Richmond Monday.

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Softball

Falmouth’s softball team got its initial win Monday afternoon. The Yachtsmen, who played tough in a season-opening 7-0 loss at Cape Elizabeth April 16, went to Yarmouth, which was playing its first game.

The Yachtsmen led 1-0 after a half-inning, but the Clippers scored once each in the first and second to go ahead. Falmouth then seized control with two in the third and three in fourth and went on to a 7-4 win behind sophomore pitcher Sarah Collmus (11 strikeouts). Senior Kelsey Graffam delivered a key two-run hit.

The Yachtsmen hosted Greely Wednesday (too late for print), are at Fryeburg Friday and welcome Gray-New Gloucester Monday.

Yarmouth looked to get its first victory Wednesday (too late for print) when it hosted York. The Clippers welcome Lake Region Friday and go to Poland Saturday.

Greely won its opener, 10-3 at Sacopee on April 16, but fell to 1-2 after a 7-6 (10 inning) loss at Lake Region Friday and a 7-0 home setback to Fryeburg Monday.

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Against the Lakers, the Rangers led four different times, including 6-5 heading for the bottom of the 10th, but couldn’t hold on despite an 11-hit attack. The story was far different against the Raiders, where Fryeburg’s senior Seton Hall-bound ace, Hannah Hill, held Greely to just one hit and fanned 17.

Greely was at Falmouth Wednesday, goes to York Friday and plays host to Wells Monday.

Freeport, a dramatic 4-3 (11 inning) come-from-behind winner over visiting Poland in its first game April 16, fell to 1-1 Monday after a 10-0 (six inning) loss at Gray-New Gloucester. The Falcons managed just one hit. Freeport was at Fryeburg Wednesday, hosts Cape Elizabeth Saturday and welcomes York Monday.

Tennis

The highly-touted Yarmouth boys’ tennis team began its title quest Monday with a 3-2 win over visiting Greely, which fell to 1-1. NYA fell to 0-2 with a 5-0 loss to Cape Elizabeth. Freeport is 0-2 after falling to St. Dom’s. Falmouth (0-1) sought its first victory Wednesday when it hosted St. Dom’s.

On the girls’ side, the defending Class B state champion Falmouth juggernaut rolls on. The Yachtsmen improved to 2-0 Monday with a 5-0 home win over Old Orchard Beach. Defending Class C champ NYA is 2-0 after downing Cape Elizabeth 4-1 Monday. Yarmouth got off to a great start, beating host Greely 4-1 to drop the Rangers to 0-1. Freeport lost its first match, 5-0 at home to St. Dom’s, Monday.

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


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