Track
Coaches: Dana Caron, Mark Snow and Kevin Foster
Last year’s record: 12-4
Key returning athletes: The Lakers will look to senior Doe Leckie in hurdles, junior Jacqui Black in distance, sophomore Hannah Perkins in sprints, junior Samantha Dole in sprints, senior Hannah Flagg in multiple events and sophomore Sydney Hancock in jumps.
Key meets this season: “The tri-county clash at Sacopee Valley and the Western Maine conference championships at Falmouth are big for us,” Snow said.
Season outlook: After a 12-4 record last spring, the Lakers are primed for another strong track season this spring. Snow said he is hopeful that the team could meet or exceed last spring’s win total. “The girls team will continue to cover the events well,” Snow said. “Another 10-win season is a strong possibility. We hope to have stronger relays to support the girls listed above and to foster competitiveness among the team.”
Boys Lacrosse
Coach: Don White, second year
Last year’s record: 0-12
Key returning players: The Lakers didn’t win a game last year, but as a first-year program, that was perhaps to be expected. Hardened by the experience, Lake Region will be led by seniors Jack Tragert, Morgan Brown and Anthony Osmond. Juniors Timothy Leach, Joe Turnbull, Ryan Chute, and Ryan Skillern will round out a team hungry for its first win.
Key games this season: “We face Fryeburg Academy twice, and those will be big,” White said. “Windham and Oxford Hills are also big names on our schedule.”
Season outlook: While an 0-12 record is certainly hard to swallow, it isn’t that surprising for a program that is just getting off the ground. White said that last year’s experience, combined with some focused offseason work should lead to better results for the Lakers this spring. “Several players have worked hard during the offseason to really improve their skills,” White said. “We have more experience and depth this year, which should result in more competitive games. Our starting goalie, Joe Turnbull, has returned after missing most of last season with a knee injury. The attitude of the players is great. They are working well together and really pushing each other in practice.”
Baseball
Coach: Dan Leland
Last year’s record: 8-8
Key returning players: “Senior Danny Place was the Western Maine conference batting champ last season with a .588 average,” Leland said. “He is also a two year all-conference catcher. We’ll also need a good year from senior Mike Shea on the infield, and junior pitcher Zach Allen.”
Season outlook: Leland expects that the Lakers will improve on last year’s .500 record, adding that if the team stays focused, a playoff berth could be the eventual reward. “Every game is key this season,” Leland said. “We’re a possible playoff team if we don’t get backed up with the schedule. A lack of pitching depth and no returning outfielders are potential question marks.”
Softball
Coach: J. R. Warren
Last year’s record: 4-12
Key returning players: The Lakers are led by senior Hannah Cutting, and juniors Allison Clark, Abby Craffey and Rachel Wandishin.
Key games this season: “All games are important this year after last season’s disappointing result,” Warren said. “We lost 6 games by one run!”
Season outlook: Last year’s Laker squad was somewhat snake bitten, dropping a series of one-run games. If the results were different, the Lakers could have been a playoff team and made some noise in the postseason. Warren said he felt the team is ready to take the next step and with some new players adding depth, the Lakers should come out on the winning side of those close decisions.” I look for big improvements from seven returning starters from last year,” Warren said. “We have also added some very talented young players to the team.”
The boys and girls tennis previews were not available as of press time.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
