It was a mild winter, but Monday’s heavy rain prevented area high school sports teams from getting outside on the first day of practice for the spring season.
“We were hoping to get in the parking lot but we couldn’t do it,” first-year Messalonskee baseball coach Ray Bernier said as his team practiced in the school gymnasium.
Monday was the first day for the high school spring sports season, with baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis and track and field teams working out for the first time. Regular seasons will start in mid-April, with state championships throughout the first half of June, culminating on June 18 with softball, baseball and lacrosse.
At Lawrence High School, the girls lacrosse team was ready to begin its first year as a varsity program after competing the previous two seasons at the club level. On Monday, however, the Bulldogs were scrambling to find practice space after the Lawrence Junior High School gym was double booked. That minor setback didn’t diminish the team’s enthusiasm. Coach Gail Bucklin said she had between 25 and 30 athletes ready to join the team, with about half being newcomers to lacrosse.
“We had our spring sports meeting last Thursday and several students came out. They’re excited about it,” Bucklin said.
Senior goalie Ashley Doyon is one of the Bulldogs’ returning players. Doyon said she first played lacrosse in gym class and immediately fell in love with the sport.
“It’s exciting, because I get to play varsity in my final year,” Doyon said. “I get to be on the first Lawrence team and be the foundation, and be an example for the girls who play lacrosse at Lawrence in the future.”
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play their first game April 23 at Deering High in Portland.
At Messalonskee, Bernier takes over a baseball program that has been one of the most successful in Class A East/North in recent years, reaching at least the regional semifinals in each of the last four seasons. The Eagles won the state title in 2012 and were state runner-up in 2013. A Messalonskee grad, Bernier is the son of the school’s former baseball coach, also Ray Bernier.
“I’ve been excited to jump into it. I’ve been fortunate to play for great coach like (Thomas coach Greg) King and my father,” Bernier said. “That’s probably the most exciting piece, to coach in my home town.”
The Eagles open the regular season in Topsham against Mt. Ararat on April 20. On April 9, Messalonskee will play exhibition games against Westbrook, Falmouth and Portland.
“We’ll get a taste of some good baseball early,” Bernier said.
At Lawrence, baseball coach Rusty Mercier said participation was up, with 32 players out for the junior varsity and varsity teams.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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