Dave Dyer

Belfast

Sports Writer for the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Only Maine sports reporter who is also a pro wrestler: @BelfastDyer. Opinions posted here are my own.

Articles

Medomak Valley softball edges Hermon for Class B title

6 days ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

ORONO — The Medomak Valley softball team scored one run Saturday afternoon. It was all Sidney Nicholls needed. Nicholls, a sophomore pitcher, tossed a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts to lead the Panthers to a 1-0 win over Hermon in the Class B state championship game at the University of Maine. It’s the second title in program history, and the first in Class B. The Panthers won the Class A championship in 1995. “It feels great,” Nicholls said. “We really wanted it, and I think we did really well.
Buckfield softball blanks Penobscot Valley in Class D final

6 days ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

ORONO — Carmen Crockett saved the best performance of an outstanding high school softball career for Saturday. The result was a 10th Class D state championship for Buckfield. Crockett, a senior pitcher, struck out 16 of the 22 batters she faced while leading the Bucks to a 5-0 win over Penobscot Valley at the University of Maine. Crockett allowed just one hit, in the first inning, and had no walks.
North Yarmouth Academy boys lacrosse pulls away to win Class C title

1 week ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

The third time proved to be the charm for the North Yarmouth Academy boys lacrosse team. The No. 2 Panthers scored four times in the fourth quarter to beat No. 1 Maranacook/Winthrop, 9-7, in the Class C state championship game on Friday night at Deering High’s Memorial Field in Portland. It was a long-awaited win for the NYA seniors after the Panthers lost in the Class C final in 2022 and 2023.
Hall-Dale softball edges Lisbon in Class C South semifinal

1 week ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

FARMINGDALE — The Hall-Dale softball team is back in the Class C South final. The latest trip certainly didn’t come easy. Freshman third baseman Genevieve Ciccarelli scored from second base on an error in the sixth inning, giving the second-seeded Bulldogs a 3-2 win over No. 3 Lisbon in a Class C South semifinal Saturday afternoon. “I’m so happy,” Ciccarelli said. “We worked so hard to get here, and I’m so proud of everyone.
Bucksport girls, Orono boys track run away with Class C titles

2 weeks ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

OAKLAND — It was the greatest day in the history of the Bucksport girls track and field program. And, sadly, head coach Matt Morrison was not there to enjoy it. The Golden Bucks ran away with the Class C title Tuesday at Messalonskee High’s Veterans Stadium — the first state championship in program history. Bucksport finished with 91 points, followed by runner-up Maine Central Institute (72.5 points) and Orono (65).
Takeaways from girls tennis regional championships

2 weeks ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

Falmouth's Sofia Kirtchev returns a shot from Falmouth's Lilia Root during the No. 1 singles during the Class A South final on Monday in Lewiston. Kirtchev won, 6-2, 6-0 and Falmouth won the match, 3-2.
Rebuilt MCI boys tennis finds its way back to Class C South final

3 weeks ago | centralmaine.com | Dave Dyer

WINTHROP — Last year, the Maine Central Institute boys tennis team made its first regional final since 1995 on the backs of some of the best talent in program history. This spring, with an overhauled roster and new players stepping into big roles, the Huskies again find themselves near the top of the heap in Class C. “I didn’t expect to make it this far, but it’s pretty great,” said MCI junior Tyson Thompson.
Muhammad Ali photo in Lewiston became iconic. The photographer says it was luck.

1 month ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

Sixty years later, Neil Leifer still can’t believe his photo is considered one for the ages. On May 25, 1965, Leifer snapped a photo of Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston in a rematch of a world heavyweight title bout at the Central Maine Youth Center in Lewiston, which today is known as The Colisée. The career-defining photo would later be recognized as one of the most iconic images in American sports history.
Messalonskee girls lacrosse runs away from Mt. Blue

1 month ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer

OAKLAND — Messalonskee coach Cora Clukey wanted to see improved timing on offense from the Eagles as the regular season winds down. She saw a big improvement on Tuesday night. Junior midfielder Chloe Masse scored seven goals and added two assists as the Eagles beat Mt. Blue, 14-7, in a Class B matchup at Veterans Field. “We’re really excited, this was a win we needed going into the playoffs,” Masse said.
Softball notebook: 2-team race in C South, and Monmouth grabs the lead

1 month ago | sunjournal.com | Dave Dyer |Drew Bonifant

For the first time since 2019, there’s a team not named Hall-Dale holding a firm grasp of the No. 1 seed in the Class C South softball Heal point standings. Monmouth Academy currently sits atop the standings. After a 4-0 victory over Hall-Dale — the four-time defending Class C champion — on Monday afternoon, the Mustangs (13-0) are nearly locked in as the No. 1 seed entering the playoffs.