Meaghan Lewia knew she was going to play a sport when she went to Colby College.

“I wanted to continue being a student-athlete,” she said. “I always had that in my life and I wasn’t ready to stop yet. I think it’s kind of who I am, with the academic and the athletic piece.”

And Lewia, a three-sport athlete at Wells High, had a pretty good idea what sport she wanted to play.

“I’ve played (softball) the longest, since I was really little, and it was my favorite.”

That’s pretty obvious by her success. Lewia, a senior second baseman, is leading Colby (7-13) in several offensive categories this spring. She has four home runs, 11 runs, nine RBI, 19 hits, eight steals and 34 total bases in 67 at-bats. Lewia recently got the 100th hit of her career with a leadoff home run against Husson on April 7.

“Really?” she said. “I didn’t even know that. That’s a pretty cool stat.”

It’s been a pretty cool career for Lewia, who also played soccer and basketball in high school.

Robin Penoyer, the White Mules’ interim head coach, said it was obvious when she got the job in February that Lewia was someone she could count on in the field and in the locker room.

“When I first got here and saw her I said, ‘Wow, she is a great athlete,’ ” said Penoyer. “She can play anywhere.

“She leads by example – the way she practices, the way she is always on time, she doesn’t make excuses, she makes sure the classwork is done.”

As Colby’s leadoff batter, Lewia sets the tone for the rest of the order. “You always want to start the game off on the right step,” she said. “But I try not to think too much about that. Whenever I’m up, I want to get on base.”

And she’s done that consistently. She’s also added a power surge. She had hit home runs in three consecutive games last week, and has three doubles this season.

“If she’s not hitting bombs, she’ll drop a bunt to get on,” said Penoyer. “She has good at-bats, selecting good pitches to hit.”

Lewia is joined by three other local players: sophomore outfielder Grace Farnkoff of Scarborough, junior shortstop Emily Schatz of Lyman (Massabesic) and junior catcher Katherine Zafirson of Saco (Thornton Academy). Entering Tuesday’s doubleheader against Thomas College, Schatz was leading Colby with a .315 batting average, along with eight RBI and seven runs scored. Farnkoff was hitting .292 with eight RBI. Zafirson played in five games with one run and one RBI.

Lewia said one difference this year is that she’s more relaxed. “I try not to overanalyze everything,” she said. “Just stay relaxed. And I think that comes from having teammates and coaches believing in me and supporting me. It allows me to have fun and enjoy myself.”

Now she can’t believe her career is coming to an end.

“I think it’s been a good four years,” she said. “I love playing softball and I really enjoy being with my teammates. That’s the biggest thing, not the hits or stats, but being part of a team and contributing to that team.

Lewia, who turns 22 next week, will graduate in May with a degree in economics and mathematics. Then she’ll start a job at Ernst and Young in New York City in its business advisor program.

BASEBALL

Bowdoin College senior Henry Van Zant of Westport, Connecticut, was named New England Small College Athletic Conference pitcher of the week for the second time this season. Van Zant became the first pitcher to shut out Wesleyan this season with a 1-0 complete game. He struck out four, walked one and gave up eight hits but induced three double plays.

• University of Southern Maine junior outfielder Nick DiBiase of Portland (Deering) was named Little East Conference player of the week after hitting .533 in four games with two doubles, a triple and five RBI.

• USM freshman outfielder Devin Warren of Smithfield (Messalonskee) was named LEC rookie of the week after hitting .714 in four games with three doubles and eight RBI.

• St. Joseph’s College sophomore shortstop Max McCoomb of South Berwick (Marshwood) was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference player of the week after hitting .600 in five wins. He scored nine runs, drove in five and stole three bases.

• Husson University freshman Robert Graff of South Portland was named North Atlantic Conference pitcher of the week after his 1-0 complete-game victory over Thomas. He struck out six and allowed three hits.

