(Ed. Note: For the full Falmouth-NYA boys’ and girls’ lacrosse game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

The middle of May is upon us and that means the 2010 spring sports season is roughly at its halfway point.

So far, so good has been the theme for local teams and there’s plenty more excitement ahead. Here’s a glimpse at where things stand:

Baseball

Yarmouth’s baseball team entered the week 7-0, but the going is about to get a lot tougher for the Clippers in Western B competition.

Last week, they enjoyed a 9-3 win at Gray-New Gloucester and an 11-0 (five inning) triumph at Poland.

Against the Patriots, junior Campbell Belisle-Haley earned the win with a strong complete game performance and senior Dan Kameisha and junior Luke Pierce both rapped a pair of hits.

At the Knights, junior Aidan Sullivan threw a three-hit shutout and had a pair of hits, while senior Nick Whittaker crushed another home run. Yarmouth was at York Tuesday and hosted unbeaten Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, plays host to Falmouth Friday and visits defending Class B state champion Greely Tuesday of next week.

The Rangers dropped their first two games of the season last week, 6-5 at Cape Elizabeth and 7-5 at Falmouth. Greely bounced back Thursday to beat Freeport, 5-1, behind senior Sam Thompson’s six shutout innings and Monday, the Rangers improved to 5-2 with a 13-0 romp at Fryeburg behind senior Dan O’Brion’s five innings of one-hit ball and three offensive innings of four runs or more.

Greely hosted Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday, welcomes York Thursday and is home with Yarmouth next Tuesday.

Falmouth remains near the top of the heap as well. The Yachtsmen rallied to beat visiting Greely, 7-5, last Wednesday behind junior Dillon Dresser’s gutsy pitching effort and a pair of extra base hits from junior Matt MacDowell.

Friday, Falmouth won, 8-2, at Lake Region, as senior Mitch Beaulieu went the distance and junior Joe Barns had three hits.

Monday, the Yachtsmen’s five-game win streak was snapped and they fell to 5-2 with a 5-4 loss to visiting Poland.

Falmouth was home with York Wednesday, plays at Yarmouth Friday and visits Fryeburg Monday.

Freeport has dropped five straight to tumble to 1-6. The Falcons fell 5-1 at Greely last Thursday and 11-2 at home to Lake Region Monday. Freeport was at Poland Wednesday, hosts Wells Friday and goes to Cape Elizabeth Monday.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy extended its season-opening win streak to four with victories last week over Old Orchard Beach (7-0) and Sacopee (8-0).

Against the Seagulls, senior Sam Hutchinson pitched a six-hit shutout and classmate Dean Darien had two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.

In the win over the Hawks, senior Toey LeBlanc had three hits and three RBI and Darien pitched six shutout innings, fanning 10, and also had a pair of hits and two RBI. Monday, the Panthers fell to 4-1 with a 4-1 loss at Gray-New Gloucester.

NYA was home with Traip Wednesday and hosts the Rangers again Saturday.

Softball

On the girls’ side of the diamond, Greely fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Monday after an 8-6 loss at two-time defending state champion Fryeburg.

The Rangers had previously defeated host Falmouth (9-0) and visiting Freeport (9-3). Senior Mary Zambello threw a no-hitter and Greely had 14 hits in the win over the Yachtsmen.

Against the Falcons, sophomore Edith Aromando and freshman Danielle Cimino both had three hits.

The Rangers were home with talented Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday, welcome York Thursday, go to Sacopee Saturday and play host to Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

The Clppers lost 9-0 at Gray-New Gloucester last Wednesday, but bounced back in a big way Friday, downing visiting Old Orchard Beach, 15-3, in six innings, to improve to 4-3. Senior Abbey Ridge homered and had three hits, junior Abbie Hutchinson doubled and tripled and had three hits and senior Morgan Ruetty added three hits.

Yarmouth was at York Tuesday, hosted Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, welcomes Falmouth Friday and goes to Greely next Tuesday.

Falmouth is also 4-3. Last week, after being no-hit by Greely, the Yachtsmen won, 8-6, at Lake Region (behind a seven-run second inning), and Monday, they were 9-2 home victors over Poland (as junior Kelsey Freedman went the distance to earn the win and senior Nicole Foley and freshman Maddie Inlow had multiple hits).

Falmouth was home with York Wednesday, goes to Yarmouth Friday and visits Fryeburg Monday.

