Reliever Madison Penta came in in the third inning to shut down the Elks and to give Bo Manor a 15-6  away game victory on March 22.
   

Perryville boys lacrosse downed visiting Bo Manor 20-1 on March 21.
  

    The home opener for the Panthers proved to be a letdown.
    The Golden Elks defeated the Panthers 8-2 on Tuesday, March 21.
   

     All of the state qualifiers from Rising Sun girls track team are back.
    "For distance and mid distance disciplines, Emma Wheeler and Julia Herman shall become a strong presence in the 1600 and 800 meter disciplines. Emma Cease (will be) running strong (at the) 3200 meter performance," said Burkhardt. "There are over 20 newcomers who will add depth to the team for the future."
    Madison Webb hopes to come back in force in the 400 meter and make it into the state meet for the first time in the event this year.
    The Tigers have two returning sprinters, Asia Hollis and Mikaela Berg.
    Hollis had the second best finish in the 100 meter and Berg was the second best in the 200m last year in the county.
    "Overall for both teams (boys and girls), I can say that the coaching staff is excited about the turnout and the potential we may have in the near future," said Burkhardt.
    As the Tiger girls will be strong in their meter relays, North East head track coach Tom Decker, is enthused with his distance runners and sprinters.
    Distance returnees are: Sarah Beitler and Yailynn Ramirez. Both are pushing for greater performances this year, according to Decker.
    The team has a solid group of newcomers who are expected to make a significant impact. Those athletes are Jade Tabbs, who will be  a sprinter, and Caroline Roberts and Hope Lavere, both will run in mid-distance.
    While North East is prepared, Elkton has less experience.     The team has a total of 25 girls who are predominate mix of newcomers and the coaching staff is new as well said the Elk's head coach Paul Riggio in an email.
    The athletes still have a lot to learn thus far but Riggio is confident in his coaching staff and players to excel.
    "Practices have been meticulous, difficult, as well as fun and exciting. Each day brings new challenges to the runners as well as coaching staff. It's going to be a long season, so we want to limit and put aside distractions, that may hold us back from achieving our goals." said Riggio  

     The majority of the team is back.
    "We are returning with the majority of our roster intact, and that's a good thing since we've been working to reload after graduating a slew of our top athletes in the past two years," said Perryville High School head track coach, Travon Morgan in an email.
    The boys team placed, 11th in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletics Conference meet, fifth in Regional, and 14th out of 31 schools in the state meet.
    Coach Morgan believes that many of the boys will be some of the best in the county and in the state.
    "Not to dismiss, or diminish the continued progress of all the student-athletes, several of the boys should be among the best in the state, in their respective event areas." he said.
    Leading the pack of sprinters will be Caleb Robinson, Alex Hernandez, Chris Schuler, and Zach Buckson.
    For the hurdles, prospects are Dayvon Montz, Cameron Watson, Cooper Wilcox, and Tanner DiMauro.
    The Panthers top boy jumpers and vaulters are Sean McDonald and Cage Jones. For distance and mid-distance are Brian Keenan, Jacobo Negron, Jakob Lewis, Casey Brogan, Ben Buckless, and Dale Watson. The top thrower in shot put and discus is David Lloyd.
    "We work to prepare our students to excel in any event, and when the opportunity presents itself due to unforeseen situations everyone is prepared," said Morgan.
    While the Panthers have an experienced team, Rising Sun's Tigers are looking to their younger athletes to take the baton this year.  
  

    The Elks are ready to slide into the new season.
     Coming off a 7-12 season last year, Elkton's baseball team is determined to do better in 2017.
    "If we see vast improvement from game one to game eight then we've completed the task," said head coach Steve Smith.
    The team has eight returning varsity players this year. That's a good thing, for the team to build on basics from last year.
    Of those returnees are Nick Gregson, Kyle Spencer, and Evan Spencer. Gregson will be a starter for the Elks, either on the mound or at first base. Kyle Spencer will be at short stop. Evan Spencer will be key at second base.
    "A lot of (our) talent is spread out all over the field, (there is) infield depth, (and) flexible players," said Smith.
    Freshman Austin Oliver will be a universal player for the team as well.
    Coach Smith said that having him on varsity will help to create additional depth now, and build a foundation for the future.
    "The skies the limit," he said.
    While Elkton's team is strong, the North East baseball team is fairly young.

    After a 19-2 season last year, North East softball is ready for a challenging  2017.
    The team has six returnees this year. Of those returning, head coach Kim Evans is looking for senior leadership from Kaitlyn Stewart and Paige Yedinak. Stewart will alternate, as catcher or at third base. Yedinak will play first base. Evans said she is happy with how the girls are performing.
    There are two sophomores this year, Jess Choplinsky and Morgan Sargent, who are doing well and will have pitching duties.
    "The girls worked hard over the summer and the ninth graders are picking up fast and there is a lot potential for the future of the program" Evans said.
    The team is hoping to do well this season and make it to the state semi finals and hopefully win states.
    Striving for the state title.
    After having an undefeated season (22-0) last year, Perryville head softball coach David Ruark is hoping for another excellent season.

    It's time to close the gap.
    The score gap that is, for Bo Manor's girls lacrosse team.
    "Our overall goal is to have more goals scored this year than last," said head coach Brianna Davis.
    The team's record last year was not the best, but the girls continue to come back to play. There are about 33 girls returning to the team this year.
    Davis wants the girls lacrosse program to continue to grow. "It's getting bigger (each season)," she added.
    She is counting on her returning seniors to lead the team to a better season than last. Those leaders are: Stacie Rand, Hayleigh Soukup, Gabby Augustine, Cassidy Hufford, and Hayley Thompson.
    Following a 14-2 season last year, Perryville girls lacrosse team is ready to take on the Chesapeake division.
 

    With 16 returning players and five newcomers, Perryville lacrosse coach Chris Soper has a good foundation.
    After a 10-5 season last year and winning 10 games in each of the last two years, Soper wants to meet or exceed that goal this year.
     Soper is looking for Nick Roberts and Dom Muscella to help lead and direct the team.  The coach is also enthused at having a pair of strong goalies, Ben Savick and Matt Mannone. Freshman Kyle Burns is expected to do big things this season.
    Soper explained that he is trying to build on the team's success and strengthen the lacrosse program. One way of doing that will be a tri-team scrimmage on March 18 at Calvert Regional Park. The Panthers, Manchester Valley, Queen Anne's, will participate.
    While Perryville is expecting a good season, Rising Sun boys lacrosse has some obstacles to overcome.