SACO — John Provost discovered early on that he was dealing with someone special.

So it came as no surprise to the veteran Thornton Academy softball coach that Julia Geaumont completed her high school softball career in award-winning fashion.

“I tell everyone this story,” Provost said recently. “We had a pretty tough practice for two hours on her first night of tryouts as a freshman, and her dad showed up to grab her equipment bag. Her deal was that she liked to run home after practice. So this kid would jog home three miles after a two-hour practice.

“That was just the kind of commitment she had. And that wasn’t just for softball but for everything in her life.”

Geaumont’s dedication led to a spectacular four-year run with the Trojans. The 18-year-old capped off her high school career by being named Miss Maine Softball, the Gatorade Maine and Southern Maine Activities Association Player of the Year and now, the Journal Tribune High School Softball Player of the Year.

The 2012 season delivered some of Geaumont’s most impressive accomplishments.

As one of the state’s most dominant pitchers, Geaumont tossed a perfect game, a no-hitter and six shutouts as part of her 14-2 record during the 2012 season. She finished with 0.66 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 96 innings pitched as the Trojans advanced to the Western Class A semifinals before losing to South Portland.

Geaumont’s offensive numbers were just as remarkable. She started the campaign by homering in her fourth consecutive season opener. She finished with a .679 batting average, delivering 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in the process.

“I wanted to go out with a bang,” said Geaumont, who will play softball and begin her pursuit of a career in medicine at Bowdoin College next year.

“Now that I look at all the stuff it definitely really surprises me. Some of my stats were crazy. I went into every game thinking how I could help my teammates and how can we win.”

In her career Geaumont went 47-10 with a 1.54 ERA and 447 strike outs from the mound. She also hit .514 with 19 home runs and 96 RBIs.

“I wouldn’t change my high school experience for anything,” Geaumont said. “I wish we would have gotten a state championship but not getting one also made me work a lot harder. I don’t know if we would have won one earlier in my high school career if I would have been the same athlete. Every year I was striving to be a better athlete to try and help my team get to that next step.”

Geaumont was the catalyst of an offensively talented team in 2012. The Trojans batted .421 as a team and scored 190 runs.

 High School Softball All-Star Team

Pitcher ”“ Julia Geaumont, Thornton Academy

Catcher ”“ Janelle Bouchard, Kennebunk

Infielders ”“ Erin Brayden, Thornton Academy; Heather Fecteau, Biddeford; Sam Schildroth, Thornton Academy; Emily Schatz, Massabesic

Outfielders ”“ Amanda Tierney, Sanford; Brittney Madore, Kennebunk; Katherine Quint, Wells

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