GOLF

Bentley University junior Malcolm Oliver of Damariscotta (Lincoln Academy) finished third overall to lead the Falcons to a second-place finish in the recent Bentley Spring Classic. Oliver shot a 3-over 75 to finish two strokes behind the co-leaders at the Newport (Rhode Island) National Golf Club.

LACROSSE

Bowdoin senior midfielder Taylor Wilson of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was named NESCAC women’s player of the week. Wilson had four goals and three assists for the Polar Bears in victories over Colby and Connecticut College.

• USM senior defender Julia Pearl of Essex Junction, Vermont, was named LEC women’s defensive player of the week. In two games she averaged four ground balls, 4.5 draw controls and three caused turnovers. She also had two goals and an assist.

• Senior attack Ally Fuehrer of Freeport is the second-leading scorer on Maine Maritime Academy’s first-year women’s team. Fuehrer has 12 goals and three assists, along with nine ground balls and a team-high 31 draw controls. Sophomore midfielder Tori Cooper of Saco (Thornton Academy) has four goals and 26 ground balls for the Mariners. Joining them on the 2-8 team are freshman goalie Haley Turnbull of Kittery (Traip Academy), sophomore midfielder Tara Gauntt of New Harbor (Lincoln Academy), freshman attack Olivia Hupper of Tenants Harbor (Oceanside) and sophomore defender Morgan Maxwell of Windham (Westbrook).

• Senior midfielder Bronson Guimond of Portland scored a career-high five goals for Maine Maritime’s men’s team in a 17-2 win over Johnson State College. Guimond is fourth on the team with 15 goals and eight assists. Sophomore attack Peter Moore of Scarborough is second on the Mariners (5-6) in scoring with 28 goals and 11 assists.

• St. Joseph’s College freshman attack Elyse Caiazzo of Scarborough (Cheverus) was named GNAC women’s rookie of the week for the fifth time this season. She had 13 goals and three assists in four wins for the Monks (12-1). She has 50 goals and 12 assists on the season.

• Husson University junior midfielder Alissa Fallon of Kennebunk was named NAC women’s player of the week. She had 10 goals and seven assists in a 2-1 week for Husson.

SOFTBALL

USM freshman catcher Courtney Davis of Woburn, Massachusetts, was named Little East Conference rookie of the week, hitting .500 over eight games with a triple and two home runs. She drove in 17 runs and scored nine. Davis tied the USM single-game record for RBI with six in a 10-1 win over Bates. She also threw out three runners attempting a stolen base.

• Junior pitcher Julia Geaumont of Saco (Thornton Academy) and sophomore shortstop Marissa O’Toole of Scarborough are among the top players for Bowdoin College (18-8). Geaumont is the Polar Bears’ leading pitcher with a 10-3 record, 2.16 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 871/3 innings. She is also hitting .400 with four home runs, six doubles, 18 RBI and 30 hits – second on the team behind O’Toole, who has 31 hits. O’Toole is hitting .397 with seven doubles, a triple and two home runs and 18 RBI.

• Junior first baseman Heather Fecteau of Biddeford is among the leading hitters on University of Western New England (15-6). Fecteau is leading the Golden Bears with three home runs, six doubles and 22 RBI. She is second with a .314 batting average.

• St. Joseph’s College junior Erica Boulanger of Somersworth, New Hampshire, was named GNAC pitcher of the week after going 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA, eight strikeouts and 12 hits allowed in 12 innings.

TRACK & FIELD

USM senior Jamie Ruginski of Buxton (Bonny Eagle) was named LEC men’s field athlete of the week. He won the long jump at the Colby College Invitational with a leap of 23 feet, 43/4 inches and was second in the triple jump.

• USM freshman Cory Dyer of Jacksonville, Florida, was named LEC men’s rookie field athlete of the week. He won the high jump at the Colby Invitational at 6-5 and was fourth in the long jump.

• USM freshman Rachel Ingram of Winthrop was named LEC women’s rookie field athlete of the week for the second consecutive week. Competing in the Brown University Invitational, she finished fourth in the triple jump and ninth in the long jump.

Copy the Story Link