Newsletter #7...Spring postseason is upon us

The spring sports regular season is complete and there are plenty of reasons for local teams, several of whom are viewed as favorites, to anticipate the upcoming playoffs.

Personally, I can't wait.

This has all the making of a tournament season for the ages.

Anyone else eager for another Cheverus-Windham softball regional final, or another Yarmouth-York Class B boys' lacrosse state game?

If Freeport and Greely do battle again in the girls' lacrosse tournament, or if Scarborough plays oh I don't know, Gorham, Thornton Academy, South Portland or Falmouth in the baseball playoffs, sign me up.

A Cape Elizabeth-Greely baseball regional final?

Falmouth boys' lacrosse cementing its legacy?

The compelling possibilities are endless and you can rest assured that I'll cover as much as I can over the next two-plus weeks before the record scratches and the season, along with the school year, comes to a sudden halt.

In case you missed it

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

** If you haven't already, please subscribe at the champion level for access to all stories from the spring sports season. **

Freeport girls roll to win at York

Yarmouth boys stumble at York in possible state game preview

Falmouth beats Deering at Hadlock Field

Scarborough suffers first loss of season, to Marshwood

Abby Trainor's 200th goal lifts Windham girls past Gorham

Cape locks up top seed with win over York in baseball finale

Yarmouth girls edge Greely in OT thriller

Cheverus holds off Windham in a terrific finale that left us wanting more

TA girls give Kennebunk a scare in regular season finale.

Feature on Scarborough's incredible pitching staff

A look at some new hoops and soccer coaches

Some kind words from our partner, cPort Credit Union

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

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MMM-5-30-25-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Milestones

Windham junior standout Abby Trainor became the first girls' lacrosse player in school history to reach the 200 career goal mark Tuesday in a home win over Gorham.

Cheverus softball ace Addison DeRoche has been named a Premier Girls Fastpitch Futures All-American and will take part next month in the Futures All-American Game in California.

Portland boys' lacrosse player Andy Marvin produced his 200th career point Thursday in the Bulldogs' 20-13 win over Cheverus. Marvin scored eight goals and added four assists in the victory.

And last but not least, Scarborough senior ace Erik Swenson earned a huge accolade earlier this week by being named Maine's Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. Swenson has been part of a combined perfect game and he threw a perfect game of his own earlier this season against Gorham. Swenson also led the Red Storm to a Class A state title a year ago.

The Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Streaking

The win streaks continue for many teams in multiple sports. Here's who's on a heater entering the postseason:

Baseball
Cape Elizabeth 10 games
Falmouth 9

Softball
Cheverus 16 games (20 in a row over past two seasons)

Boys' lacrosse
Falmouth 14 games (26 in a row over past two seasons)
Windham 5

Girls' lacrosse
Freeport 14 games
Windham 13
Yarmouth 5

Polls

Here's this week's Super6 polls, which includes teams in our coverage area, from Thornton Academy to Freeport, through games played Thursday, June 5th:

Baseball

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

The Red Storm had their 25-game win streak snapped earlier in the week, but are still the team to beat in Class A South. The Navigators might be the most dangerous team in the field. In Class B South, it appears the Capers and Rangers are on a regional final collision course.

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

The Stags are four wins away from a repeat Class A title, but the Eagles and Rams won't make it easy. The Panthers have what it takes to three-peat in Class D, while the Falcons and Rangers are capable of making a run in Class B South.

Boys' lacrosse

1 Falmouth
2 Thornton Academy
3 Yarmouth
4 Cape Elizabeth
5 South Portland
6 NYA

The Navigators enter the playoffs on a roll never before seen and if they don't repeat as Class A champs, it will be stunning. The improved Capers and the Golden Trojans would love a postseason shot at Falmouth, however. The Clippers have struggled of late, but still have what it takes to win Class B again. The Panthers have gone toe-to-toe with the best teams from all classes and are poised for a title run.

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

The Eagles are poised to make history and get to states for the first time. Don't overlook last year's Class A finalists, the Clippers and Navigators, who are coming on at the optimal time. The Falcons, fresh off the best regular season in program history, now look to finish the job that last year's squad started.

A look ahead

Best of luck to outdoor track and field athletes as they compete in the state meets Saturday across the state.

Tennis will crown its champions, likely with many familiar names winning trophies, next Wednesday.

The baseball and softball postseasons begin Tuesday with the preliminary round, with games played on the fields of the higher seeds. The quarterfinals are next Thursday.

Boys' and girls' lacrosse hold its state preliminary round games Wednesday, again with the higher seeds hosting.

And we'll be right back here with another newsletter next Friday,

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com