TOPSHAM — The spring high school sports season began for all players on Monday, and Mother Nature had a surprise for those hoping for continued warm weather that greeted baseball and softball pitchers and catchers last week.

The temperatures were more early spring-like, with a wind reminding those teams venturing outside that winter was making a slight and, hopefully, short return.

Instead of shorts, athletes in tennis, lacrosse, track, baseball and softball were wearing sweats, gloves, winter hats, ear muffs — basically anything to keep from catching frostbite while trying to show coaches their abilities.

“The key is to keep them moving,” said Brunswick girls lacrosse coach Beth Caputi, who has a tough job this week in evaluating a team filled with 18 freshmen plus a plethora of returning players from a team that advanced to the Class A state title game last year. “We could go to the gym, but with the late practices we have scheduled there (7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.), I would rather be outside.”

At Lisbon, Georgia Ahlers had her tennis players outside as the fierce wind made swinging the racket and making solid contact with the windblown ball difficult at best.

“It is brutal out here today, but it’s the best way for me to evaluate what we have coming into the season,” said Ahlers.

“We were able to get inside at the club (Maine Pines Racquet and Fitness) on Monday, allowing us to spread the kids out over all the courts and begin evaluating,” said Brunswick girls tennis coach Rob Manter. “We did 45 minutes of oneon one drills, then spent the last 15 minutes working on doubles play. We were able to see a lot and are beginning to get an idea of the roster.”

Evaluating over injury

“We are spending a lot of time on strengthening and conditioning this week, while trying to focus on the skills and staying away from the physicality,” said Morse boys lacrosse coach Jay Paulus, whose team braved the conditions outside at Tainter Field instead of heading inside to “ The Pit” at the high school. “We are working on basic skills and trying to get things going in motion.”

Paulus said he is always concerned with his athletes’ readiness coming into the first week of tryouts, with different levels of fitness from his players.

“We had six or seven guys play in the fall in a Massachusetts league, and that got them fired up and in really good shape,” said Paulus. “On the other hand, everyone, whether in middle school or high school, comes out here at different levels of skill and readiness.

“This first week, I keep my expectations low, wanting to make sure the kids are getting in their conditioning and they will hopefully begin to realize how fast varsity boys lacrosse is. It’s a physical, demanding sport, and if players are not ready, they can, and usually do, get hurt.”

“We are not going to do anything dangerous early, like go out on a wet court and try to overstretch while chasing down a ball,” said first-year Freeport girls tennis coach Chris Nordenson, who reflected back to when he was a Falcons athlete. “I remember playing for Freeport and we had a snow court that we kept clear to practice on. Anything to try to show what we could do. Right now, I am looking to see who has the talent and commitment. I want to see players who are out here and enjoying tennis, with a willingness to learn and not question every little thing.”

Injuries are something every coach tries to avoid during the early stages of practice.

“We have to make sure the players are getting in their stretching and working on their conditioning because soon they will be playing three matches a week, something that is very demanding on the body,” said Nordenson.

“We have combined the boys and girls teams this first week, just making sure they are moving all the time and not standing still,” said Wiscasset girls tennis coach Sue Shorey, who returns to lead the Wolverines after a one-year hiatus. “What we tell all the players is to be honest. If something hurts, let us know.

“Many of the athletes haven’t done much physical activity since their last sport. As coaches, we are not always sure who is physically ready to go. So, we will work on basic strokes, backhand, forehead, to see where they are. Introducing them to the basics is the first step and moving on from there.”

“I would love to come into the first few days of practice and have the girls do sprints, but if they are not ready they can’t do that,” said Caputi, whose Dragons are scheduled to host a Play Day at Bowdoin College’s Ryan Field on Saturday (5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.). “I think we will be ready to scrimmage on Saturday. We will work this week on game situations, and by the end of the week we will be fine. It’s all about skill and confidence with their sticks.”

Caputi said she reminds her players to be honest, hoping to avoid long-term injuries.

“Some of the kids are very fit, while others just can’t do certain things yet, and something like a shin splint sets a player back, so pushing it when something is wrong is just not worth it,” said Caputi. “Athletes need to listen to their bodies. An injury now can set a player back for half a season.”

“Lacrosse is all about agility, durance and speed, so we have to get to a point these first couple weeks of putting the players into situations where they can show us they are ready to display those skills,” said Paulus. “One advantage I have is just about everyone on this team I have known and worked with since they were toddlers. So, I know where their readiness is normally at during the beginning of practice.

“On April 7, we play Fryeburg, Biddeford and Deering in Portland at Fitzpatrick Stadium, and that will answer a lot of questions of where we are.”

sports@timesrecord.com