South Portland High senior Alexis Bogdanovich was named the Gatorade Maine softball player of the year on Thursday.

The award recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and character on and off the field. As a state winner, Bogdanovich is a finalist for the national award, which will be announced later this month.

Additional Photos

Alexis Bogdanovich has led South Portland to the top seed in the Western Class A softball playoffs with a 10-0 record on the mound and a .564 batting average. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

A 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher, Bogdanovich went 10-0 with a 0.30 ERA to lead the Red Riots to 16-0 regular-season record and the top seed in Western Class A. They will face No. 8 Sanford in a quarterfinal today as they start the defense of their 2010 state title.

Bogdanovich struck out 111 in 69 innings while walking just four. She also hit .564 with two home runs, 23 RBI, 13 runs and an .827 slugging percentage.

“Alexis Bogdanovich is the heart and soul of the undefeated defending state champions,” said Noble Coach Rick Melanson. “She is without question one of the most talented players in the state of Maine.”

Off the field, Bogdanovich had a 92.8 average in the classroom, while volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of America, a local shelter providing meals and as a youth softball coach. She has signed a letter of intent to play softball on scholarship at Division II St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.

Bogdanovich is the first softball player of the year from South Portland. She follows Bangor’s Sam Bedore, who won the award in 2010, and Fryeburg Academy’s Hannah Hill, who won it in 2008 and ’09.

Related Stories