Vincent is state’s top player St. Dom’s star is Miss Maine Softball

AUGUSTA – Standing with her fellow senior all-stars from Classes C and D, Kat Vincent was this year’s Miss Maine Softball to come from one of the groups of A and B stars clustered near her.

But when her name was called out, the St. Dominic of Auburn catcher gave a slight smile and jogged out to the home plate at Cony High’s softball field, where officials from the Maine Softball Coaches Association were waiting to give her the trophy for Miss Maine Softball.

Miss Maine Softball honors the state’s top senior player as voted by the coaches association. The eight players of the year – four in each classification and region – were the finalists, so Vincent was also named the top player in Western Maine Class C.

The trophy was presented during a ceremony between Thursday’s senior all-star games. The C-D West stars won their game 6-1 but the A-B game was called off due to rain.

Vincent was surprised to receive the honor, considering that she comes from a school with a smaller enrollment.

“I was not expecting this at all,” she said moments after the ceremony. “I always figure, Class A, Class B, very competitive. I don’t know.”

The coaches also gave out Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.

In Eastern Maine, Brewer’s Carolyn McAvoy was the Class A Player of the Year and Bucksport’s Jessie Taylor won the Class B award. Central of Corinth’s Shauna Smith was Class C’s top player and Kara Hartman of Bangor Christian earned the Class D award.

In Western Maine, Scarborough’s Jen Williams picked up the Class A award. Jessica Beisswanger of Wells was the Class B Player of the Year. Class D’s top senior was Buckfield’s Danielle Buswell.

Vincent batted .462 with one home run, at least four triples and four doubles, and at least 25 RBIs, coach Don Samson said. She did not allow a stolen base this year and helped get St. Dominic to the Western Maine Class C final.

“She was the leader of this team from when she came in her sophomore year until now,” Samson said.

Vincent is heading to Gordon College in Massachusetts, where she plans to play soccer.

Coaches of the Year were Leavitt of Turner’s Peter Higgins, Gray-New Gloucester’s John Moody, Sacopee of Hiram’s Tim Vacchiano and Dan Jack of Buckfield.

Meagan Ramos, last year’s Miss Maine Softball, threw out the first pitch of the A-B game. Ramos, who played for Noble of Berwick, didn’t appear in the all-star game last year because of an injury.