Freeport’s Jake Gormley picks up a ground ball during the Falcons’ 18-10 win at Morse Saturday.

Greely junior Nick Butler steals second as the throw gets past Freeport junior second baseman Heath Cockburn during the Rangers’ 4-0 win last week.

It hasn’t even begun to feel like spring, yet the 2019 spring sports season is nearly halfway complete.

Local athletes have become adept at dodging raindrops and making the most of their opportunities on the diamond, field, track and courts. 

Here’s a glimpse at the week that was:

Baseball

Greely’s baseball team continues to set the pace. Last week, the Rangers bounced back from their lone loss with a 4-0 victory at Freeport to improve to 4-1. Greely got a shutout, three-hit, seven-strikeout effort from Will Neleski, who also hit an RBI double. Jacob Whiting added two hits and an RBI. 

“Bouncing back is good,” Neleski said. “We didn’t play too well at York, which was surprising to me. To bounce back and play a perfect defensive game shows what we can do.”

“It’s good bounce-back,” said longtime Greely coach Derek Soule. “This was our first clean defensive game of the year. I think moving forward, we’ll be a very good defensive team. We just needed to get some reps in the field.” 

The Rangers, who have yet to play a home game on their Greely Road Field, welcome Poland Wednesday, play host to Oxford Hills Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Yarmouth Monday and play host to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday of next week.

Freeport started 3-0 after a 14-7 win at Traip Academy, then fell to 3-2 with home losses to Greely (4-0) and York (8-4). Against Traip, Shea Wagner earned the victory on the mound and had a double and a home run at the plate. In the loss to Greely, the Falcons managed just three hits.

“I think we can definitely compete with (Greely) and these guys know it,” said Freeport’s first-year coach Kyle Goodrich. “We had baserunners, but we had bad luck. We lined a couple balls at guys and they were playing shallow and took away hits.”

The Falcons hosted Cape Elizabeth for a doubleheader Monday, go to Old Orchard Beach Wednesday, welcome Lincoln Academy Saturday and travel to Poland Monday of next week.

Yarmouth fell to 1-3 after a 5-1 home loss to Poland last Wednesday. Jack Romano scored the Clippers’ lone run. Yarmouth was home with Wells Tuesday, visits Cape Elizabeth in a playoff rematch Wednesday, hosts Lake Region Friday, goes to Poland for a makeup game Saturday and travels to Greely Monday of next week.

Falmouth finally got its season underway last week with a 2-0 loss at Portland and a 9-4 home loss to Windham. Against the Eagles, Josh Lefevre and Sam Manganello each had two hits. The Yachtsmen were at South Portland Monday and visited Massabesic Tuesday, host Deering Thursday, go to Marshwood Saturday and welcome Noble Tuesday of next week.

The Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team lost, 3-2, at home to Gray-New Gloucester last Monday, then improved to 2-2 last Thursday after an 8-7 win at Buckfield. The Flyers went to Sacopee Valley Monday, visit St. Dom’s Wednesday, host St. Dom’s Monday and welcome Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week. 

Softball

Yarmouth’s softball team earned a big 5-3 win at York last Tuesday, then fell, 5-0, to visiting Poland last Wednesday to sit 2-2 at press time. The Clippers were at Poland Monday, hosted Wells Tuesday, visit Cape Elizabeth Wednesday, welcome Lake Region Friday and play at Greely Monday of next week.

Freeport won, 12-7, at Traip Academy and beat visiting Greely, 8-3, before losing, 12-0, in five-innings to visiting York last week. The Falcons (3-2) beat Greely for the first time this century, as Alexa Koenig earned the win, Alexis Langley and Sarah Gray each doubled and drove in two runs, Abby Brier added three hits and two runs and Brooke Pawloski and Anne Kelley both had two hits. Freeport was home against Cape Elizabeth for a doubleheader Monday, goes to Old Orchard Beach Wednesday, welcomes Lincoln Academy Saturday and travels to Poland Monday of next week.

Greely fell to 0-6 after an 8-3 loss at Freeport and an 18-1 (five-inning) setback at Lake Region. Courtney Rog had three hits against the Falcons. Lindsay Eisenhart had a pair of hits in the loss to the Lakers. The Rangers sought their first victory Monday when they welcomed Fryeburg Academy. Greely is home with Poland Wednesday, then plays host to Oxford Hills Friday, welcomes Yarmouth Monday and plays host to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth dropped to 0-6 after a 25-3 (five-inning) loss at Thornton Academy last week. After playing at Windham Monday, the Yachtsmen are home against Cheverus Wednesday and go to Bonny Eagle Friday.

The Cheverus/NYA co-op softball team fell to 3-3 after losses last week to visiting Biddeford (18-9), at Windham (18-1, in five-innings) and at Thornton Academy (13-3) and a 10-5 victory at Westbrook. Cheverus/NYA was at Bonny Eagle Monday and played a makeup game at Scarborough Tuesday, goes to Falmouth Wednesday, hosts Deering Friday and visits Kennebunk Monday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Falmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team fell from the unbeaten ranks last week, 9-4, at rival Cape Elizabeth. First, the Yachtsmen blanked visiting Cheverus, 15-0, as Tommy Fitzgerald had six goals and Wyatt Kerr and Iyendae St. Louis added three apiece. In the setback, St. Louis scored twice, but Falmouth couldn’t get consistent possession.

“It may not look like it on the scoreboard, but I thought we played really good 6-on-6 D tonight,” Falmouth coach Dave Barton said. “Problem is, we didn’t play complementary lacrosse. You can’t play 75 percent of the game on defense and expect to generate any rhythm offensively. 

The Yachtsmen have a showdown at South Portland Wednesday, welcome Yarmouth in another showdown Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and welcome Deering Tuesday of next week.

