Each week this spring, Varsity Maine is asking its reporters what they are most interested in seeing or learning about in the upcoming week? Here are some of their answers:

WHO’S THE NEXT CHAMP?

The state singles tennis tournaments start Thursday at Bates College. Last year’s girls champion, Falmouth’s Sofia Kirtchev, isn’t competing this season, so we will have a new champ. Are the top two seeds, No. 1 Emily Winkler of Thornton Academy and No. 2 Kiera Gregor of Cony, on a collision course?

Winkler is the more tested player this season, sporting wins over fifth-seeded Phoebe Reilly (Falmouth) and No. 3 Jasmine Radjabov (Gorham). Gregor, who missed last year’s tournament because of an ACL injury, hadn’t lost a game in any of her matches this season as of Thursday.

— Nathan Fournier

TRACK STARS

It’s always fun when top athletes from multiple classes and conferences compete against each other.

The Marathon Sports Elite Invitational track and field meet on Saturday at St. Joseph’s College is stacking up as that type of event. The meet begins at 10 a.m. with field events, and runners take the Monks’ bright blue track at 10:30. With conference championships just two weeks away — yes, the spring season goes fast in Maine — this should be a premier chance for runners, jumpers and throwers to gauge where they stand against state-meet caliber competition. The event entry standards are roughly the equivalent of a Class B provisional qualifying mark, with some variances. 

I’ll be interested to see if the results indicate that meet records are likely to fall at the state championship meets on June 6.

— Steve Craig

YOUNG TIGERS LOOKING FIERCE

I’m interested to see if the Gardiner softball team can keep up its offensive onslaught. Despite entering the season with a young roster, the Tigers are off to a blazing start, currently ranked No. 2 in Class B North with a 4-1 record. 

The record isn’t the most impressive part. In their first four games, the Tigers have scored 49 runs, an average of 9.8 per game. That includes an 11-5 win over rival Cony last week. The Tigers have 12 players on the roster who are either freshmen or sophomores. Multiple freshmen are in the starting lineup and producing. In the win over Cony, freshman Livy Cleary had three hits and an RBI, while fellow freshman Lexi Ouellette added two RBI. Sophomore Molly Takatsu had two hits and earned the win in the circle, striking out 10.

The Tigers have a tough schedule ahead, including a showdown against Monmouth Academy, one of the top programs in Class C South, at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

— Dave Dyer

TEMPS RISING IN THE BEACH

The Old Orchard Beach softball team has been a surprise out of the gates, with a 4-0 record. The Seagulls were 4-12 last year and winless the previous spring. Three of their wins have come against teams that haven’t won a game, but the other was against 7-1 North Yarmouth Academy, a contender in Class D.

The Seagulls have scored 43 runs in those first four games. Jordyn Methot, Emelia Michaud, Reagan Partridge and Hannah Webber are all having success at the top of the lineup. Will this continue? Matchups this week with Buckfield and Madison could provide some clues as to whether the Beach has staying power.

– Drew Bonifant

D SOUTH’S NEXT POWER

St. Dominic Academy’s closure has opened the door for a new champion in Class D South baseball. Two of the biggest beneficiaries might be Richmond, which was eliminated by St. Dom’s in the postseason four straight years from 2022-25, and Madison, which has moved down from Class C this season. We’re about to learn a lot more about both teams.

Richmond is clearly a cut above the rest in the East/West Conference, outscoring opponents 90-10 en route to a 6-0 start. The biggest test for the Bobcats might have to come outside of conference play. Perhaps that will be Friday when they travel to face Sacopee Valley, a perennial C South contender, in a doubleheader.

And Madison? Well, as one of two MVC teams in D South (the other is Boothbay), the Bulldogs’ regular season is likely to leave them more battle-tested than their regional counterparts. Madison faces Maranacook on Wednesday and plays a doubleheader against Old Orchard Beach on Saturday, and if the Bulldogs can go toe-to-toe with either of those teams, it’s a sign that they’re one of the premier teams in the region.

— Mike Mandell