LEWISTON — Running toward second base, Melissa Paione had a thought.

What might happen if she slid aggressively into the bag?

During a Bates College softball game in Florida earlier this  season, the former Edward Little High School standout slid hard into the base, disrupting the play and reaching second safely. She also acquired a sporty souvenir for her hard work — a scar on her shin.

“I’m the type of player that will do anything to do that extra,” Paione said. “Now I have this really nice looking scar. I was like, ‘I’ll be safe. This is good. I’ll be all set.’ I like going 100 percent all the time. I like contributing. And it’s a cool looking scar.”

Paione was so willing to help the Bobcats softball team in her return to the game this spring, that when Bates needed a catcher, Paione spoke up. Bates had graduated its most experienced catcher, leaving a significant void behind the plate.

“She really embraced that,” Bates coach McKell Barnes said. “It’s an integral part of our success, having that strong catcher where you can feel confident throwing drop balls or throwing curve balls. You know Melissa can get her body behind it and block it well. She’s really naturally stepped in and embraced it.”

Paione played second base primarily in high school for the Red Eddies, but she did serve as an extra catcher at times. She played some during the summer and was a catcher during the first week of tryouts, when only pitchers and catchers can participate.

“I wasn’t the official catcher,” Paione said. “(EL coach Elaine Derosby) always had me at second base. She said, ‘I know I can always put you at catcher but you’re good at second. I want Kennedy (Hubbard) to grow as a catcher.’ So I stayed at second base.”

Paione had taken her freshman year off from the game, but wanted to return this year.

“I wanted to see what it was like not playing softball,” Paione said. “Then I realized I missed it, and I wanted to come back.”

She didn’t even know there was a void behind the plate. When word got around that they needed a catcher, she saw the opportunity to help the cause.

“I was like, ‘I can catch. I’m not afraid to catch. I’ve never played catcher at the college level,'” she said.

She was hired. Having someone not only with some experience but also willing was a factor in what she brought to the position.

“We were kind of thinking, ‘who would feel comfortable?'” Barnes said. “It’s not your typical position in the softball field. Melissa is really a natural back there. She receives the ball well. She does a great job framing and blocking. Working with the pitchers, she’s got a calm and cool demeanor about her. For a pitcher’s mentality, being able to help with the game management is great.”

Paione played the first seven games for the Bobcats and hit .333 with five hits and six RBI. Then she broke her finger trying to drop a bunt. It’s made a young Bobcats team scramble without her. Maddie Inlow, who had been starting at shortstop, is behind the plate for the time being.  Between a break during finals week and postponements because of the weather, Paione’s absence has been short — so far.

“I told her that this is the time for it to happen,” Barnes said. “If this is going to happen and she’s able to return, this was a good time for it.”

Paione has been able to throw with the broken digit on her right hand and says it feels good. Her hope is that she’ll be cleared to play as early as next Tuesday.

“I’m trying to make a set back into a comeback,” Paione said. “I’m trying to stay positive. I’m ready to come back. I really want to come back. I really want to improve and I really want to help the team.”

She had been doing well behind the plate and is excited about getting back to it and seeing how much she can improve.

“It’s different,” Paione said of her new role. “I still have that aspect of being new to the world of college softball. I could sit back and watch everyone, but at the same time, I have to be in the game because I touch the ball every pitch. So I have to be on top of my game.”

Bates is currently 3-9 overall and 1-3 in the conference. The Bobcats only have one senior and four juniors, so Paione is among a group of promising younger players already making their mark.

“She’s been a great addition to the team,” Barnes said. “She adds a lot of great energy. She adds a lot of spunk and fun to the game, which is something that’s always fun to be around. It’s one of those intangible things. It translates into that positive team identity that we talk so much about.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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