Ashley Alward, Skowhegan senior, pitcher/center field: A returning All-State selection, she was a two-time KVAC player of the year. She went 11-1 with two saves, 134 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.42. She walked only 13 and gave up only 18 hits, and batted .420 with two home runs and 16 RBI. She will play next at USM.
Anya Chase, Wells senior, pitcher/second base: A repeat All-State selection, Chase was a dominating left-hander who dealt with injuries but still led the Warriors to the Class B South semifinals. She batted .618 with one home run, 14 RBI and 32 runs. In the circle she was 6-3 with a 2.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 54 innings. She will play next at MIT.
Kelsey Currier, Greely senior, pitcher: Currier pitched the Rangers to the Class B state title game, with back-to-back 1-0 victories in the regional semifinals and final. She was 13-8 with a 2.80 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings. She also batted .508 with 10 RBI and 22 runs, two home runs and 10 doubles. She will play next at Thomas College.
Brook Davis, Biddeford senior, catcher: One of the biggest power threats in the state, she batted .581 with five doubles, two triples and one home run. She scored 14 runs, drove in eight and was walked 17 times. She didn’t strike out all season. Davis will play next at St. Anselm.
Kenzie Dore, Brewer sophomore, shortstop: Considered an exceptional defensive shortstop with great range, Dore also fueled the offense for the Class B state champion out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup. She batted .500 with 21 runs and 20 RBI, hitting 10 doubles and three home runs.
Bailey Dunphy, Carrabec senior, catcher: A two-time Mountain Valley Conference player of the year, Dunphy batted .731 with seven home runs and 41 runs as Carrabec’s leadoff batter. She stole 17 bases and threw out four of the six base runners who attempted to steal against her.
Chloe Griffin, Scarborough senior, pitcher/right field: The Miss Maine Softball winner, Griffin led the Red Storm to back-to-back Class A state championships. She was 14-0 with a 0.91 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 92 innings, and batted .446 with four home runs, 28 RBI and 25 runs. She will play next at Southern New Hampshire University.
Chloe Jones, Oceanside junior, pitcher: Extremely versatile, Jones pitched the Mariners to the Class B North final by going 12-3 with a 1.02 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 110 innings. She also hit .371 with one home run and 12 RBI.
Raegan Kelly, Noble sophomore, pitcher: The pitcher of the year in the SMAA for the second consecutive year, Kelly went 16-2 with a 1.23 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 114 innings. She batted .507 with 21 RBI and 25 runs.
Grace McGouldrick, Gorham senior, pitcher/shortstop: Our Player of the Year and a repeat All-State selection, McGouldrick batted .688 with five home runs, seven triples and eight doubles. She scored 30 runs and drove in 20. As a pitcher she went 10-5 with an ERA of 1.75 and 148 strikeouts in 92 innings. She will play next at UMaine.
Leine McKechnie, Penobscot Valley sophomore, pitcher: McKechnie is a dominating presence in the circle and at the plate. She went 18-1 with 213 strikeouts in 114 innings to lead the Howlers to the Class D state final, and also batted .609 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 38 runs.
Laura Powell, Scarborough senior, center field: An exceptional defensive player, Powell delivered some big hits for the Class A state champion. She batted .409 with three home runs and eight doubles, drove in 22 runs and scored 36. She will attend Colby College.
McKenna Smith, Old Town senior, pitcher: A repeat All-State selection, Smith led the Coyotes to the Class B North semifinals by going 10-1 with a 0.68 ERA. She struck out 151 batters in 71 innings and walked only 15. She also led Old Town with a .491 batting average and five home runs, and had 21 RBI. She will play next at St. Anselm.
Kaitlin Verreault, Thornton Academy senior, third base/pitcher: A slick fielder and powerful hitter, Verreault helped the Trojans reach the Class A South final by hitting .529 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI and 34 runs. She went 3-1 as a pitcher. She is planning to attend Wentworth College.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tom Griffin, Scarborough: Griffin got his 450th career victory this year and also led the Red Storm to a repeat Class A state championship. His constant attention to defense during practices has made Scarborough a very difficult team to beat, evidenced by its 40-game winning streak.
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