Freeport has won two of three after starting the year on a five-game skid.

Last Wednesday, the Falcons defeated visiting Sacopee, 8-7, as three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh (capped by junior Jess Kane’s game-winning hit) capped a rally from a five-run deficit.

After falling 9-3 at Greely the next day, Freeport enjoyed a 7-3 home win over Lake Region Monday thanks to a strong pitching effort and two hits and two RBI from freshman Leigh Wyman.

The Falcons were at Poland Wednesday and go to Cape Elizabeth Monday.

Boys’ lacrosse

While the two-time defending Class B state champion Yarmouth boys’ lacrosse team stayed unbeaten Saturday with a crossover victory against Brunswick (please see story), other local teams have enjoyed their share of triumph.

Falmouth (ranked second in the latest coaches’ poll) has discovered that the going has gotten tougher since it’s emerged as a top power. After dropping their first game, 7-4, at home to Yarmouth, the Yachtsmen eked out a pair of wins last week to improve to 4-1.

First, Falmouth won, 12-9, at North Yarmouth Academy. After a nip-and-tuck first half, the Yachtsmen clung to a 9-8 lead entering the final period, but clutch goalkeeping from sophomore Cam Bell, unassisted goals from senior Dan Hanley and junior Brendan McDonnell, as well as a tally from senior Mike Kane (set up by junior Nick Bachman), gave Falmouth a little breathing room and it held on for the victory.

“It’s always tough with NYA,” said Hanley, who led the Yachtsmen with four goals. “They’re a perennial power. We knew they’d be strong.”

“I expect a lot from this team,” said Falmouth coach Mike LeBel. “In the past, when we were young, we had that excuse, that we were young. This is a veteran team. They should play better than this and respond better than this. I won’t accept an effort like this. I think they felt they’d come in here and walk right through it. We did enough to win the game, but I’m not pleased in the least bit. It’s a good lesson. I’d rather learn the lesson and win than learn the lesson and lose.”

Saturday, the Yachtsmen hosted top Western A contender Scarborough and held on for a 4-3 win, thanks to two goals from freshman Will Sipperly (including the winner) and a huge, late save from Bell.

Falmouth is home with York Thursday, goes to Brunswick Saturday and welcomes Cape Elizabeth in a pivotal showdown Tuesday.

NYA’s loss to Falmouth was its third in four games, but was far from demoralizing.

Sophomore Forrest Milburn had three goals and senior goalie Taylor Norton stopped 14 shots.

“Falmouth’s one of the top teams in the state, in my mind,” said NYA coach Chris Carpentier. “We’ve come a long way very quickly. It’s a nice turnaround. We needed to come out and play a team like that a high level. They proved to me that they could do it. A couple goals here or there and it would have been different. Taylor’s been playing solid for us all year. He had a couple beautiful saves out there. He’s a great goalie.”

Saturday, the Panthers (10th in the coaches’ poll) improved to 2-3 on the season with a 16-1 home romp over Oak Hill. NYA welcomed Freeport, Carpentier’s old team, Tuesday. It still has rematches remaining with Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth and Yarmouth, as well as a game at Scarborough. That type of schedule is daunting, but should make the Panthers stronger in the long run.

“You’ve got to love the schedule,” said Carpentier. “I’d rather do this than go up and play schools we don’t need to be playing. This is the level where I want the guys to be at. Even if we go 6-6, I’d be happy.”

Greely took a 3-1 mark into Tuesday night’s showdown at Cape Elizabeth. Thursday, the Rangers had their way with visiting Lincoln Academy, breaking open a 3-1 game at halftime and cruising to a 14-4 triumph behind six goals and six assists from sophomore Paul Witte and 14 saves from sophomore goalie Griffin Demick.

Greely is home with Wells Thursday, plays at Edward Little Saturday and visits Freeport Tuesday.

Speaking of the Falcons, they’re 3-1 after wins last week over visiting Lake Region (14-0) and Edward Little (13-6). Against the Lakers, senior Thomas Dorsey had four goals and classmate Christo Milholland added three.

In the win over the Red Eddies, Dorsey had five goals and an assist and sophomore Evan Hench scored four times and added three assists. Sophomore goalie Alex Sturtevant made 19 saves.

