It seems like just yesterday that the snow melted, baseball and softball teams were clamoring to get outdoors and practice. And, in the blink of an eye, it’s over.

Oxford Hills Comprehensive Hills varsity baseball team, in what was expected to be a rebuilding year after the loss of several key seniors, surprised everyone by jumping out to an 8-1 start. The success did not last, as mistakes started to mount. The Vikings went 1-6 down the stretch to finish the season at 9-7 and become the number five seed in the Eastern Class A tourney. A trip to Messalonskee in the quarterfinals resulted in a tough 12-0 loss and ended the season. Aiden Heikkinen was named First Team All Conference, while Brady Lafrance and Blake Slicer received second team honors.

The Vikings varsity softball team had a similar season, jumping out to a 9-1 start, before going 2-4 down the stretch, to finish 11-5. Like the boys, the team went into the tourney as the number five seed and lost 13-1 to Edward Little.

At Oxford Hills Middle School, the future looks bright. The girls’ eighth grade softball team went 9-2 and won its league championship. The seventh grade went 10-1 and also won its championship.

The middle school boys’ seventh grade baseball team went 6-5, but played competitive baseball all season, never giving up more than six runs in a game.

The eighth grade boys’ baseball team continued an impressive undefeated streak, stretching over two years, until the last inning of the last game, when Lewiston scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Vikings 5-4. The boys finished 10-1 and won their league championship.

Although the school seasons have ended, there is still plenty of local ball for the die-hard fan. Youth baseball and softball playoffs are beginning and all-star teams ranging for nine- to 15-year-olds will compete for district, state and regional titles.

American Legion baseball begins soon. Coached by Shane Slicer, legion ball provides the most competitive baseball in the area, with high school players and recent graduates who have gone on to play college ball. Last season, the local nine lost in the state championship. Also, for the second year, Lance Bean will coach a junior legion team made up mostly of varsity and junior varsity high school players.