Once again, the Calais High softball team has earned the No. 1 seed for the Eastern Maine Class C playoffs.

This year, however, the Blue Devils are hoping their season ends much differently than the past two seasons have. For two straight years Calais had the top spot but was upset early.

In 2005, the top-ranked Devils lost to No. 8 Sumner of East Sullivan 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Last year Calais, again the No. 1 team, fell to No. 5 Sumner 3-2 in the semis.

This year, 16-0 Calais, which is the only undefeated softball team remaining in Eastern Maine, will wait for the winner of Tuesday’s preliminary game between No. 8 Hodgdon (10-6) and No. 9 Houlton (8-6).

The Devils, who will play for the Downeast Athletic Conference crown in an noncountable game today at Jonesport-Beals at 3:30 p.m., will face the Hodgdon-Houlton winner in a Thursday quarterfinal.

“We have a good group of girls and I’m trying to keep it light,” said coach Greg Smith. “Hopefully we’ll get some breaks and make it through this year. We have to hold our own and we have to play defense. That’s the key.”

So far, the Blue Devils have indeed relied on defense and pitching, along with the play of five seniors.

The experienced group of upperclassmen includes pitcher Stephanie Perry, catcher Ashley Allen, first baseman Lindsey Mingo, second baseman Emily Wilkinson, and right fielder Steph Seeley.

Perry and Allen are in their second season as the Devils’ battery.

“Ashley and Stephanie have gelled well,” Smith said. “It’s their second year and we’ve started to let Ashley call some of the pitches. They know what they’re doing.”

Perry, who has racked up 120 strikeouts (7.5 per game) and walked only 12 (0.75 per game), has an earned run average of about 1.50. She can throw a changeup, a screwball, a dropball and a riseball that’s closer to a high fastball.

“She’s gotten very good at spotting her pitches,” Smith said. “Last year she was afraid to go inside on girls but she feels more comfortable now because she’s got better control.”

While Perry keeps the Devils in games, their defense helps secure the wins. Calais is averaging about one error per game thanks to its experienced infield including four of the five seniors. The rest of the infield includes shortstop Courtney Hill and third baseman Tessa Clark.

Smith said he rotates players in left and center but Seeley has been a constant presence in right.

“She’s a player who is overlooked,” he said. “All she does is do all the little things right.”

Seeley hits ninth in the batting rotation, which Smith said is strong throughout. Most of the damage, he said, comes in the 1-6 spots.

The speedy Hill and Wilkinson bat 1-2, with Allen in the third spot and Perry hitting cleanup. They’re followed by Mingo and Clark at 5 and 6, respectively.

“We’re not going to outhit anyone,” Smith said. “We’re going to score runs and scrap. We’ve got the pitching. We just need to play good defense. Defense is the key.”

Smith is hoping the Devils can put it all together for the playoffs. He knows his team’s schedule isn’t as strong as those of top Penobscot Valley Conference teams such as No. 2 Penobscot Valley of Howland (14-2), No. 3 Stearns of Millinocket (12-4) and No. 4 Central of Corinth (13-3), the two-time defending EM Class C champ. Other Class C teams such as No. 5 Sumner (13-3), No. 8 Houlton (10-6) and No. 11 George Stevens of Blue Hill (7-11) get games against top Class B teams like Ellsworth (15-1), Presque Isle (14-2) and defending Class B state champ Bucksport (13-3).

Smith said Calais got more of a challenge out of improved DAC Class D teams such as Jonesport-Beals and Woodland, and the Blue Devils more than held their own against Class C teams such as Houlton and Washington Academy.

“[The PVC teams] play each other every day,” he added. “Nothing against our league, but we don’t see the fast pitching every day like they do, although I’m sure they don’t see it every day, either. But it has gotten better this year and I think that’s helped us. … I think [the playoffs are] wide open this year. Any team 1 through 8 can win.”