Greely has won five in a row after opening the season with a loss. Last week, the Rangers won at York (17-3) and downed host Cony (19-1). Ethan Fraser and Schuyler Wetmore both scored five times in the win over the Rams. Greely hosted undefeated Cape Elizabeth Tuesday and plays host to Brunswick in a rematch of last year’s epic Class B state final Saturday at noon (see theforecaster.net for game story).

Yarmouth handled host NYA, 16-2, last Tuesday, then fell to 3-2 Friday after a 13-12 loss at South Portland. Gavin Hamm had three goals against the Red Riots. The Clippers welcomed York Tuesday, go to Falmouth Friday and play at Lake Region Tuesday of next week.

Freeport dropped a 16-3 home decision to Cape Elizabeth last Tuesday, then improved to 3-2 Saturday with an 18-10 win at Morse. Against the Shipbuilders, Steel Crawford finished with five goals and an assist while Dan Casale and Sam Larochelle each registered four goals.

“We come out and give it everything we have every time we step foot on the field,” said Falcons coach Geoff Arris. “I’m really happy how we played today.”

After welcoming Wells Thursday and playing host to Camden Hills Saturday, Freeport is at defending Class C champion Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

After a 16-2 home loss to Yarmouth last Tuesday, NYA improved to 3-2 Saturday with a 14-7 home win over Camden Hills. Mason Parks led the way with six goals. The Panthers are at Waynflete Wednesday, visit Mt. Ararat Friday and visit Gardiner Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ lacrosse

On the girls’ side, Yarmouth improved to 2-1 with a huge 7-6 win at Kennebunk Friday. Ehyrn Groothoff and Abi Thornton both scored twice and Katelyn D’Appolonia scored the winning goal. The Clippers welcome defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth in a state game rematch Wednesday, go to NYA Friday, then host St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.

Greely enjoyed a 10-5 win at Waynflete in a playoff rematch last Wednesday, then fell to 3-2 on the year after an 11-6 loss at Gorham Friday. In the victory, Sam Goldburg led the way with three goals. Goldburg and Elsa Dean-Muncie both scored three times in the setback. The Rangers go to York Wednesday.

Defending Class A champion Falmouth enjoyed a 14-1 home win over Marshwood last Tuesday, then fell from the unbeaten ranks Thursday with an 7-6 loss at Windham. Caitlyn Camelio had three goals in the victory. In the setback, which snapped the Yachtsmen’s 13-game win streak and dropped them to 4-1, Camelio again had three goals. Falmouth looked to bounce back Monday at Waynflete. The Yachtsmen welcome Scarborough Wednesday, play host to Lewiston Saturday and visit Cheverus Tuesday of next week. 

In Class C, Freeport improved to 3-1 with home wins last week over York (14-6) and Bonny Eagle (13-12). Savannah Tracy and Molly Whelan both scored four times against the Wildcats. In the win over the Scots, Whelan had five goals, while Tracy and Allison Greuel both scored three times. Piper Sherbert made 10 saves. The Falcons went to Boothbay Monday for a makeup game, host NYA Wednesday and go to Oceanside Friday.

NYA, which began the season with a loss, extended its win streak to four games last week by downing host Sanford (13-8) and host Camden Hills (12-4). Helen Hamblett had three goals against the Windjammers. After playing at Freeport Wednesday, the Panthers host Yarmouth Friday.

Outdoor track

Falmouth’s boys’ outdoor track team was first in a four-team meet at Biddeford last week, while the girls placed second to Deering.

Greely, meanwhile, hosted Freeport, NYA, Yarmouth and Gray-New Gloucester.

The Rangers won the girls’ meet, with the Falcons second, Clippers fourth and Panthers placing fifth.

In the boys’ competition, Freeport narrowly beat Yarmouth, while Greely came in third and NYA was fifth.

Tennis

Falmouth’s 11-time state champion girls’ tennis team took its 177-match win streak into a home showdown versus Portland Tuesday. The Yachtsmen improved to 4-0 on the year last Wednesday with a weather-shortened 3-0 home victory over Biddeford.

Falmouth’s boys’ team, which is also defending a Class A crown, improved to 5-0 with wins last week at Biddeford (3-0) and at Thornton Academy (3-2).

Reigning Class B South boys’ champion Freeport improved to 4-1 on the year last week with wins at home over York (5-0) and at NYA (4-1). The Falcons faced a stern test at Yarmouth Monday.

Freeport’s girls fell to 1-2 last week with a 3-2 loss at York and hosted Yarmouth Monday.

Greely’s boys’ team continued its resurgence last week by beating 11-time Class C champion Waynflete (3-2). The Rangers then fell, 3-2, at Yarmouth to fall to 3-2 on the year. Greely is at Cape Elizabeth Wednesday.

The Rangers girls’ squad took a 4-0 mark into Monday’s match at York following 5-0 home wins last week over Yarmouth and St. Dom’s. Wednesday brings a home showdown versus defending Class B South champion Cape Elizabeth in a playoff rematch.

NYA’s boys’ team suffered a 4-1 home loss to Freeport, then improved to 3-2 with a 5-0 home win over York last week. The Panthers hosted Yarmouth Tuesday, go to Yarmouth Wednesday, then welcome Waynflete Thursday.

The Panthers girls improved to 3-1 after home wins last week over Lake Region (5-0) and York (3-2). 

Yarmouth’s boys took a perfect 4-0 mark into Monday’s home showdown versus Freeport. The Clippers beat host St. Dom’s (4-1) and visiting Greely (3-2) last week. A trip to Waynflete looms Friday.

Yarmouth’s girls got in the win column, 5-0, over visiting St. Dom’s, then fell to 1-2 with a 5-0 loss at Greely. 

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

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