Fore River Field beckons for fans of the Flyers this spring and those fans should have much to celebrate. Baseball is coming off its finest season in many years and has the pieces in place to be a top Western Class C contender. The boys’ lacrosse team appears playoff-bound again. The storied girls’ program made it back to states a year ago, but fell short, meaning it will be extra dangerous in the weeks to come. Track continues to grow in quantity and quality and will make its impact felt in Class C. Boys’ tennis has been the best program in the state in recent years and even after losing a top player, has a great chance to win another title. The girls’ team hopes to end a string of close calls and go all the way as well.
BASEBALL
Coach: Steve Kautz (fifth year)
2010 Record: 6-8 (Lost 5-2 to Old Orchard Beach in Western Class C preliminary round)
Top returning players: Alex Hadiaris (Senior), Sam Murphy (Senior), Tom Ryan (Senior), Charlie Laprade (Sophomore)
Pivotal games: April 25 (H) OOB, April 30 @ Traip (2), May 9 (H) OOB, May 20 (H) TRAIP, May 21 (H) NYA (2), May 25 @ OOB, May 28 @ NYA
Coach’s comments: “From our point of view, everyone is a contender. We expect to be better and compete all the way, but we have to prove it. We’re out to build on last season. We lost five important seniors, but this year, we have a nice balance of young talent and a strong senior group who have played a lot of innings of varsity baseball. The seniors have really helped solidify our program and I look for them to have strong campaigns. We also have a big freshman group. We feel good about our top pitchers, but after that, we have a bunch of guys with great potential who haven’t pitched a lot of innings yet. Lack of experience is a question for us. Overall, we’re excited. The kids enjoy being together and work very hard to improve. We believe we can compete in every game and get back to the playoffs..”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete had a resurgence a year ago, winning six times, which was the program’s best total since 2003. The Flyers made it to the playoffs and Kautz was chosen as our Coach of the Year. This year, despite losing five seniors to graduation, Waynflete won’t be able to sneak up on anyone, but the Flyers have enough talent to compete from start to finish. The pitching staff will be led by Laprade, a Western Maine Conference second-team all-star a year ago, who had a breakout freshman campaign (3-1, 3.08 earned run average) and Hadiaris (2-3 in 2010). Freshman Joey Schnier should see some time on the hill also. The offense is paced by Laprade (.325), catcher Ryan (.275) and utilityman Murphy (.280, a team-high 10 runs batted in). Schnier and freshman Nik Morrill, who will play first base and serve as the designated hitter, should help produce runs. Seniors Noah Aronson and Alex Friedland bring poise and experience. Junior Peter Stein, sophomore Andrew Butler and freshmen Matt Jarrell, Will Manny and Isaac Sher round out the roster. There are several question marks with the team due to its youth and relative inexperience, but if the Flyers can come of age and ride the wave of last year’s success, they’ll be in the hunt for a winning season and even playoff success.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Coach: Bob Johnson (23rd year)
2010 Record: 8-5 (Lost 15-1 to eventual state champion Cape Elizabeth in Western Class B semifinals)
Top returning players: Tucker Geoffroy (Senior), Will Hallett (Senior), Joe Veroneau (Senior), Chris Burke (Junior), Zander Majercik (Sophomore)
Pivotal games: April 27 @ Falmouth, May 3 (H) GREELY, May 10 (H) YARMOUTH, May 25 (H) NYA, June 1 @ Cape Elizabeth
Coach’s comment: “It’s a nice returning bunch. We’re optimistic. We hope to stay healthy. Versatility will be the secret to our success. If we cam limit injuries, we could have a nice season. We want to get into the playoffs and see where we can go. They’re great kids with great attitudes and work ethics.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete was very competitive a year ago with all but the elite teams. The Flyers suggested they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in 2011 after opening with a sparkling 17-1 home win over Fryeburg Friday. In that one, Burke picked up where he left off from his 2010 campaign (50 goals, 20 assists, 70 ground balls), by scoring six times and setting up three teammates for goals. Burke is certainly the centerpiece of the offense, but he’ll get help from Majercik and sophomores Jack Cutler and Josh Espy. Geoffroy is the faceoff guy and will be a force in the midfield. Veroneau (Waynflete’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year) anchors the defense in front of Hallett, who returns in goal. The Flyers appear to have a nice balance of offense and defense, good athletes, experience and youth. They’ll once again be able to compete with just about everyone and hope to close to gap on top powers Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, NYA and Yarmouth. A seventh straight playoff trip seems likely.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Coach: Cathie Connors (19th year)
