Newsletter #2...Surprise, surprise

I'm looking to crush this newsletter the way Cheverus' Sadie Collins crushed this game-ending grand slam home run Wednesday afternoon...

I'm often asked if there are teams or schools I actively root for.

The answer is that I root for good stories and good games.

The caveat to that is I am a sucker for a team that was once great becoming great again, or a team beating a longtime powerhouse for the first time.

Which leads me to what happened Monday afternoon at Boulos Stadium, where Cheverus' girls' lacrosse team beat perennial title contender and reigning Class A state champion Yarmouth, 14-10.

Marking the first time the Stags ever solved the Clippers, one of the state's gold standard programs (Waynflete and Kennebunk are the others and Cheverus already had victories to its credit over the Flyers and Rams).

This one was no fluke either.

Cheverus staggered Yarmouth early, taking a 6-1 lead after one quarter and never looking back behind five goals from senior standout Sophia St. John, including the 100th of her career, four more from sophomore Sydney Brunelle and three from sophomore Sophia Tamulevich.

"This win is incredibly meaningful for our program," said Stags' second-year coach Will Tuttle. "Yarmouth has set the standard for excellence in Maine lacrosse for a long time and for our team to earn a victory against them represents a major milestone in the growth and development of (our program). It’s a testament to the hard work, resilience and belief that our players have put into building something special. I’m so proud of the way our team competed and stayed composed in a big moment.

"We had several players step up in big ways. Sydney Brunelle had a dominant two-way game, scoring key goals and helping us win crucial draws. (Sophomores) Taylor Hoglund and Olivia Vigue each had strong performances offensively, finding the back of the net at critical times. Sophia Tamulevich also made crucial offensive plays for us. Sophia St. John had a great game, including her 100th career goal. It was a total team effort and it’s a day that will be remembered for a long time within our program."

Class A girls' lacrosse is quite compelling this season.

Yarmouth (now 3-1) is going to be just fine. The Clippers are always at their best in June. Kennebunk, after its three-year title reign came to an end a year ago, appears primed to return to glory (outscoring Windham, Greely and Cape Elizabeth by a composite 35-8 margin to start the year). Then there's perennial power Falmouth (a state finalist in 2024, which is 3-1 after Wednesday's 8-7 overtime home win over York), up-and-coming, fun-to-watch Thornton Academy (3-1, with three straight victories in which it scored 56 goals), Windham (2-1 after scoring 41 goals in its last two outings) and Scarborough (2-3, but on the rise).

But based on Monday's result, Cheverus is capable of being one of the last teams standing.

While Freeport looks to be the favorite in Class B (don't overlook Greely despite its 0-3 start) and Class C could be a three-team race between reigning champion Waynflete, Wells and North Yarmouth Academy, the Class A landscape will be fascinating to follow in the weeks to come and don't be surprised if some additional surprises/historic victories follow.

Speaking of Freeport and 100 career goals, Falcons' senior star Mia Levesque reached that plateau Wednesday in a win over Massabesic. Levesque and her teammate, Lana DiRusso (who has already reached 100 goals) make up one of the most dynamic scoring tandems around. After winning Class C in 2023, Freeport lost last year's Class B state game to Greely by a goal. Levesque, DiRusso and company will settle for nothing short of the big prize this time around.

On the boys' side, Falmouth, the reigning Class A champion and heavy favorite to repeat, has dominated its first three foes to the tune of 60 goals scored to just nine allowed. Cape Elizabeth started with an unthinkable two losses in its first three games, but bounced back Wednesday with a 14-3 home win over Greely. Thornton Academy lost its opener to Falmouth, but has handled contenders Deering and South Portland since. Windham started fast with four straight wins before meeting its match in visiting York Thursday night (10-4).

In Class B, Yarmouth's boys beat York in a state game rematch, as the Clippers held the potent Wildcats to one goal in a 7-1 victory Tuesday.

In Class C, NYA, eyeing an elusive state title, opened by defeating Freeport, Gardiner and Gray-New Gloucester, scoring 41 goals in the process.

There were several good baseball matchups over the past week. The biggest highlight came Wednesday in Yarmouth, in a rematch of last year's thrilling Class B South Final. This time around, Greely got a measure of revenge, thanks to a no-hit, one-walk gem from senior Keeler Vogt.

It's been a tough week for the reigning Class B champion Clippers, who also fell Monday at home to Cape Elizabeth. Speaking of Cape Elizabeth and Greely, they're scheduled to square off Friday afternoon.

