Dirigo softball players, from left, Lana Waite, Aleiah Ward and Abby Luczynski are among the Cougars' nine returning starters this spring. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The Dirigo softball team is back almost intact and ready to build off last season’s success.

Last year, the Cougars reached the Class C South semifinals for the first time since doing so in back-to-back years in 2012-13 (state final in 2012 and regional final in 2013).

Their 2024 playoff run was halted by a 9-0 loss in the semifinals to Hall-Dale, which went on to win its fourth consecutive state title.

“It was a rough loss, but I think it all motivated us to try to get there, pass that this year; made it a goal for us to get past where we were,” senior catcher Aleiah Ward said.

All nine starters return, and junior pitcher Lana Waite said last season’s run boosted the Cougars’ confidence and made them eager to get back onto the softball field.

“I feel like we were really anxious, and I know a lot of people on the team love playing softball, and we have a lot of fun, so I think we were all really anxious, and we’re excited to be back,” Waite said.

Waite was the team’s ace last year, going 12-4 and striking out 127 batters in 91 innings. She also was one of the top hitters — finishing with a .412 batting average — on an offense that scored 10 or more runs 10 times. First baseman Keira Reny hit .429 with six doubles and two triples. Ward (.359) and Abby Luczynski (.373) had three triples apiece. Emily Woods (.300) stole 10 bases.

Luczynski, a sophomore second baseman, said the team’s chemistry was another factor in last season’s success, when the Cougars went 13-5 and earned the fourth seed in the Class C South postseason.

“Everyone came into being committed, and everyone showed up, and everyone got along,” said Luczynski, who hit 17 singles and two doubles. “And that was a big part of last year, us getting along. And it translated out onto the field and helped us win games.”

Dirigo softball players and coaches pose during practice on April 7 in Dixfield. The Cougars return all nine starters from last year’s squad that reached the Class C South semifinals. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Still, the Cougars know they can’t take success for granted. As Dirigo coach Scott Robbins notes, they aren’t the only team bringing back a lot of talent.

“The teams that were good last year are still going to be good this year,” Robbins said. “So, I mean, just because we’re one of the fortunate ones to return everybody, I think a bunch of the other teams are returning some key players.”

The returning Cougars will be reinforced by a talented group of freshman. Robbins expects Leah Turnbull (pitcher), Emma Witas (infield/outfield) and Madisyn Bradeen (infield/outfield) to be among the first-year players to contribute.

“We have a lot of good people that came up from middle school last year, so I think they’ll be a good asset to our team and help us out,” Ward said.

“It’s going to be a very hard time to find the perfect lineup because there could be talent everywhere,” Luczynski said.

Robbins, obviously, welcomes the increased depth and said it should play an important role during the course of the season.

“You need more than just nine, for sure, to win at softball,” Robbins said. “We’re going to have to deal with a sickness or an injury. Or, as you get into spring, graduations, banquets and things (of that nature). So it’s good to have girls that we can plug in if we need to.”

The only thing tamping down the team’s preseason enthusiasm is the inconsistent spring weather. Robbins said that Dirigo’s field is usually “one of the last fields to get going.” But the Cougars have been able to get outside for some practices in between snow and rain storms.

“We’ve been in the gym, so when you come out here, it’s almost, ‘Oh, that’s right, we’re getting ready to play softball,'” Robbins said. “So absolutely, the excitement’s building for the season. We know we have one game at a time and we have some tough games that we (have) to start with. We build on successes and failures equally and see where we end up.”

Dirigo is slated to open the season at home on April 28 against Lisbon.