It was quite the conclusion to the spring sports season this past weekend with some local high school teams again demonstrating that southeastern Connecticut’s athletes aren’t about to back down when faced with the top competition from elsewhere in the state.

Three state titles and two runners-up; not bad.

We begin with Waterford. How can we not? They may be called the Lancers, but it is the ability of the student athletes in this seaside town to handle a bat and a ball that has gotten the state’s attention. Baseball and softball have become a cultural and aspirational force. They start them early, train them well and the payoff was again evident this weekend. Success in these sports has become generational.

After a so-so season by Waterford standards, the boys’ baseball team entered the tournament as a middling 15th seed. No matter, because when the dust settled on the infield, they were the last team standing, taking the Class L CIAC championship Friday with a 1-0 win over Berlin. It was the baseball program’s 11th state title, best in Connecticut, and the second trophy in three years.

Not to be outdone, the Waterford girls’ softball team took the Class M title on Saturday in another squeaker, defeating Seymour 6-5. While the numbers are not as impressive as those of the baseball team, the softball program’s legacy is building. The championship was its fifth, the fourth since 2009. And this is a young team. Expect to read more about them.

Also earning a title Saturday in the Class M Division was the East Lyme Vikings girls’ lacrosse team, taking down St. Joseph 10-6. Heretofore the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, of which St. Joseph’s belongs, has dominated in lacrosse. The Vikings sent a message: our region is catching up.

Meanwhile, the Norwich Free Academy softball team came up a run short in the largest division, Class LL, losing in the title game to Southington 7-6, while the Stonington girls’ lacrosse team fell to powerhouse New Fairfield, which earned its third straight Class S trophy.

Good job all.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.