Just a few days away from leading the Lee Academy girls basketball team to the Eastern Maine Class D tournament, Shelby Pickering is being recognized for her soccer skills.

Pickering has been named the Gatorade Maine Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Gatorade announced Pickering’s award Thursday. Brunswick senior defender Jesse Kaplan was named the Maine Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Pickering, a senior striker, led the Pandas to a 17-1 record, an Eastern Maine Class D title and an appearance in the Class D state championship. She racked up a state-record 177 goals during her career and was recognized as a Maine Soccer Coaches Association All-America player.

“Shelby is a quiet general on the field,” her father, Lee varsity coach Tom Pickering, said in a statement. “Although she is soft-spoken, her actions carry tremendous weight with her teammates.”

She had 56 goals and 23 assists as a senior and carries a 96.3 grade-point average.

With Kaplan patrolling Brunswick’s backfield, the Dragons gave up an average of less than one goal per game. He also scored a goal and logged two assists.

Pickering and Kaplan are now finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year awards, which will be named in March.

The Gatorade program recognizes one winner in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. State winners are selected by a panel of media and sport-specific experts. The criteria include achievements on and off the field and overall character.

Hampden girls recognized

The members of the 2003 Hampden Academy girls soccer team have been recognized for their academics in addition to their athletic achievements.

The Broncos were one of 241 teams across the country to receive a 2004 Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Maranacook of Readfield was the only other Maine team to earn the NSCAA honor.

The Hampden team had a 3.67 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, the 63rd highest of the teams to be honored. This the fourth of the last seven Hampden teams to be recognized.

Members of the 2003 team were Jessie Aylward, Grace Cushing, Johanna Ghiringhelli, Jill Beal, Brienne Boss, Amy Dumont, Alyssa Forrest, Katie Lawler, Kim Stephenson, Becca Workman, Sarah Robichaud, Annaliese Lafayette, Lili Berube, Jenna Shue, Ashley Blake, Liz Kiser, Morgan Greenlaw, Sophie Kelmenson and Lauren Maltz.

Softball clinic on tap

The Maine Softball Coaches Association will hold a clinic Sunday, March 6, at Thomas College in Waterville.

Among the speakers set for the clinic are Thomas coach Paul Rodrigue, University of Connecticut volunteer pitching coach Peter Looney and Central Connecticut State assistant coach Peter Maneggia Jr.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the clinic runs until 4 p.m.

For more information contact MSCA president David Billings at 459-7111.