2010 Results: 12-3 (Lost 7-3 to North Yarmouth Academy in Class B state final)
Top returning players: Izzer Berrang (Senior), Liv Chap (Senior), Scout Haffenreffer (Senior), Mica Thompson (Senior), Sadie Cole (Sophomore), Katherine Torrey (Sophomore), Martha Veroneau (Sophomore)
Pivotal games: April 26 @ Falmouth, April 30 (H) KENNEBUNK, May 5 (H) YARMOUTH, May 7 (H) NYA, May 19 (H) FALMOUTH, May 24 @ NYA, June 1 @ Yarmouth
Coach’s comment: “I feel like it’s the youngest we’ve been. We only graduated two, but they were our leading scorers from their freshman year. Defense will be a strength. I don’t know what to expect. I want to the girls to have a great time.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: A great time (and a great team) is a constant with this program. While the Flyers fell short of a third straight championship a year ago, their accomplishments included providing their longtime coach and dynasty-maker with her 200th career victory, an eighth consecutive double-digit win mark and an 11th visit to the state final since the Maine Principals’ Association started sanctioning the sport in 1998. While only two girls departed from the team, their loss is immense. Amy Allen and Morgan Woodhouse (Waynflete’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year and an All-American) were dynamic talents and big-time scorers that opposing coaches obsessed about, but couldn’t stop. Looking to fill their void on offense this season will be Chap, Cole, Haffenreffer (a second-team, Western Maine Conference all-star in 2010, who could be due for a dominant campaign), Thompson and Veroneau. Junior Lucy Crane and freshmen Walker Foehl and Ella Millard (potential stars of the future) will also be factors. Cole and Haffenreffer will also handle draw controls. Defense is always a Waynflete trademark and this team will be no different. This year’s zone will be anchored by Berrang (a second-team all-star last spring). Seniors Liz Lewis, Eliza Milliken and Hannah Rindlaub, junior Maddy Agnew and freshman Jaime Reagan will team to frustrate the opposition in front of Torrey, who returns in goal. Sophomore Catherine Veroneau is out with an ACL injury that she suffered during basketball season. There’s a slim chance she could return in June. The Flyers have been the dominant team in Western Class B since the sport went to two classes in 2006, but this year, they’ll face a pair of big-time challenges from Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth, who are hungry and feel they can overthrow the longtime champs. The Capers get one chance to do so (the game was scheduled for last Thursday, but was postponed to an unknown date due to an unplayable field), while the Yachtsmen have two. Mix in a pair of games each against defending state champion North Yarmouth Academy and this year’s favorite Yarmouth and one apiece against Cheverus and Kennebunk and this regrouping team won’t have much room to breathe. With that said, you can never write Waynflete off. There are plenty of good athletes on this team, it might just take awhile for the Flyers to hit their stride. With the state’s premier coach pulling the strings, look for good things by season’s end. Come June, the Flyers might once again have no peer.
OUTDOOR TRACK
Coach: Ziggy Gillespie (fourth year)
2010 Results
(Boys) tie-17th @ Class C state meet
(Girls) tie-21st @ Class C state meet
Top returning athletes:
(Boys) Eli Sobel (Senior), Abshir Horor (Junior), Abukar Adan (Sophomore)
(Girls) Emma Longcope (Senior), Gigi Schnier (Junior)
Top foes: Freeport, NYA, Yarmouth
Coach’s comment: “This is the biggest team we’ve had, with nine freshmen. Abshir and Abukar will focus on the 800 and mile. Abshir’s goal is (4 minutes, 20 seconds). The state Class C record is 4:18. There’s a lot of potential with these kids. I’m very excited.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete’s small outdoor track program packs a punch this spring.
