It has been a softball season years in the making.

When many of the current Oak Hill players were still dreaming of playing at the varsity level, they were already talking about a season to remember.

So far, the Raiders have produced just that. Oak Hill is 11-3 and ranked fourth in Western Class B. The Raiders have one game left before a promising playoff run ahead.

“When my seniors were in the eighth grade, I said this would be the year if we were going to win the states,” said Oak Hill coach Allyson Collins. “So far, they’ve proved me right.”

The Raiders finished 10th overall last year and lost to Cape Elizabeth in a Western B prelim. The hope for Oak Hill this year was that a veteran group could top that.

Leading that charge are seniors Kortni Michaud, Brooke LeBel, Alyssa Rouleau and Brianna Hodgkins.

Michaud has been a standout pitcher and shortstop her entire career. Rouleau is a four-year player, while LeBel has been a force this season after missing last year to an injury. Hodgkins has wielded a consistent bat in a potent Raider lineup.

The Raiders were introduced to the Mountain Valley Conference with two straight losses but then won 10 straight, including victories over Western Class C threats Telstar and Dirigo. Though Oak Hill lost to top-ranked Madison, 5-3 on Wednesday, the Raiders have been getting fine-tuned for the biggest games to come.

“There’s no better time to be playing these teams and getting us ready to be in those pressure situations,” said Collins.

The Raiders dispatched Wiscasset Thursday. They end the regular season Monday with a home game against Mt. Abram.

Then the Raiders could have a spot in the Mountain Valley Conference championship game and get a rematch with Madison. That game is scheduled for Friday at St. Dom’s.

“Going into the playoffs, I feel good,” said Collins. “Hopefully, we can continue on this run.”

Back on track

After an atypical four-game losing streak, defending Western C champ Dirigo was looking more like itself this week.

Dirigo outdueled Telstar for a 3-2 win Monday. It stopped the Cougars’ skid and had Dirigo looking like the team that made a run for the regional crown a year ago.

“That was more of our kind of game,” said Dirigo coach Sara Thurston. “It’s a nice turn in direction at the right time.”

Dirigo used fine pitching, an outstanding defense and some timely hitting to sweep through the Western C tourney last year before losing in the state final. The Cougars were showing signs of that this week with a win that likely secures them second place in the Heal Point standings.

Cami Denney has been solid in the circle, while veterans Tasha DeRoche, Ambyr Wilson, Natalie Bolduc, Gretchen Bradbury and Britney Ellis have made the Cougars contenders again.

Though the team had struggled, the Cougars were determined to work through those challenges and build some momentum.

“We had a pretty intense practice (last weekend),” said Thurston. “They all showed up and wanted to make the changes they needed to make.”

Because of rainouts, the Cougars still have two games to play against St. Dom’s and Lisbon.

Extended play

With the recent rain washing out at least one game for most teams this week, the softball and baseball seasons have been extended, giving teams more time to reschedule.

The Maine Principals’ Association extended the regular season for high school baseball and softball teams by two days. The end of the season originally was Wednesday, May 29. That was the last day of countable games. That deadline has now been extended to Friday, May 31.

That change won’t conflict with tournament play. Preliminary games are not scheduled to being until Tuesday, June 4.

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