The first day of fall sports practice arrived across the Seacoast on Monday, Aug. 17, bringing renewed energy, high expectations and plenty of optimism for the season ahead.
From defending state champions to teams breaking in new coaches and rebuilding rosters, athletes and coaches throughout New Hampshire and southern Maine were back on the field, as preparations began for the upcoming season.
Here are some storylines that were uncovered on Monday's first day of practice.
PORTSMOUTH - Portsmouth/Oyster River head coach Brian Pafford knew exactly what he wanted to see from the ClipperCats during Monday's first day of practice - effort.
"I'm just looking for effort overall," Pafford said. "And just making sure we're in good shape after working out all summer. The effort overall has been good. It's hard to judge a lot of that stuff because there's so much teaching going on early."

#season

The start of the 2026 high school field hockey season in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern Maine is coming soon. Players and teams are poised to showcase their talents.
Coaches from each Seacoast high school field hockey team were invited to nominate a for 2026 Preseason Player of the Year.
Voting can be completed through the ballot below. Voting closes at midnight Thursday, Aug. 20.
The winner will be announced in a story published Friday, Aug. 21 at seacoastonline.com/sports and fosters.com/sports.
Evans recorded 99 saves in net for Traip Academy last season, and will be a key player for the Rangers in 2026, head coach Libby Hite said.

#seacoast #hockey #season

The Maine state champions scored eight runs in the first inning, which proved to be enough in a 10-6 victory over Portsmouth in an elimination game on Sunday at the New England Little League Baseball Regional in Bristol, Connecticut.
Portsmouth, which beat Bedford for the New Hampshire state ***** le, finished 0-2 in the double-elimination tournament after falling to Vermont on Saturday. The Maine team (1-1), with boys from Gray, New Gloucester and Raymond, advanced to another elimination game on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Portsmouth rallied after falling into an 8-0 hole. Held to one hit (a single by Gabe Fournier) through three innings, the Seacoast boys scored six runs in the fourth, highlighted by two-run doubles by Drew Cresta and Ryan Poulin. Ryder Raizes also delivered an RBI single.
But Maine held on from there, plating two insurance runs in the fifth off Cresta, who relieved starter Raizes in the first inning and held Maine down until the fifth. At the plate, Cresta finished 2-for-2 with a walk.
On Saturday, Portsmouth fell to Richmond, Vermont (Camel's Hump Little League), 1-0. Mickey Brown pitched a two-hitter for the victors. Bennett Smith was effective for Portsmouth, working 4 1/3 innings and allowing the one run on three hits.

#cresta #little #league

DOVER − Dover High School senior boys tennis player Diego Lopez was voted by the community as 2026 Seacoast High School Boys Tennis Player of the Year.
Lopez, the Green Wave's No. 1 in the top six, won the online poll by receiving 50% of the votes, totaling 125. St. Thomas Aquinas senior Alex Molda finished second with 50 votes.
Portsmouth senior Jiles Tracz had 31 votes, Winnacunnet sophomore David Cuceo had 27 votes, Marshwood senior Carlos Carbonell-Monte had 10 votes and York freshman Ryan Grinnell had seven votes, to round out the six nominees.
Lopez, a Division I All-State first-team selection, went 13-1 at No. 1 singles for the Green Wave, and teamed with his brother, Matias, to go 11-3 at No. 1 doubles.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover's Diego Lopez voted 2026 Seacoast Boys Tennis Player of Year

Coaches from each team were invited to nominate a player for Seacoast high school girls lacrosse Player of the Year for the 2026 season.
Read on to see the nominees and vote for your choice.
Voting can be completed through the ballot below. Voting closes at midnight Thursday, July 2.
The winner will be announced in a story published Friday, July 3 at seacoastonline.com/sports and fosters.com/sports.
Benevides was a Division I all-state first-team selection this season, helping the Blue Hawks advance to the Division I semifinal. Benevides had 77 goals and four ***** ists this season. She also had 34 groundballs and 40 caused turnovers.

Coaches from all Seacoast high school baseball teams were invited to nominate a player for Player of the Year for the 2026 season.
Read on to see the nominees and vote for your chance.
Voting can be completed through the ballot below. Voting closes at midnight Thursday, June 25.
The winner will be announced in a story published June 26 at seacoastonline.com/sports and fosters.com/sports.
Dubois was a Division IV second team All-State selection for the Hilltoppers in 2026.

Hi Jackie, I took these photos while on my 2 hour bike ride from Stratham to Hampton today! I think channel 9 needs someone reporting seacoast weather