Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year:

CAMPBELL BELISLE-HALEY, Senior—Baseball

* WMC Class B All-Star, first-team

* WMC All-Academic team

They call him “Bull” and was the nickname ever appropriate.

Campbell Belisle-Haley boasted a unique tenacity on the mound, in the field and at the plate for a Yarmouth baseball team which has cemented its status as one of the finest Class B programs.

Despite being unable to pitch as much as he would have liked, Belisle-Haley more than made up for it with his potent bat and in his limited action, he stymied opposing hitters as the Clippers made a return visit to the regional final, an accomplishment that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. A cerebral player and top-notch student, Belisle-Haley did it all.

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In light of those attributes, Campbell Belisle-Haley earns The Forecaster’s recognition as Yarmouth’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year.

Belisle-Haley grew up in Yarmouth and became a baseball aficionado at a young age. He played two years of varsity soccer (and was a key cog on a Class B state champion his senior year), ran track and played basketball in the winter (he was along for the ride when the basketball team reached the regional final for the first time in nearly four decades last winter) and impressed in three years of varsity baseball.

This spring, Belisle-Haley singled, doubled, tripled and had three RBI versus Freeport, had a pair of hits in a win over Poland, singled, tripled and earned a save at Falmouth, earned a victory against Freeport and got a win in relief against Greely.

In the playoffs, Belisle-Haley drove in a run in a quarterfinal round victory against Gray-New Gloucester, then had arguably the biggest at-bat of the season when he battled for a clutch double in the semifinals versus Lincoln Academy ace Brandon Reilly. Belisle-Haley drew the start in the regional final against Greely, but struggled with his control and left in the second inning. He tried to rescue the Clippers with a pair of hits, but their season ended with a 7-5 loss.

Overall, Belisle-Haley went 2-1 with a save, struck out 14 in 16.2 innings of work and had a 2.58 earned run average. At the plate, he hit .368, had a .405 on-base percentage and had 25 hits, 19 runs scored and 12 RBI.

Belisle-Haley , who was also a member of Class Council, Student Senate and Science Olympiad, is playing American Legion ball this summer and will take a gap year and join Safe Passage. He’s looking at attending Bowdoin College and trying out for soccer and/or baseball upon his return.

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He’s capable of accomplishing anything. Campbell Belisle-Haley, Yarmouth’s Spring 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, was as determined, gritty and talented as they come and he left an indelible mark on the Clippers’ program.

Coach Marc Halsted’s comment: “Campbell left an impressive legacy for Yarmouth baseball. Simply put, we do not go to back-to-back Western Maine championship games without him. This season, he went unscored on as a pitcher into that regional final game and led the team in hits. Most importantly, he’s been an emotional leader for us. He plays with a passion and intensity that we just don’t see enough of these days. Our younger kids have fed off of him. Personally, I just think the world of ‘Bull.’ He was a dynamic student for me in the classroom, a great player on the field and a person who’s grown and matured over the years. I feel blessed to have known and coached him and I’ll really miss being around him next year.”

2010 winner: Nick Whittaker (Baseball)

2009 winner: Rob Highland (Lacrosse)

2008 winner: Robb Arndt (Baseball)

2007 winner: Jon Poole (Lacrosse)

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2006 winner: Hans Tobiason (Lacrosse)

2005 winner: Chris Hichborn (Lacrosse)

2004 winner: Jon Miller (Lacrosse)

2003 winner: Jared Harriman (Lacrosse)

2002 winner: Tim Kjeldgaard (Lacrosse)

Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year:

DANIELLE TORRES, Senior—Lacrosse

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* All-American, honorable mention

* WMC All-Conference, first team

* WMC All-Academic

* U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American

* Senior All-Star

* Team MVP

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* Captain

Every once in awhile, the stars align and the right player finds herself in the ideal moment.

That confluence occurred the night of June 18 when Danielle Torres, long touted for her skill and leadership, playing in her first-ever championship game, had a chance to deliver the punctuation mark on her team’s memorable season.

Tied with Waynflete late in the Class B state final, Torres took a free position and scored and Yarmouth held on for a 9-8 victory, winning its first title since 2007.

The fact that Torres found herself in that spot and that she buried her shot came as no surprise. Displaying a unique blend of athleticism, tenacity and timing, she’d been recognized as one of the state’s best players since her sophomore season and ultimately lived out every player’s fantasy, scoring a championship game-winning goal.

For overcoming midseason injury, coming through on the biggest stage and being a transcendent student-athlete and team leader, Danielle Torres is The Forecaster’s choice for Yarmouth’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year, marking the second year in a row she’s received the honor.

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Torres started playing lacrosse at a young age and came to the Clippers as a freshman where she played a limited role. As a sophomore, she erupted into the state’s girls’ lacrosse consciousness, scoring 29 goals and earning All-American notice as an honorable mention. As a junior, she tickled the twine 58 times and was named All-American.

Her senior season would be another of prolific scoring and triumph, but not everything came easily.

Torres hinted at big things to come when she scored four goals, assisted on another and grabbed six ground balls in a season-opening win at NYA. She then scored five times in a win at eventual Class A champion Scarborough and tallied six at Cape Elizabeth. After scoring six more times in a win over Freeport, Torres’ season was jeopardized when she suffered an ankle injury early in a home victory over Marshwood. After sitting out the rest of that game, as well as home wins over Falmouth and NYA, Torres returned to action in a victory at Falmouth, scoring three second half goals. She had four goals and three assists in a win at Greely, then closed the regular season with four more goals in the Clippers’ first win over Waynflete in her high school career.

After scoring three goals in a semifinal round win over Morse, Torres scored a critical goal late in the first half which turned momentum and sparked a comeback victory over NYA in the regional final. That set the stage for the state game.

There, Torres opened the scoring a little more than a minute in and scored again to give Yarmouth a halftime lead. After fellow top scorer Becca Bell left the game when she received a controversial second yellow card early in the second half, Torres helped calm her teammates and gave her squad an 8-7 lead on a goal with 10:40 to play. Waynflete rallied to tie, but with 6:40 left, she converted her free position and the Clippers went on to the title.

“I never wanted something so badly in sports,” Torres said. “It was a dream come true.”

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For the season, Torres had 45 goals, nine assists, 33 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers and won 34 draw controls. She graduated with 134 goals, 38 assists, 172 ground balls, 56 turnovers caused and 102 draw wins. She also was named to the All-American team (as an honorable mention) for the third year in a row.

Torres was also an honor student, a member of National Honor Society, the school’s student newspaper and Global Action. She has a passion for working with the community and has volunteered with the elderly and immigrant groups. She will matriculate at Brown University in the fall. She’s uncertain on a major, but has myriad interests, with travel being paramount. She plans to play lacrosse in college.

That means we haven’t heard the last of her triumph and accomplishments. Danielle Torres, Yarmouth’s Spring 2011 Female Athlete of the Year, has a very bright future indeed.

Coach Dorothy Holt’s comment: “It has been an honor and a pleasure to coach Danielle. She gives 100 percent all the time. Her determination and teamwork are incredible. She never gives up in practice or a game and always strives for more.”

2010 winner: Danielle Torres (Lacrosse)

2009 winner: Haley Knaub (Track)

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2008 winner: Nicole Grover (Lacrosse)

2007 winner: Laurie Baker (Lacrosse)

2006 winner: Emily Johnson (Lacrosse)

2005 winner: Chrissie Attura (Lacrosse)

2004 winner: Louise Taylor (Tennis)

2003 winner: Louise Taylor (Tennis)

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2002 winner: Christine Clancy (Tennis)

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