While tennis and outdoor track kick off this week (see stories), several baseball, softball and lacrosse teams already have at least one game under their belt.

Here’s a glimpse at the abbreviated start to the 2016 season and a look at the busy slate to come:

Baseball

Greely’s two-time defending Class B state championship baseball team opened in style with a 15-2, five-inning home victory over Fryeburg Academy. Ace Ryan Twitchell earned the win by allowing two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts in four innings. Dylan Fried and Cal Soule had three runs batted in apiece and Justin Leeman and Matt Pisini both drove in two runs. Caleb Normandeau scored three runs. The Rangers improved to 2-0 Monday with a 7-1 victory at Lake Region. Brad Spoerri hit a three-run home run and Twitchell earned another victory, fanning 12. Greely was home with Poland Wednesday, welcomes Wells Friday and plays host to Yarmouth Monday of next week.

Falmouth also got off to a rousing start with a 14-0, five-inning home win over Poland, as ace Cam Guarino threw a no-hitter, striking out nine. Guarino didn’t walk a batter either and just missed out on a perfect game due to an error. Connor Aube had a double, home run and four runs batted in and Reece Armitage had two hits and two RBI. Colin Coyne and Robbie Armitage also had multiple hits. The Yachtsmen improved to 2-0 Monday with a 5-3 victory at Kennebunk. Reece Armitage earned the win and had the go-ahead RBI and Jesse Melchiskey had a pair of hits. Falmouth played at Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, hosts Freeport Friday and plays at Fryeburg Academy Monday of next week.

Freeport also got a masterful pitching performance in its first game, a 2-0 home win over Lake Region. Jack Davenport went the distance and struck out 16 batters.

“We know that he’s one of the best,” Falcons coach Bill Ridge said, of Davenport. “Not just on the team, or in the conference, he’s one of the best in the state and he just went out and proved it. It sounds conceited to say, but that was not surprising.”

Freeport fell to 1-1 with a 4-1 loss at Yarmouth Monday. The Falcons were home against York Wednesday, play at Falmouth Friday and host Kennebunk Monday of next week.

Yarmouth had to go nine innings to survive host Wells in its first game, 4-2. Tyler Waaler had a two-run double and Jack Snyder had the go-ahead RBI. Andrew Kinsman and Luke Klenda were both effective on the mound. The Clippers hosted Freeport Monday and improved to 2-0 with a 4-1 victory behind Gibson Hartnett’s excellent start and Snyder’s two hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Yarmouth was home with Fryeburg Academy Wednesday, visits Gray-New Gloucester Friday and has a showdown at Greely Monday of next week.

North Yarmouth Academy started by downing edging visiting Richmond, 3-2, in eight innings, and crushing visiting Temple Academy, 25-4, in five innings. Against the Bobcats, Josh Chapman drove in Xander Kostelnik in the eighth. Connor Dillon earned the victory against Temple Academy. Chapman had three more hits, Andrew Keith produced two and Galen Arnold and Caleb Cutko had three RBI apiece. After going to Sacopee Valley Wednesday, the Panthers visit Traip Academy Saturday and go to Old Orchard Beach Monday.

Softball

Yarmouth’s defending Class B state champion softball team had its season opener Monday against visiting Freeport and rolled to a 15-2 five inning victory, rallying from an early 2-0 deficit, behind Eleanor O’Gorman’s three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Mari Cooper was her usual dominant self on the mound and tripled and Cate Ralph, Andrea St. Pierre and Colleen Sullivan all had multiple hits. The Clippers have a home showdown versus Fryeburg Academy Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Traip Academy Friday and go to Greely Monday of next week.

Greely opened with a 2-1 home win over Fryeburg Academy, as Kelsey Currier threw a three-hitter and scored the winning run. After hosting Poland Wednesday, the Rangers welcome Wells Friday and Yarmouth Monday.

Falmouth romped in its opener, downing visiting Poland, 15-3, in five innings. Julia Treadwell allowed two earned runs and fanned five. Maddie Rouhana homered and had four RBI. The Yachtsmen improved to 2-0 Monday after an 11-7 win at Kennebunk. Falmouth was at Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, hosts Freeport Friday and plays at Fryeburg Academy Monday.

Freeport enjoyed a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind home win over Lake Region in its opener, scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh. Alex Koenig had the game-winning RBI.

“Both teams played well,” said Freeport coach Jason Daniel. “The pitching on both sides was good, and it was a great game, going back and forth. It was a huge game for our returning players and for our newcomers, it was a great confidence builder.”

The Falcons fell to 1-1 Monday after a 15-2, five-inning loss at Yarmouth. Freeport was home with York Wednesday, goes to Falmouth Friday and plays host to Kennebunk Monday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Falmouth’s powerhouse boys’ lacrosse team opened its title quest by crushing visiting Freeport, 19-6. Devin Russell and Jack Scribner both scored six times. The Yachtsmen hosted Kennebunk Wednesday, welcome two-time defending Western A champion South Portland Saturday and visit North Yarmouth Academy Monday.

Three-time defending Eastern B champion Yarmouth opened with a 13-4 home win over York. The Clippers faced a huge test Wednesday when they hosted nemesis Cape Elizabeth in a state final rematch (see theforecaster.net for game story). They welcome defending Class A champion Brunswick in a crossover showdown Saturday and go to Greely Tuesday.

NYA opened with a 10-4 win at Gardiner. After playing at Greely Wednesday, the Panthers host Falmouth Monday.

Freeport lost its opener, 19-6, at Falmouth, despite three goals from Connor Dostie. The Falcons are at Fryeburg Academy Thursday, visit Morse Saturday and open at home Tuesday versus Wells.

Greely hosted NYA in its opener Wednesday. The Rangers play host to Yarmouth Tuesday.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, two-time defending Class B champion Yarmouth lost its season opener, 8-7, to visiting  York, despite two goals each from Cory Langenbach and Molly Wilson. The Clippers hoped to get in the win column Wednesday at Cape Elizabeth. Yarmouth hosts Freeport Wednesday of next week.

Falmouth, a regional finalist in 2015, beat visiting Freeport, 16-5, Monday in the opener. Sydney Bell picked right up where she left off last year by scoring five goals and adding three assists. London Bernier scored three times and Devon Sarazin, Chelsey Smithwick and Olivia Stucker had two goals apiece. The Yachtsmen have a home showdown/playoff rematch versus Waynflete Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Thornton Academy in a crossover test Saturday and play at dangerous York Wednesday of next week.

Freeport lost at Falmouth Monday, 16-5. The Falcons are home with Fryeburg Academy Thursday, host Morse in a playoff rematch Saturday and visit Yarmouth Wednesday of next week.

Greely opened its season Wednesday at NYA. The Rangers go to Massabesic Saturday and host Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

NYA opened by defeating host Mt. Ararat, 14-7. Isabella Coleman erupted for six goals. The Panthers hosted Greely Wednesday and welcome Lake Region Tuesday.

Current staff writer Adam Birt contributed to this story.

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

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Freeport ace Jack Davenport fires a strike during the Falcons’ season-opening 2-0 win over Lake Region. Davenport finished with 16 strikeouts.

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