As the high school spring sports regular season comes to a close, five teams qualified for postseason play, including the girls’ tennis team which is undefeated thus far. The sailing team also finished its season as the top ranked public school in New England.

Athletic director Mark McCarthy summed up the season this way: “When you have that many teams making it into the tournament that is a very successful spring season.”

Definitely.

Girls’ Tennis

Coaches Nina Bramhall and Liz Roberts led the Vineyard girls tennis team through the best regular season ever, maintaining a perfect 17-0 record. Martha’s Vineyard defeated Barnstable last month, a team that the Island hasn’t beaten in as long as anyone can remember.

“The girls have made it to the playoffs a lot but have never won and moved to states or the semis,” said head coach Nina Bramhall. “As far as I know they’ve never been undefeated and beating Barnstable is unheard of.”

The girls’ team is seeded number one in their south division 3 bracket and on Monday, June 8, will play the winner of Norwell and Fairhaven at 4 p.m. at home.

Boys’ Tennis

The last few years, the boys’ tennis team has been a standout in the state tournament. Last year they entered it with just one loss, and in 2012 and 2013 they won back to back state championships. 

“You can’t shake a stick at 11-5 but in the last three seasons we have had outstanding teams,” said Mark McCarthy. “We have a very good team this year but you’re holding it up against an extremely high standard.” 

This year’s team begins its postseason journey on June 4 against Sacred Heart at home. Serves begin flying at 4 p.m.

The Vineyarders can also look forward to another strong season next year. Conner Downing, who plays singles at the top of the ladder, is only a junior and will return for a final season. 

Head coach Eric Meyer notes that this year’s team isn’t as deep as past teams have been, and that injuries hampered the season. But he’s optimistic that his boys will stand up against competition this week. 

“Our doubles teams are peaking at the right time and all in all we have a good chance of doing well in the state tournament. Last year the team made the semis and I hope to equal that if not do better this year.”

Track

A number of individuals from both the boys’ and girls’ track teams qualified for the state meet, and on Wednesday, they will compete in almost every track and field event at Norwell. Ten boys will represent the Vineyard in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, 200, 400, mile, low hurdles and high hurdles. Relay teams will also compete in the 4 X 100 and 4 X 400 races. 

Ennis Foster, a sophomore, is ranked fourth in the division in the triple jump with a personal record of 42 feet and 2 inches. The top distance is 45 feet and 5 inches.

Fewer girls will compete at the meet, though they have at least one entrant in every event except for the 100, shot put and the discus. Olivia Smith has a chance of placing in three events. She is ranked top five in the long jump, 100 meter high hurdles and 400 meter low hurdles. 

“Our girls had their highest finish ever in the EAC meet. They finished second in the conference which is their best record in quite some time,” said coach Joe Schroeder.

Sailing Team

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School sailing team stood out among spring sports teams this season, earning second place in the New England National Invitational Tournament Regatta held in Rochester, N.Y. over Memorial Day weekend. Even more impressive is that the Vineyard’s sailing team was the top ranked public school in New England. The other teams which they competed against came from either parochial or private schools. 

“This is their best result ever,” said Mark McCarthy. “They’re a very talented group of kids who have been sailing together forever and we looked at this season has potentially being one of the best sailing teams we’ve had and they proved it.”  

Girls’ Lacrosse

After 20 years coaching the sport that she founded on the Vineyard, Betsy Dripps announced this year her retirement as coach of the girls’ lacrosse team. The team finished their regular season with an 11-6-1 record and on Monday faced Falmouth Academy in the first round of postseason play. The team looked to extend the career of their coach, but seventh-seeded Falmouth Academy proved too tough for the 10th-seeded Vineyarders. Final score Falmouth 10, Vineyard 3.

Baseball

The boys’ baseball team clinched its berth in postseason play on Saturday by defeating Triton 2-1. The win put their season’s record at 10-10. Senior Tim Roberts pitched all seven innings for the win.

The team takes on Norton on Thursday.

Boys’ Lacrosse

The key to success this year for the boys’ lacrosse team was its defense. Senior captain and goaltender Austin Fournier gave up an average of only six goals per game, and was supported by a strong defensive line that includes his brother Andrew. The team made it to the postseason, and on Monday they faced eighth seed Hanover in the first round of the division III south playoffs, and lost 12-4 to the higher seed. The Vineyard was seeded ninth.

The lacrosse team will lose 14 of its members after this season, which will make for a challenging rebuild. 

“Austin played virtually every minute for us,” said assistant coach Tom Keller.

Softball

A young softball team muscled its way through a tough season finishing 4-16. Composed mostly of underclassmen, they were challenged by older, more experienced teams. 

“To say we were young would be a gross understatement,” said head coach Donald Herman. “We only had five upperclassmen on varsity.” The Vineyard clinched two victories apiece against Madison Park and O’Bryant.

“It was a rebuilding year,” said Coach Herman. “It was a matter of us trying to overcome a lot of inexperience as far as softball is concerned.”

The Vineyard will lose seniors Mariah Duarte and Amanda Fielding, who each played for at least two seasons. But Coach Herman’s outlook for next season is positive. The Vineyard will hold on to junior Emily Turney, a stalwart player at shortstop who was named an EAC all-star player. Clutch hitter Julia Saughter will return next season, as will the Vineyard’s pitcher Jessica Sonia. 

“It will be nice to have some experience on the mound coming back next year,” said Coach Herman. “We’ll be looking to our seniors to provide leadership.