AUGUSTA – Sam St. Hilaire wasn’t aware the Miss Maine Softball Award would be presented Thursday night.

“I didn’t think they were going to announce it today,” said the Leavitt pitcher. “I thought it was a lot later.”

So St. Hilaire was taken aback when they brought out the award in between the Maine Softball Coaches Association’s Senior All-Star games. She was even more caught off guard when it was announced that she was this year’s recipient.

“It’s an honor,” said St. Hilaire, who will attend Division II Delta State University in Mississippi next year. “It makes me feel good to get it. There were obviously some other people that could have gotten it. I didn’t expect my name to be called, but it was really nice.”

The award was one of nine given out.

Deering’s Gina Axelson and Messalonskee’s Clarice Pepper were the Players of the Year in Class A in their respective regions. Lake Region’s Trish Shorey and Winslow’s Beth LaFountaine won in class B. St. Dom’s Erica Dorso won the Western C honor while Houlton’s Anna Lenentine won in the East. Class D’s top players were Richmond’s Kelly Gray, and Ashland’s Amber Smith.

Though St. Hilaire would have liked to have finished her career at Leavitt with a third straight state title, an honor like this still ends career on a high note.

“It would have been better if we’d won the states, but it helps a little bit to win an award like this,” she said.

Dorso was equally surprised by her honor. The Saints’ third baseman had discovered this weekend that she was playing in the all-star game.

“I was so excited just to even be here,” said Dorso. “When we lost to Sacopee in the playoff game, I was like It will be the last time I’ll be wearing this shirt.’ Then I found out I was playing in this game. I thought that was awesome. I had one more chance to get out there and play ball and to get an award was just amazing.”

Softball tournaments return to St. Joe’s

The Western Maine regional championship baseball and softball games will return to St. Joseph’s College next year. The baseball and softball committees met Thursday and will recommend to the Maine Principal’s Association membership a move back to Standish.

The Eastern baseball regional finals will stay at Mansfield Complex in Bangor while the softball games will remain at Coffin Field at Brewer High School.