BREWER – After the final out secured its first-ever state championship, the Fryeburg softball team went to right field and celebrated.

It was just the players themselves. They stood around and laughed, cried, hugged and danced after their milestone victory. It was a personal moment of joy for a unique team.

“We all just need to be together and celebrate because without each other, we could never do it,” said senior third baseman Cerise Humphrey.

Of course, the Raiders were so caught up in their routine of celebrating as a group, they completely forgot about other standard victory procedures – like getting the state championship trophy.

“It was funny,” said junior pitcher Hannah Hill. “After every game, that’s what we do. We go out to the outfield. We just run out and meet as a team. But all of a sudden, we go ‘We have to get awards.’ So we all moved out there and celebrated for a second and then had to come back in.”

Saturday’s 6-2 state championship was a historic win for the Raiders. No Fryeburg softball team had ever accomplished that feat. The only girls’ team to ever win states in Fryeburg were the ski, soccer and tennis teams. As significant as the victory was over Medomak Valley, it was icing on the cake to what was already a great season for the 19-1 Raiders. The softball team is a group that loves working together, playing softball and cherishing that bond they’ve established as a team. The fact that it earned them a state title in the long run was a bonus.

“Like coach always says, we don’t have to be friends with each other, but this team is very special,” said junior catcher Heather Tripp. “We are best friends. After practice, we all hang out. We have dinner together. It’s a really good group of girls.”

Hill, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maine, never misses the opportunity to praise her teammates. Though Hill has recorded some eye-popping numbers (like 276 strikeouts, 9 total runs allowed and four earned runs) this season, she says she can’t do it without the team behind her. That was the case against the Panthers. Medomak had more hits (five) than any team this year against Hill and scored the first earned run against her in months. Yet, the Raiders provided support at the plate and in the field to earn the victory.

“I couldn’t ask for a better team,” said Hill. “These girls are amazing. I love every single one of these girls. A lot of people read headlines about Hill does this or that, but these girls make it happen.”

When Humphrey and fellow seniors Jacqui Bell and Candace Thompson were freshmen, the team went 1-15 and seemed ages away from making history.

“Ever since I was little, I always wanted to do this, but we never quite had the group of girls to get it done,” said Humphrey.

Bell moved to Fryeburg her freshman year and endured that 1-15 campaign but says it was worth the excitement Saturday’s win provided.

“To be part of coaches’ program and accomplish this and to be the first to do this, I’m just so glad that I moved to Fryeburg in the first place,” said the outfielder.

Hill recalls watching the boys’ hockey team win states in 2004. She was in middle school. The hockey players bleached their hair and had parades and gatherings in the gym. Softball coach Fred Apt was also the coach of the hockey team that year.

“Hockey was with my son,” said Apt. “So that was special, but this is a special group too. It’s a great team. They’re great kids. It couldn’t happen to a better group.”

Apt said that the coaching staff has tried to be honest to players about what their roles and expectations should be. That has allowed players to put trust in themselves, the coaches and team.

“As long as you’re up front with kids, they’re going to do what you ask of them,” said Apt. “The result is going to be positive. It might not be a state championship, but it will be positive.”

It also helps to have good material. After practice Friday, Apt said he didn’t know what else he could tell his kids prior to Saturday’s big day.

“I said ‘No matter what happens, when you leave the field (Saturday), you’re going to leave the field winners,'” he said. “Then coming down on the bus, we were watching Hoosiers, and the coach in Hoosiers said that. They were all like ‘Coach Apt, you stole that.'”