CALAIS – Coming into this softball season, the Calais Blue Devils weren’t sure what to expect after losing ace pitcher Steph Perry to graduation and fielding an underclassmen-laden team.

Coach Greg Smith’s Blue Devils have far exceeded expectations so far, racing out to a 11-2 record and the top of the recent Heal point standings.

Not too bad for a team that doesn’t field a single senior.

“I am surprised, to be honest with you. I thought we’d win some games and be in the top 5-6,” Smith said after Calais beat Shead of Eastport in the first of two contests here Monday. Calais lost the second game to Washington Academy.

“To have this record, yes it is a little surprising.”

Junior Alex McVicar doesn’t think so.

“I thought we’d do pretty good this year, we have a strong team,” she said.

Calais has received quality production out of pitchers Tessa Clark and Courtney Hill, both juniors, and freshman lefty Lauren Remington pitched her first game of the season against Shead.

Clark got the start against the WA Raiders, making her return to the circle after missing a week with an abdominal strain, and Smith pointed out that having her back will pay huge dividends.

“Tessa has been our ace, we play much better when she’s pitching because we’re better defensively,” said Smith.

Hill and Remington combined to shut out Shead.

Strong defensive play and top-notch pitching have been keys to the Blue Devils’ strong start.

“We pretty much depend on our defense because we’re not a big hitting team,” Hill said. “We’re a small-ball team, we don’t depend on home runs.”

“That’s how we play,” concurred Smith. “We’re not going to outscore teams by 100 runs.”

Smith wasn’t sure how his team would come out in Monday’s twinbill coming off not only a week-long layoff, but a loss to Houlton last Monday.

The Blue Devils were initially supposed to host the Raiders last Wednesday, but that contest had to be rescheduled due to a student council trip at Calais, Smith said.

“Last week we only had one game, and I didn’t know what was going to happen today,” he said. “They performed well.”

As strong as the Devils’ start has been, Smith acknowledged that reigning Eastern Maine champ Sumner of East Sullivan is still the team to beat.

“I think Sumner’s still the top dog. We played them in the preseason and they looked good,” he said. “You have to play your ‘A’ game against them.”

Sumner has knocked Calais out of the postseason each of the last three years.

The Blue Devils have earned the top seed in the postseason all three seasons, but were eliminated by the Tigers in the quarterfinals in 2005 and the semifinals the last two seasons.

This time around, Calais is raring for a deeper playoff run.

“Three years in a row we’ve been knocked out really early so we’re hoping to go farther this year,” Clark said.

With three games remaining, the Devils are hoping to stay on fire and take some momentum into the playoffs.

“[We’ve] just [got to] keep doing what we’re doing, hitting the ball, playing good defense and seeing how far it takes us,” said Clark.

You’d think it would be difficult for a young team to stay humble during such a hot start, but that isn’t the case with these Blue Devils.

“They’ve taken it pretty well, they work hard with us,” said Clark.

Rams’, Witches’ pitching on fire

Sam Bedore of Bangor and Mel Judkins of Brewer have two things in common: They’re both sophomores, and they’re two of the hottest pitchers in Eastern Maine Class A as of late.

They’ll take those hot streaks into tonight’s 7 p.m. showdown at Coffin Field, as the Witches look to maintain their position atop the Heal point standings.

Both ballclubs are riding the momentum of crucial victories.

Bedore pitched a four-hitter for coach Don Stanhope’s Rams in a 1-0 victory over Hampden Academy Friday while Judkins no-hit the Broncos in a 2-1 Witches’ victory Saturday.

Brewer comes into the contest having won seven straight games since losing 4-2 at Bangor on May 2.

Judkins struck out 15 Hampden batters in Saturday’s victory.

Bangor carries an eight-game win streak into tonight’s matchup.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193