One can make the argument that Saturday was the most exciting championship day in the history of Maine high school sports. So let’s make that argument right now.

• Three of the four baseball championship games were won in walkoff fashion, and two of those went extra innings. In Class A, Bangor scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 win over Falmouth. In Class D, Mitchell Philbrook’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth pushed Searsport to a 6-5 win over Bangor Christian. In Class C, Orono scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Lisbon, 4-3.

• There were close games in baseball, softball, girls lacrosse, and boys lacrosse. Six of Saturday’s 12 championships were decided by one run or one goal. Along with the three baseball games mentioned above, Bucksport beat Madison, 2-1, in Class C softball; Kennebunk beat Yarmouth, 5-4, in Class B girls lacrosse; and Brunswick beat Scarborough, 18-17, in Class A boys lacrosse.

• Dynasties, we’ve got dynasties! The Bangor baseball team won its fourth consecutive state championship. Searsport baseball ran its state title streak to three. Other repeat champions were Old Town softball and Kennebunk girls lacrosse.

• One of the most impressive win streaks in state history came to a surprising end. The Richmond softball team entered the Class D state championship with 88 straight wins and four straight Class D state championships. To snap the Bobcats’ streak, Penobscot Valley needed its best effort of the season. A no-hitter from freshman pitcher Leine McKechnie certainly qualifies. Richmond’s 88-game win streak is the fifth longest all-time in the United States, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The last team to beat Richmond? Penobscot Valley, in the 2012 state championship game.

The Bobcats were disappointed to see their state record streak end, obviously, but they handled defeat with grace and class. Central Maine Newspapers photographer Joe Phelan captured that in a shot he took during the postgame awards presentation. There are members of the Richmond softball team, smiling and holding up the runner-up plaque. One loss shouldn’t mar the experience the Bobcats have enjoyed for close to five seasons.

• Saturday saw rematches of 2016 championship matchups in five games. In three of those games, last season’s loser gained a little revenge by winning this season. Bucksport beat Madison in Class C softball, Massabesic defeated Messalonskee in Class A girls lacrosse, and Brunswick went to overtime to knock off Scarborough in Class A boys lacrosse. The other two rematches were also repeats of last season’s result. Bangor over Falmouth in Class A baseball, and Kennebunk over Yarmouth in Class B girls lacrosse.

• Two teams snapped championship droughts that went back more than 20 years. The Yarmouth baseball team’s win over Old Town in Class B gave the Clippers their first title since 1995. The Orono baseball team’s championship drought reached one year longer than Yarmouth’s, to 1994, but the Red Riots are happy to set that odometer back to zero.

Saturday’s run of exciting games was a perfect way to end the 2016-17 high school sports season.

Now take a break, because fall practices begin in 55 days.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMT