Sadie Armstrong

Sadie Armstrong, Portland senior, pitcher: Healthy after an injury-plagued 2023 season, Armstrong guided the Bulldogs to the Class A playoffs a year following a three-win season. She went 14-5, struck out 147 in 107 1/3 innings, and compiled a 2.21 ERA. She also batted .566 with three homers and 16 extra-base hits. She’ll play next for Division I Longwood University.

Mia Coots

Mia Coots, Nokomis senior, pitcher: A three-time All-State selection, Coots was named a Miss Maine Softball finalist after going 17-2 with 227 strikeouts and a 0.67 ERA in 125 innings, along with a .387 batting average. She was at her best in her final game, striking out nine and allowing two hits in a 2-1 victory over York in the Class B state final.

Addison DeRoche

Addison DeRoche, Cheverus freshman, pitcher/first base: DeRoche, our choice for Varsity Maine Player of the Year, put together perhaps the best season ever by a Maine player. She went 12-1 with six no-hitters, a 0.08 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 87 innings, and hit .469 with four home runs. She fanned 23 in the Class A South final to beat previously undefeated Windham in 10 innings, then struck out 21 against Oxford Hills in the state final.

Brooke Gerry

Brooke Gerry, Windham senior, pitcher/first base: Gerry capped her excellent career by being named the Miss Maine Softball winner. She went 9-1 with a 0.19 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 72 innings, and was also a threat atop the lineup with a .509 average, a .613 on-base percentage and 35 runs scored. The University of Rhode Island commit struck out 21 in the Class A South final against Cheverus.

Stella Jarvais

Stella Jarvais, Windham junior, catcher: Arguably the state’s best behind the plate, Jarvais was named the SMAA Defensive Player of the Year while batting .373 with 18 RBI. Her value went beyond stats, as she was the pitch caller for the Eagles and she studied opponents to work with her pitchers and come up with game plans for attacking lineups.

Kennedy Kimball

Kennedy Kimball, Windham junior, pitcher/first base: Kimball seized every chance to shine in the circle along with her teammate, Brooke Gerry, going 9-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. She was also Windham’s top power threat, and batted .361 with a .966 OPS and 18 RBI while shining defensively at first base.

McKayla Kortes

McKayla Kortes, York senior, pitcher: The three-time WMC Player of the Year, Miss Maine Softball finalist and Merrimack College commit is a three-time All-State selection. She batted .580 with five home runs, 41 RBI and 36 runs scored, and was dominant in the circle with a 15-1 record, a 1.50 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 96 innings.

Hailey Lamontagne

Hailey Lamontagne, Cheverus sophomore, center field: While Addison DeRoche drew headlines, Lamontagne provided the Class A champions with their best and most consistent bat. She found gaps all season, and hit .517 with a 1.361 OPS and 13 extra-base hits. She drove in 27 runs, and scored or drove in all three runs in the 3-1 championship game win over Oxford Hills.

Kyeria Morse

Kyeria Morse, Oxford Hills sophomore, pitcher: The Vikings’ ace led Oxford Hills to its second straight Class A final, going 12-3 with a 1.46 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 91 innings, while also hitting .552 with three home runs and 29 RBI. She threw two no-hitters, including one against Skowhegan in the North final while striking out 13 hitters.

Ella Nickerson

Ella Nickerson, South Portland senior, center field/shortstop: The unanimous SMAA all-star was the top hitter in a potent lineup and a versatile athlete who thrived at two key positions. She finished with a .542 batting average and a .633 on-base percentage, and 16 of her 26 hits went for extra bases. She’ll play at St. Michael’s College.

Lily Noyes

Lily Noyes, Skowhegan senior, pitcher: Noyes was named the KVAC Class A Player of the Year and a Miss Maine Softball finalist after leading the River Hawks to the Class A North final. She struck out 181 batters in 105 innings while sporting a 0.73 ERA, and batters hit only .152 against her. She also hit .444 with 20 hits and 14 RBI. She will play at Division II Georgian Court University.

Julia Pike

Julia Pike, Kennebunk junior, pitcher: A strikeout artist in the circle throughout her career, the University of Albany-bound Pike impressed enough with the bat to be named the SMAA’s Offensive Player of the Year. She hit .549 with a .635 on-base percentage, and belted four home runs while scoring 24 runs and stealing 13 bases. She also fanned 135 batters in 70 1/3 innings while posting a 2.19 ERA.

Zoe Soule

Zoe Soule, Hall-Dale senior, catcher: Soule started at catcher for all four years, and each year led the Bulldogs to a Class C title. The Simmons College commit was named a Miss Maine Softball finalist, finishing with a .469 average, 1.354 OPS and 12 extra-base hits, including three home runs. She also stole 16 bases, and hit .471 for her career.

Taylor Takatsu

Taylor Takatsu, Gardiner senior, third base: The KVAC B Player of the Year was a feared slugger whom teams often chose to pitch around or walk in key moments. Nevertheless, she hit .468 with a .677 slugging percentage, collecting 30 hits with eight doubles and two home runs. The Miss Maine Softball finalist will play at USM next year.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Chris St. Pierre, Freeport: St. Pierre took over a three-win team and immediately got it winning again. Preaching confidence, competitiveness and a love for the game, St. Pierre got the most out of his team and guided the Falcons to a 16-3 mark and the first Class B South final in program history.