Leavitt’s St. Hilaire honored Senior pitcher named Miss Maine Softball

AUGUSTA – It was supposed to be a surprise, but some of the senior softball all-stars gathered at Cony Park on Thursday evening seemed to know exactly who was going to be named Miss Maine Softball.

Sam St. Hilaire of Leavitt was standing near some of her friends from Cony and Messalonskee high schools, trying not to smile as they were whispering her name.

Sure enough, the Hornets pitcher, who threw every inning for Leavitt of Turner Center this season, was named the state’s outstanding senior by the Maine Softball Coaches Association.

The announcement came between the A-B and C-D all-star games, which also are sponsored by the coaches association.

Also announced were Players of the Year in all four classifications and both regions.

In Eastern Maine, Messalonskee of Oakland’s Clarice Pepper was the Class A winner. Winslow’s Beth LaFountain was the top Class B player. Houlton’s Anna Lenentine was the Class C winner and Amber Smith of Ashland picked up Player of the Year honors in Class D.

Deering of Portland’s Gina Axelson was the Class A Player of the Year in Western Maine. Lake Region of Naples’ Trisha Shorey earned Class B honors. St. Dominic of Auburn’s Erica Dorso was the Class C player and Kelly Gray of Richmond was the top player in Class D.

St. Hilaire herself was surprised – she said she didn’t remember the coaches association was going to name a Miss Softball Thursday.

“I didn’t even think about it, said St. Hilaire, who has a scholarship to Division II Delta State in Mississippi. “It’s an honor. It makes me feel good to get that. There are obviously some other people who could have gotten it. I didn’t expect my name to be called but it was really nice.”

St. Hilaire got a chance to show off her stuff early in the A-B all-star game, which the East won 11-1. She started in the circle for the East, and after giving up a leadoff single to Bonny Eagle’s Anita Dixon she retired six straight, including five straight on strikeouts.

St. Hilaire led off the bottom of the first by reaching on a throwing error and eventually scored the East’s first run. She hit a line-drive single and scored in the fourth.

St. Hilaire also played stellar defense, backing up several players as an outfielder. It was her first time playing out of the circle on defense but it was a good lesson as she’ll likely play in the outfield as a college freshman next year before she gets her chance as a pitcher, she said.