Scarborough’s Zak Sanders pitches against Messalonskee in the first inning of the Class A baseball championship game June 15 at Morton Field in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Zak Sanders knew Scarborough High could contend for a Class A baseball title. He also knew his senior season would be his final competitive year playing the game he loves.

So Sanders made a determined effort to improve on his solid junior season.

He worked on his strengths, like outfield defense and throwing strikes as a pitcher. He improved his off-speed location enough that his “little curveball” could mess with opponents’ timing. He prioritized working on his swing and plate approach over the winter so weak rollover grounders and popups would be replaced by line drives.

Most of all, Sanders created consistent pregame habits and embraced his own nervousness.

Scarborough’s Zak Sanders pitches against Messalonskee during the Class A baseball championship at Morton Field in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“I just had to relax at the plate. The nerves never really affected my control on the mound, but you could ask any of teammates, usually before a game, I was behind the dugout throwing up,” Sanders said. “Once I got that over with, I would be locked in.”

The physical and mental preparation culminated with a near-perfect ending. Sanders threw a four-hit 7-0 shutout in the Class A final against Messalonskee and added three hits of his own as Scarborough finished a 19-1 season with the Class A championship.

For his vital all-around efforts for the team that proved itself the best in Class A, Sanders is our choice as Varsity Maine Baseball Player of the Year, getting the nod over John Winkin Award and Maine Gatorade winner Caleb Vacchiano of Class C champion Sacopee Valley, and Falmouth two-way standout Brennan Rumpf.

Sanders finished 6-0 with a 0.91 ERA. Add in his five saves, and Sanders had a pitching hand in 58% of Scarborough’s 19 wins. Offensively, he hit .355 with an on-base percentage of .494 and scored 30 runs.

“Zak was the catalyst of our state championship team,” said Scarborough Coach Wes Ridlon. “He is not a household name, but to me, he dominated the best competition in Class A South.”

But it was the mental component of his game that showed his resiliency.

Told that Boston Celtics all-time great Bill Russell also used to throw up before games decades before the 18-year-old Scarborough resident was born, Sanders said he had done his own research.

“Have you heard of the soccer player Lionel Messi? He and (Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh Allen, both those guys do it, too,” Sanders said. ‘That was another big thing I had to realize. That it wasn’t some weird, freak thing. That it was a normal reaction to nerves and anxiety.”

Sanders led the SMAA in runs and showed good plate discipline, drawing 14 walks. He had five doubles and 11 RBI. In the outfield, Sanders did not make an error.

Sanders combined with Varsity Maine All-State pick Erik Swenson to give the Red Storm a pair of aces. Sanders was 6-0 with five saves, 51 strikeouts, 10 walks and a 0.91 ERA over 46 1/3 innings.

See Varsity Maine’s picks for the baseball 2024 All-State team

In the playoffs, Sanders recorded a one-out save in a 3-1 South quarterfinal win against Gorham; pitched six innings of relief for a 5-2 win and added a pair of RBI hits in the semifinals against Marshwood; and had a two-out double to start a two-run rally in the fifth inning in a 5-0 regional final win against Falmouth. Ridlon pointed to the double as a prime example of Sanders’ ability to seize the moment and create energy for the team.

“He’s a five-tool player from my perspective,” Ridlon said. “He might not be dominant, but he does it all solid, and add on top of it, the competitive side of it and he doesn’t shy away from the moments.”

Sanders will attend the University of Tennessee in the fall but has no illusions of playing for the NCAA Division I champion Volunteers.

“I’m going to miss playing, but I’m not done with baseball. Hopefully I can pursue a career with something to do with baseball,” said Sanders, who will be majoring in statistics.