The boys are led by defending Class C two-mile state champion Horor, who won it in 4 minutes, 27 seconds last year and hopes to shave several seconds off that mark this time around. He has plenty of talented company. Adan and Sobel both have distance acumen. Senior Brandon Thompson (Waynflete’s three-time reigning Spring Male Athlete of the Year from tennis) joins the team this spring and will run middle distance. He’s joined by freshman Max Rowe. Freshman Boniface Kabongo could be a top sprinter. The Flyers should certainly enjoy individual success and have the potential to be a force in the postseason.
On the girls’ side, the small team will be led by key middle distance returners Longcope and Schnier. Freshman Elyse Bayizere and Lydia Fox will look to join in on the fun. Waynflete will hope to improve as individuals. There won’t be many points to be had as a team, but the Flyers will make the most of their opportunities.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Coach: Jeff Madore (fifth year)
2010 Record: 15-0 (Defeated George Stevens Academy 5-0 to win third straight Class C state championship)
Top returning players: Eric Ordway (Senior), Patrick Ordway (Sophomore), Ben Shapiro (Sophomore)
Pivotal matches: April 25 @ Cape Elizabeth, April 29 @ Yarmouth, May 11 @ Falmouth, May 19 (H) FALMOUTH, May 20 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH
Coach’s comment: “We have seven new players, six from JV, who will play doubles. We’re improving our skills and having fun.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has had no peer the past three seasons, but its quest for another title was derailed by the loss of three-time Spring Male Athlete of the Year Brandon Thompson, who chose to run track this season. Regardless, the Flyers will still be one of the top teams in the Western Maine Conference and come June, will be in the thick of the hunt for a fourth successive crown. The singles positions will be filled by Eric Ordway, Patrick Ordway (a first-team all-star last year) and Shapiro, not necessarily in that order. The team has seven new players this spring, six who played junior varsity a year ago. That group will fill the doubles spots. While the Flyers’ 46-match win streak might be in jeopardy, they’ll once again likely produce a gaudy record and be loaded for bear by June. If the singles players can stay healthy and the team hungry, Waynflete has a great shot to do it again. Even without Thompson.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Coach: Linda Cohen (fourth year)
2010 Record: 12-3 (Lost 5-0 to eventual champion NYA in Western Class C Final)
Top returning players: Maddie High (Senior), Nina Jarrell (Junior), Hanae Miyake (Junior), Emily Trafton (Junior), Jean Chen (Sophomore), Phoebe Suva (Sophomore), Kaitlyn Thompson (Sophomore)
Pivotal matches: April 25 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH, April 29 (H) YARMOUTH, May 4 @ NYA, May 11 (H) FALMOUTH, May 20 @ Cape Elizabeth
Coach’s comment: “We have the good fortune of returning nine players from last year. Our doubles teams combinations are still being determined. Our newcomers bring new skill sets to the team that will help give us good depth. I’m anticipating a solid season, especially as the underclassmen gain match experience. NYA will also bring a solid lineup to their matches and be a challenge for any team.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete is hoping to end NYA’s four-year Class C stranglehold and win the state title for the first time since 2006. The singles lineup consists of Thompson (a first-team league all-star a year ago), Suva and freshman Emily White. High, a captain and second-team all-star in 2010, will be involved as well after she returns from injury. Senior captain Elena Britos, Jarrell, Miyake, Trafton, juniors Erika Joyce and Hilary Niles, Chen and sophomore Meghan Surges, along with freshman Sophie Raffle, are vying for doubles positions. The Flyers, as always, feature some very good athletes. It will just be a case of finding which players go where and getting match experience. While Waynflete will be tested in the Western Maine Conference, it should be able to post another strong record. The Flyers’ title hopes will likely once again come down to matching up with their nemesis from NYA. Perhaps this is the year Waynflete manages to finish the job.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net and followed on Twitter @foresports
Charlie Laprade had a breakout freshman season a year ago and helped the Flyers make the playoffs. He hopes for more success this spring.
