BLAINE COCKBURN, Senior – Baseball
File photos
• Team MVP
• WMC Class B Co-Pitcher of the Year
• WMC all-star, first-team
• Captain
Blaine Cockburn
Cockburn capped a dazzling high school career with a nearly perfect senior season, and he willed the Falcons back to the Class B state final, doing a little of everything, with his arm, bat and glove.
Cockburn, who also played basketball in high school, broke on to the scene as a freshman, playing a key supporting role on a Freeport squad which made a run to the state game. In fact, Cockburn didn’t allow an earned run that year in 13.2 innings as a closer, only permitted one hit and struck out 25 while earning five saves. After missing his sophomore campaign due to COVID, Cockburn went 5-1 with a 0.85 earned run average in 2021, as the Falcons rose from the number nine seed to regional champion, with Cockburn beating Greely in a memorable Class B South Final.
After committing to pitch at the University of Maine, Cockburn was brilliant again this spring, going 9-0 with one save, allowing just two earned runs in 52.1 innings, walking just 18 while striking out 89. He finished with an ERA of 0.27 and batters managed just a .075 average against him.
Cockburn, who played centerfield when he wasn’t on the mound, also proved to have a potent bat, hitting near the top of the order, batting .346 with six doubles, two home runs, 15 runs scored and 10 runs batted in. He also stole eight bases.
Highlights included a save in a season-opening victory over Morse; a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts as well as a home run, double and two RBI in a win over Wells; two hits in a victory over Yarmouth; a two-hitter with eight Ks in a win over Cape Elizabeth; 10 strikeouts in a victory over Gray-New Gloucester; 11 Ks in a one-hit win over Poland; a second no-hitter, with 13 strikeouts, versus Yarmouth; a two-run home run in a second win over Gray-New Gloucester; and a two-hitter in a second victory over Wells.
The good times continued in the postseason, as Cockburn got out of a jam to earn the win in relief in an eight-inning victory over Gray-New Gloucester in the preliminary round, he threw a two-hitter with eight strikeouts in a quarterfinal round win over York, then he earned the victory, giving up three hits and fanning seven in 5.2 innings, in a regional final upset win over Greely. Cockburn wasn’t eligible to pitch against Ellsworth in the state game, due to hitting the pitch limit versus the Rangers, and the Falcons suffered an agonizing 3-2 loss, as they let a seventh inning lead slip away.
Some great things await Blaine Cockburn, Freeport’s Spring Athlete of the Year, at the next level, but the contribution he made to the Falcons’ program will be his lasting legacy.
Coach Steve Shukie’s comment: “I can’t overstate Blaine’s impact on the team this season and on the program overall. He was dominant on the mound, even when he didn’t have his best stuff. He was virtually unhittable when he was on. There was a confidence that we would win, no matter who we were playing, when he was pitching. The results speak for themselves in the biggest games. His offensive impact gets lost because of his dominance on the mound, but his athletic ability and baseball acumen were a huge asset for our lineup. We struggled to score runs this year consistently, but Blaine could get us going with his sharp batting eye, excellent baserunning and ability to hit the ball to all fields. He put pressure on the defense and led us to some important rallies.”
Previous winners:
• 2021 Anthony Panciocco (baseball)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Shea Wagner (baseball)
• 2018 Colby Wagner (baseball)
• 2017 Bennett Hight (baseball)
• 2016 Jack Davenport (baseball)
• 2015 Jack Davenport (baseball)
• 2014 Sam Wogan (lacrosse)
• 2013 Harrison Stivers (track)
• 2012 Sawyer Williams (baseball)
• 2011 Hans Pope (lacrosse)
• 2010 Hans Pope (lacrosse)
• 2009 Greg Ordway (lacrosse)
• 2008 Parker Chipman (track)
• 2007 Luke Charest (lacrosse)
• 2006 Kelso Davis (lacrosse)
• 2005 Tim Gray (lacrosse)
• 2004 Kelso Davis (lacrosse)
• 2003 Tyler Allen (baseball)
• 2002 Ben Grant (baseball)
SAVANNAH TRACY, Senior – Lacrosse
• WMC all-star, first-team
• WMC All-Academic
• WMC Citizenship Award winner
• Falcon Pride and Character Award winner
• Captain
Savannah Tracy
Tracy was always in the middle of the action for a formidable Freeport squad, scoring goals, setting up teammates, winning draws and forcing turnovers as she capped her lacrosse career in style.
Tracy, who also played soccer in high school, hinted at big things to come as a freshman, then, after missing out on her sophomore season due to COVID, was a league all-star as a junior and led the Falcons to the Class C state final, which they lost in agonizing one-goal fashion to Waynflete.
This spring, Tracy, teaming with her talented sister, junior Kate Tracy, was bound and determined to rectify that result and she led Freeport deep into the playoffs again.
Tracy scored 43 goals (giving her 98 for her career) and assisted on 14 others (she finished her career with 29). Tracy also won 49 draws (giving her 132 for her career), collected 68 ground balls (168 for her career) and caused 22 turnovers (57 for her career).
Highlights included four goals, two assists, 13 draw wins and 11 ground balls in a season-opening win at North Yarmouth Academy; two goals and two assists in a victory over Fryeburg Academy; three goals in a win over Gray-New Gloucester/Poland; three goals in a victory over Traip Academy; five goals and two assists in a win over Brunswick; three goals in a second victory over NYA; and five goals and 11 draw controls in a win over Wells.
In a quarterfinal round playoff win over Morse, Tracy scored five times. She then scored four more goals and won 12 of 15 draws against NYA in the semifinals, but the Falcons suffered a painful 10-9 defeat.
Tracy plans to attend Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, next year, but won’t be playing lacrosse.
While her team might have fallen just short of the big prize, Savannah Tracy, Freeport’s Spring Athlete of the Year, was a championship-caliber player by every measure. Her impact and contributions will long be appreciated.
Coach Marcia Wood’s comment: “Savannah has been a consistent threat on our team for the past three seasons. She does it all from the start of the game, from controlling the draw to picking up ground balls to finishing with a goal. She was so determined to play her best game. This year, she stepped it up even more and worked on her mental game, which worked, as she was resilient on the field with a never-give-in attitude. She’s quiet but not when she gets a lacrosse stick in her hand. It’s beautiful to watch her play. I hope she finds something lacrosse-related to continue in the future whether it’s walk-on, club or coaching, because the lacrosse world needs more kids like Savannah. Freeport is sad to see her go, but we were lucky to have had her.”
Previous winners:
• 2021 Rianna Tomm (lacrosse)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Alexa Koenig (softball)
• 2018 Taylor Rinaldi (lacrosse)
• 2017 Alexa Koenig (softball)
• 2016 Courtney Broderick (lacrosse)
• 2015 Emily Johnson (lacrosse)
• 2014 Meredith Broderick (lacrosse)
• 2013 Jocelyn Davee (lacrosse)
• 2012 Alexandra Mitch (lacrosse)
• 2011 Leigh Wyman (softball)
• 2010 Lucy Whitacre (lacrosse)
• 2009 Kristen Poulin (track)
• 2008 Andrea Goodrich (track)
• 2007 Molly Lincoln (lacrosse)
• 2006 Amber Klages (lacrosse)
• 2005 Cassandra Dyer (softball)
• 2004 Logan Crane (track)
• 2003 Molly Charest (lacrosse)
• 2002 Kerry Blenk (softball)
Sports editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
