Dirigo has reached the regional final in each of the past two seasons. The Cougars won the regional crown in 2012 and lost to Madison last year.

The Cougars lost some significant talent from last year’s club, but still return enough experience to keep them in the playoff hunt.

Dirigo returns starters Ellen Wainwright, Emma Lueders, Lauren Henderson, Katelyn Olsen and Megan Bradbury, as well as Kenzie Lord, Destiny Newton, Britney Ellis, Bryce Parent and Kelsey Hutchins. The Cougars will have to adjust to many players in new and larger roles this spring.

Madison should be a contender as well. The Bulldogs lost in the MVC championship game but swept through the Western C tourney with wins over Mt. Abram, Winthrop and Dirigo before beating Bucksport for the state championship.

Telstar will also be a force. The Rebels went 9-5 and lost to Dirigo in the semifinals. Telstar returns a number of veterans including pitcher Jessica Dirago, third baseman Autum Morin, and outfielder Maisey Griffin. All three seniors are three-year starters for the Rebels. Also back are junior letter-winners Sadie Ellsworth, Katie Merrill, Ellie Conrad and sophomore Becca Howard.

With one of the MVC’s top pitchers and a wealth of experience behind Dirago, the Rebels should be one of the top clubs in Western C.

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Mountain Valley could be a team to watch. The Falcons  move to Class C after going 10-4 and seeded fifth in B last year before losing in the prelims.  Mountain Valley returns 11 players, including seniors Katie Collette, Kasey Smith, Katie Mills, Aly Carlton, Shannon Laubauskas, Karissa Murphy and Kelsie Blanchard. Other upperclassmen back are juniors Lindsay Marston and Adelle Oswald. The Falcons also return sophomores Karen Flaherty and Sydney Petrie.

Mt. Abram went 6-12 last year, winning a prelim before falling to Madison in the quarterfinals. The Roadrunners are young and rebuilding. Only Allison Lopez, Sarenah Lariviere Katie Jordan, Kenzie Tyler, Jacey Davenport, Brook-lyn  Millbury and Bailey Debiase return.

Monmouth went 7-7 before losing to Telstar in the prelims. Returning for the Mustangs are seniors Paxton Lessard, Sabrina Beck, Kylie Kemp and Krystin Kemp as well as juniors Becky Bryant, Shannon Buzzell and Caroline Bonenfant. Sophomore Mikayla Cameron returns as well.

Lisbon hopes to build on its 3-14 season last year and return a solid group. The Greyhounds have seniors Olivia Harrington and Jenna Clifford leading the way. Also back are juniors Arianna Kahler, Kailyn Hill, Monica Austin, Taylor Plourde, Courtney Lawrence, Loren Grant, Amanda Hazelton, Lily Wade and Molly Nicholson.

St. Dom’s continues to rebuild but only return senior McKenna Lachapelle and juniors Jacqueline Schmitz, Sam Ladd, Kym Johnson and Johanna Cullenberg.

Other teams that could challenge for tourney spots will be Sacopee Valley from the WMC as well as Winthrop, Carrabec and Hall-Dale from the MVC.


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