In Class A South, Cheverus held off Deering, 3-1, Tuesday in a contest which saw Stags' sophomore A.J. Lauture not only earn the victory, but beat his older brother, Rams' senior Tavian Lauture, in the process. South Portland and Thornton Academy both started 3-0, while reigning state champion Scarborough has prevailed in its first two games. Gorham' senior ace Wyatt Nadeau earned his first victory Thursday, beating Falmouth behind a one-hit, 13-K performance. The Vanderbilt University-bound star is the real and deal and he's had an abundance of Major League scouts at his games to prove it.

Turning to softball, to no one's surprise, both Cheverus and Windham are off to strong starts. The defending Class A champion Stags have been pounding the ball and getting the expected dominant pitching from sophomore ace Addison DeRoche, while the Eagles are keeping pace as Kennedy Kimball has shown she has what it takes to be the full-time ace. Two-time reigning Class D champion NYA is up to its old tricks, outscoring the opposition, 63-16, in its four victories. Freeport has rallied late in two of its three wins. Greely was undefeated into running into a Yarmouth buzz-saw Wednesday.

Polls

With all that in mind. Here's this week's Super6 polls, which includes teams from Thornton Academy to Freeport, through games played Thursday, May 1st:

Baseball
1 Scarborough
2 Thornton Academy
3 South Portland
4 Greely
5 Gorham
6 Cape Elizabeth

Softball
1 Cheverus
2 Windham
3 Gorham
4 Freeport
5 NYA
6 Yarmouth

Boys' lacrosse
1 Falmouth

2 Yarmouth
3 Thornton Academy
4 Windham
5 Cape Elizabeth
6 Freeport

Girls' lacrosse
1 Thornton Academy
2 Cheverus
3 Yarmouth
4 Freeport
5 Falmouth
6 Windham

Site update

A quick note on the website.

I'm happy to report that the site is already a quarter of way to its year-end subscription goal, so again, I can't say thank you enough!

Any help continuing to spread the word and encouraging folks to join the fun is greatly appreciated.

Here's a look at game stories that have been posted since last week's newsletter:

Windham softball beats Bonny Eagle

Cheverus softball wins opener at Thornton Academy

Cape Elizabeth baseball holds off Yarmouth

Yarmouth boys' lacrosse shuts down York in state game rematch

Vogt's no-hitter helps Greely baseball finally solve Yarmouth

Nadeau's gem leads Gorham baseball past Falmouth

And if you missed my radio spot with Mannix and Mannix from last week, here's the link:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MMM-4-25-25-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

A look ahead

May has arrived and the games start to take on more importance.

Monday, Cheverus' softball team gets its first big test, as Gorham pays a visit.

And speaking of the Stags, here's one more home run from Wednesday's win over Noble, this one courtesy the booming bat of Anna Goodman...

Also on the slate Monday, Greely's baseball and softball squads have an interesting interclass showdown against Class A North contender Edward Little. Falmouth and Scarborough meet in a rematch of last year's Class A South Final, won by the eventual state champion Red Storm. Gorham gets its chance to slow down the Falmouth boys' lacrosse juggernaut.

Tuesday, Yarmouth and Kennebunk renew their fierce girls' lacrosse rivalry, as the Clippers travel south. Last year, Yarmouth upset the Rams in the state semifinals before en route to the Class A title. Waynflete goes to Scarborough in an interclass battle and Falmouth visits Greely in another interesting interclass showdown. On the diamond, Falmouth at Thornton Academy baseball brings together a pair of top contenders.

Wednesday, Windham's softball team hosts Kennebunk and its ace, Julia Pike. Some big Heal Points will be at stake. Three good boys' lacrosse contests are on the slate as well, as Windham goes to Falmouth hoping to solve the Navigators, Yarmouth hosts ancient rival Cape Elizabeth and Thornton Academy and Scarborough renew acquaintances.

Thursday's top game sees Yarmouth's girls' lacrosse team go to Windham in what is a great opportunity for the Eagles to steal some headlines. Cheverus can continue its surge if it can find a way to win at Falmouth. Freeport hosts Wells and Greely welcomes Cape Elizabeth.

Also, keep an eye out for this site's first feature story sometime this weekend.

And you can look for newsletter number three right here, next Friday.

Until then, one quick thought on the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

It's hard not to pick Journalism, but if Journalism the horse is anything like Journalism the profession of late, he won't make it to the first turn! In other words, wager on someone else. Anyone else.

Have a great week everyone!

Michael

Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com