Messalonskee boys lacrosse’s Taco Bell tradition, and other things we learned Tuesday

The Eagles, many in shorts, soar through their second practice session of the spring. Varsity Maine was there.

Messalonskee’s coach Tom Sheridan speaks to his team before practice Tuesday in Oakland. (Anna Chadwick/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

While baseball and softball pitchers and catchers and lacrosse goalies started practicing last week, Maine’s other spring sports athletes opened the preseason Monday.

Varsity Maine visited Traip Academy and Messalonskee boys lacrosse practices on Tuesday. Here’s what we learned at Messalonskee.

OAKLAND — Day 1 of Messalonskee boys lacrosse practice was a good scene-setter. Day 2? That was the day when the Eagles really got rolling.

Messalonskee took to the Veterans Field turf Tuesday, the second day of Maine’s spring high school sports season. The late-March cold was of no concern to the Eagles, many of whom were in shorts — and coach Tom Sheridan was thrilled with how the team practiced.

“We had two of our starters out sick today, so we had to have our younger guys step up — learn to slide and recover and things like that,” Sheridan said. “We didn’t have a lot of scrimmage activity yesterday, but we’re doing more now, and it was good.”

Here are a few more things we learned from Messalonskee’s practice Tuesday:

• Sheridan is now in his 31st year coaching Messalonskee. He’s also the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Thomas College men’s program in nearby Waterville, and while the Eagles are just getting started, the Terriers are in midseason mode.

“I’ve been coaching since January, and I have to remember that for (these guys), it’s Day 2,” Sheridan said. “It’s getting back into the routine and getting used to the system here. We do things our own way here; our kids can contact the kids who played 10 years ago, and it’s the same drills — not all of them, but a lot of them.”

• Eating healthy before a game is a must. Afterward, though? A short trip into Waterville is always in order for senior Tatum Doucette and sophomore Malachi Cusano.

“I don’t hate the chicken Caesar wrap before the game (Cusano’s choice), but we run to Taco Bell after,” said Doucette, a midfielder. “We’ve got to hit that up.”

• Doucette initially cited Cusano as a Messalonskee player with dance moves. Cusano deflected to sophomore teammate Colt Beckwith, and after some discussion, Doucette agreed.

“Colt Beckwith does have some moves, I won’t lie,” Doucette said. “Maybe him or Grady Tibbetts. … (They play a lot of rapper) BigXthaPlug.”