“We came out running,” said Freeport coach Geoff Arris. “That’s what we’re going for, focusing this year on coming out ready to play and capitalizing on our offensive possessions.

“Our team is really starting to mesh together and our offense is really starting to get what we have put together. It’s really exciting to see that little light go off and see their eyes light up when they truly get it. They have and our last three games are testament to that. We’ve always been a defensively strong team, but now we have an offense that helps us be a full team.”

Freeport faced a huge test Tuesday when it went to NYA.

“In my opinion, that is going to be one of our most intense games,” Arris said. “They beat us pretty good last year our first time out, then knocked us out of the semifinals. We’d really like to take a win away from that game.”

After hosting Fryeburg Thursday, the Falcons pay a visit to Lincoln Academy Saturday, then welcome Greely Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

NYA and Yarmouth’s girls’ lacrosse teams were upset at home during crossover weekend (please see story), but Falmouth continues to chug along.

The Yachtsmen won their first three games, then lost a tough one at NYA last Tuesday, 13-10. Falmouth came closer than it ever has to beating a premier power, but despite leading much of the way and getting four goals and four assists from freshman Alex Bernier and three goals from junior Jess DiPhillippo, fell short.

“I’m really pleased with the way we played,” Yachtsmen coach Robin Haley said. “I’m disappointed for the girls that we lost. Every team wants to win, but we wanted to keep it close and that’s certainly what we did today. We’re getting it together and this just proved it.

“We had about seven minutes of lapse between the first and second halves and that cost us. You can’t have that and beat a top team in the state. They identified some of the things we have to work on. We will. It’s a long season. We hope to make it to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs. We’re better now as a result of playing NYA.”

Saturday, Falmouth bounced back in a big way, rallying late to edge visiting Massabesic, 8-7, on goals from junior Laura Fay and sophomore Megan Fortier.

Monday, the Yachtsmen improved to 5-1, thanks to an 18-8 home win over Greely (Fay scored four times and Bernier and senior Emma Sipperly each had three goals). Falmouth faced another huge test Wednesday when it welcomed two-time defending Class B champion Waynflete. Friday, the Yachtsmen visit two-time reigning Class A champion Brunswick.

Freeport, which dropped its first four games, is now 2-4 after recent wins over visiting Fryeburg (14-0) and host Camden (12-1). Against the Raiders, 12 different players scored. Seniors Shelby Colvin and Lucy Whitacre both had two goals. In the road win, Colvin and Whitacre again led the way with four goals each.

The Falcons hosted Yarmouth Tuesday, welcome Lincoln Academy Friday and go to Wells next Tuesday.

Greely is still looking for its initial win, but has been much more competitive of late.

Last Tuesday, the Rangers fell 9-8 at home to York. Senior captain Kylie Ross had three goals and eight ground balls. Thursday, Greely lost, 12-6, at home to NYA. Ross had three goals and six ground balls, while junior Katelynn Boynton and sophomore Audrey Parolin each had five ground balls.

Monday, in the loss at Falmouth, senior Melanie Howland scored four times, while Ross added three goals, with a team-high seven ground balls.

After playing at Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, the Rangers host Kennebunk Saturday and welcome nemesis Waynflete next Tuesday.

Tennis

Local tennis teams continue to dominate.

On the girls’ side, defending Class B state champion Falmouth beat Greely, 5-0, Monday and is now 5-0 as the Yachtsmen have yet to lose a point.

The Rangers fell to 2-3 with the loss.

Defending Class C champ NYA is also 5-0 after Monday’s 5-0 win over Freeport (which fell to 1-5).

The Panthers visit Falmouth Friday. Yarmouth snapped a two-match skid Monday with a 5-0 win at Old Orchard Beach and evened its record at 3-3.

On the boys’ side, defending Class B champion Yarmouth evened its mark at 2-2 with a 3-2 win over Greely, but fell to 2-3 after a 5-0 loss at Falmouth Friday. That win, followed by a 5-0 victory over Greely Monday, elevated the Yachtsmen to 6-0.

Wednesday, however, Falmouth’s perfect mark was put to the ultimate test when it played at arguably the best team in the state, undefeated, defending Class C champion Waynflete. Monday’s loss left Greely at 1-5.

Freeport improved to 2-5 Monday with a 3-2 win over NYA. The Panthers fell to 0-6 with the loss.

The qualifying round for the state singles tournament begins this weekend.

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