Senior catcher Tom Ryan is looking to lead Waynflete to a winning record and back to the postseason.
Senior Scout Haffenreffer will help pace the Waynflete offense this season.
Sadie Cole had a stellar freshman year and projects to be one of Waynflete’s top scorers.
Sophomore Martha Veroneau is a stellar athlete, who will make things happen all over the field.
Senior Izzer Berrang is the anchor of Waynflete’s always-stifling zone defense.
Sophomore Katherine Torrey returns in goal for the Flyers.
Junior Abshir Horor is taking a run at the Class C mile championship this season.
Eric Ordway and the Waynflete boys’ tennis team is chasing another championship this spring.
Sidebar Elements
Senior Maddie High is one of several top returning players for a Waynflete girls’ tennis team which is hungry for a championship.
More photos below.
Waynflete Spring Sports Schedule
(See waynflete.org for updated times)
BASEBALL
Thurs., April 14 @ Sacopee
Mon., April 25 H OOB
Sat., April 30 @ Traip (2)
Mon., May 2 H GOULD
Wed., May 4 H SACOPEE
Fri., May 6 @ Gould
Mon., May 9 H OOB
Sat., May 14 @ Sacopee
Fri., May 20 H TRAIP
Sat., May 21 H NYA (2)
Wed., May 25 @ OOB
Sat., May 28 @ NYA
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Fri., April 15 H FRYEBURG W 17-1
Mon., April 25 @ Westbrook
Wed., April 27 @ Falmouth
Tues., May 3 H GREELY
Thurs., May 5 @ Fryeburg
Tues., May 10 H YARMOUTH
Thurs., May 12 H LAKE REGION
Sat., May 14 H CAMDEN
Mon., May 16 @ York
Thurs., May 19 @ Wells
Wed., May 25 H NYA
Tues., May 31 @ Cape Elizabeth
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Thurs., April 14 H CAPE ELIZABETH ppd
Tues., April 26 @ Falmouth
Sat., April 30 H KENNEBUNK
Tues., May 3 @ Freeport
Thurs., May 5 H YARMOUTH
Sat., May 7 H NYA
Wed., May 11 H GREELY
Sat., May 14 @ Cheverus
Thurs., May 19 H FALMOUTH
Tues., May 24 @ NYA
Wed., May 25 @ York
Wed., June 1 @ Yarmouth
OUTDOOR TRACK
Fri., April 29 @ York
Tues., May 3 @ Poland
Fri., May 6 @ Traip
Fri., May 13 H Cape Elizabeth (Freeport, Wells)
Fri., May 20 @ Sacopee
Sat., May 28 @ WMC championships
Sat., June 4 CLASS B STATES
BOYS’ TENNIS
Mon., April 25 @ Cape Elizabeth
Wed., April 27 H FREEPORT
Fri., April 29 @ Yarmouth
Mon., May 2 H FRYEBURG
Wed., May 4 H NYA
Mon., May 9 H LAKE REGION
Wed., May 11 @ Falmouth
Fri., May 13 @ York
Mon., May 16 H GREELY
Thurs., May 19 H FALMOUTH
Fri., May 20 H CAPE ELIZABTH
Tues., May 24 @ Freeport
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Mon., April 25 H CAPE ELIZABETH
Wed., April 27 @ Freeport
Fri., April 29 H YARMOUTH
Mon., May 2 H FRYEBURG
Wed., May 4 @ NYA
Mon., May 9 @ Lake Region
Wed., May 11 H FALMOUTH
Fri., May 13 H YORK
Mon., May 16 @ Greely
Thurs., May 19 @ OOB
Fri., May 20 @ Cape Elizabeth
Tues., May 24 H FREEPORT
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