O n Tuesday afternoon the boys lacrosse team was doing the hokey pokey — what they call a stretch where they walk across the field reaching down to touch their toes with each step.

“What a nice day for lacrosse,” one player shouted.

Baseball team takes the field April 2 at home against Norton. — Timothy Johnson

The tennis, track, baseball and softball coaches all agreed; it was a fine day for sports at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. In the finicky weather of New England, spring sports can have a difficult time getting in all their practices. On Monday, rain interrupted the first day for planned outdoor practices, but by Tuesday, despite a strong wind, the skies were clear and the fields were filled.

For the girls tennis team the weather interruptions means the lineup for their first tennis match is still in question. This week the girls have been playing challenge matches trying to determine who will play first singles and doubles. Last year’s first singles player Samantha Potter graduated, as did the first doubles team of Charlotte Potter and Josie Iadicicco.

After winning the state championships last year in an undefeated season, the girls team is looking to play another strong season.

“That’s about as high of a hurdle as you can get,” said coach Nina Bramhall. This is her second year as coach. The girls start the season with a home match against Nauset on Saturday April 2 at 11 a.m.

The boys tennis team also played challenge matches this week. Coach Bill Rigali has a pretty good idea how his line up will fall even though this is his first season on the job. Mr. Rigali is a retired teacher and former tennis coach who spent 30 years coaching girls tennis at Mt. Holyoke High School.

Co-captains Zak Danz, junior, and Connor Downing, senior, were battling it out for first and second singles, while next to them juniors James Kelliher and Max Hammond faced off.

“That’s right,” yelled Max after making a point.

To get a feel of the team make up Coach Rigali talked with the players and Vineyard Youth Tennis coaches and has been watching the team for the last week.

Defending state champions, tennis team opens season April 2 at home. — Timothy Johnson

“I got as much input as I could. It gives me a starting point at least,” he said.

The boys first match is at home against Nauset on Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m.

The baseball team just returned from a bit of spring training at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. This is the first time the team took a trip down to the facilities where the players spent the weekend playing scrimmages and working on their batting.

“We’ve got a talented group of kids, we want to maximize their potential doing a trip like that,” said head coach Gary Simmons.

Seniors Tucker McNeely, Peter Engley, Emerson Mahoney and Jacob Cardoza, and sophomore Sam Bresnick give the 14 person team much needed experience.

“We’ll be athletic and fast and we’ve got some pretty good pitching,” said Coach Simmons of the upcoming season. The boys start off the season with a home game on Saturday, April 2, against Norton at 12:30 p.m.

The softball team warmed up on Tuesday by tossing the ball around. Junior Cana Courtney has returned to the varsity team after a hiatus last year.

“We’re really excited to have Cana back,” said assistant coach Sam Burns.

The team is still figuring out their starting line up. Jessica Sonia is the starting pitcher, but the team is looking to fill the battery mate (the pitcher and catcher team).

Boys lacrosse starts season April 5 at Brigewater-Raynham. — Timothy Johnson

“Jessica’s little sister is a freshman on varsity,” said Ms. Burns, “It may be a sibling team this year.”

The first softball game is at home on Wednesday, April 6, at 3:15 p.m. against Bourne.

Over at girls lacrosse, another sister team ran drills. Varsity senior Lee Hayman and her freshman sister Addy participated in a star drill with the team. They were simulating a pre-game warm-up. About 65 per cent of the field hockey team also plays on the lacrosse team, coach Bob Hayman said, and they show the same enthusiasm in both sports.

“Talk to each other,” yelled assistant coach Lisa Knight. Communication is key in lacrosse, something the girls are well aware of. Most of them came up through the youth lacrosse program, starting in fourth grade. The girls begin the season with a home game against Wayland on Saturday, April 2, at 11:30 a.m.

The boys lacrosse team is just as vocal as the girls. Having finished their hokey pokey stretch, they ran a passing drill.

“Here’s your help,” the boys shouted to each other. Coach Chris Greene hopes the team will make it into the second round of the playoffs this year.

“We want to win the league this year,” he said. “We haven’t done that since we joined the EAC [Eastern Athletic Conference] five or six years ago.”

The boys are fighting hard to be a part of the starting line up.

“There are battles going on,” Mr. Greene said. “Some guys we thought would start, but other people keep stepping up.”

Softball teams hit the sprints to get season going — first game is April 6 at home. — Timothy Johnson

The varsity team has a lot of experience with 14 seniors on a 22 man roster, led by tri-captains Ben Clark, Austin Chandler and Krishna Datta.

Eli Laikin, the senior goalie, is a stand out on the team, Mr. Greene said.

“He has some of the best hands I’ve seen in a long time in terms of stopping the ball,” Mr. Greene said.

The lacrosse team plays away on Friday against Bridgewater-Raynham and at home on Tuesday, April 5, against Bishop Stang at 3 p.m.

The track was crowded as distance runners did planks on the side while long jumpers and javelin throwers practiced in the middle of the field. Lia Potter took a few warm ups then let a discus soar.

“Plenty of power and distance, Lia,” said coach Joe Schroeder. “We get some spin on that and we’ll be psyched.”

Other girls threw out of the shot put ring while the boys used the disc circle.

Girls lacrosse opens season on April 2. — Timothy Johnson

“That’s a skyrocket,” yelled Coach Schroeder after Ashlee Moreis threw.

The track teams are captained by Olivia Smith, Julia Hart, Chase Silvia and Jake Janak.

The first track meet is away against East Bridgewater on Monday, April 4. The first home meet is on Saturday, April 9, at 11 a.m. against Durfee.

The sailing team offers no excuses in the cold of early spring, practicing in all weather on the cold waters of Lagoon Pond.

“They are a hardy bunch, and they get out there on the water in their dry suits in March. Sometimes they end up in the water more often than not,” said assistant coach Justin Kane.

Junior Mary Morano is captaining the team this year, following in her brother Charlie Morano’s footsteps. The team has its first competition on Saturday, April 2, in Connecticut facing nine teams from up and down the East Coast.

More photos of spring sports teams at practice.