By Liam O’Brien
Managing Editor of Sports
At last, the spring sports season has kicked into full gear, with the fields cleared of snow (for the most part) and many teams beginning their regularly scheduled slate of games.
The volleyball team began its journey towards a second consecutive state championship with two lopsided victories over DCL rivals Lincoln-Sudbury and Westford, defeating them both in straight sets 3-0. Meanwhile, other sports – which call the outside tundra their home – ventured out into the increasingly temperate weather and begin their respective seasons.
Despite witnessing its season-opener, which was scheduled for last Saturday with Belmont, get cancelled, the boys’ lacrosse team scrimmaged Norwood and King Philip last week, before officially opening up its year Tuesday afternoon in Watertown, falling 11-5.
The girls’ lacrosse team was also able to get outside, partaking in two preseason tournaments before falling to Acton-Boxboro in their opener 17-1. The baseball team participated in a scrimmage Tuesday afternoon in East Boston.
One field in which the snow removal still remains incomplete is the softball field. As a result, the team was forced to cancel home games against Boston Latin Academy, Westwood, and Belmont, which were scheduled to take place the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week.
The tennis and track teams continue to prepare for their upcoming competitions, which will begin next week.
In other news, the March Madness field has been whittled down to just four, as the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds brought us some incredible excitement in addition to the bone-crushing defeats of our brackets.
Surprisingly, the Final Four includes three No. 1 seeds – undefeated Kentucky, Duke, and Wisconsin, who accompany the Cinderella story of 2015, the Michigan State Spartans, who arose from the depths of a seventh-seed to capture the East Regional.
Although many will be pulling for the Badgers to defeat the Wildcats on Saturday night, it’s hard to believe that any team will be able to get any closer than Notre Dame did, falling by a miniscule two points at the hands of the Goliath that is Kentucky in the Midwest Regional Final.
It will be intriguing to witness what the final weekend of March Madness brings us, and, even though snow still lines our front lawns, what the first week of regular, outside spring practices will look like.
