A season that began with discomfort and uncertainty ended in a celebratory pigpile two decades in the making Saturday afternoon at Central Maine Community College.

Cheverus’ softball team, a non-entity for most of its varsity existence, which dates to 2003, surged to the top of Class A thanks to the latest mindboggling pitching gem produced by freshman Addison DeRoche and the bat of sophomore centerfielder Hailey Lamontagne, a combination that was just enough to hold off Oxford Hills in the state final.

Four days after an exhausting and exhilarating regional final win over Windham, where the Stags avenged their only loss of the season, Lamontagne gave DeRoche the lead in the top of the first, when she lined a hit up the middle and when the ball got past the outfield and rolled to the fence, she circled the bases.

In the third, Lamontagne scored on an error to make it 2-0.

DeRoche blew through the Vikings order in the first three innings, fanning all nine hitters she faced, but in the bottom of the fourth, junior second baseman Gigi DeVivo produced Oxford Hills’ lone hit, a single, and after moving up on a passed ball, she stole third and when the throw got away, DeVivo came home to cut the deficit in half.

But in the fifth, Lamontagne gave Cheverus some breathing room, when she doubled home senior shortstop Kelsey Cassidy and DeRoche did the rest.

DeRoche, who recorded all 21 outs by strikeout, did put the tying runs on in the top of the seventh, but ended it in style, fanning sophomore catcher Samantha McPhail, and the Stags had a 3-1 victory and a shiny piece of championship hardware for the very first time.

Cheverus finished season 19-1, ended the Vikings’ campaign at 18-2 and after a preseason trip to Florida was interrupted by a flight delay, which caused the team and its traveling party to sleep at the Baltimore airport, the Stags rode home to Ocean Avenue two months later in comfort and joy.

“That bus ride was incredible,” said Cheverus’ first-year coach John Eisenhart. “I really wanted the school to get a softball banner. To win the first one ever is so cool.”

The stuff dreams are made of

Cheverus went 9-9 in 2023 under Theresa Arsenault, losing to Biddeford, 11-6, in the Class A South quarterfinals.

Prior to this season, Arsenault, who also served as the Stags’ field hockey coach, stepped down to become the field hockey coach at her alma mater, St. Joseph’s College, and Eisenhart, a former baseball coach at Westbrook, assistant softball coach at Greely and an assistant with the Stags last season, took over, with Amy Ashley, Cheverus’ athletic director, and Ralph Hendrix, stepping in as assistants.

The Stags were poised to make a move up the standings regardless, but when DeRoche came on board, they quickly went from a contender to one of the favorites and the season would be one of dominance and triumph (see sidebar for previous stories).

Cheverus opened with a 25-0 (three-inning) win at Sanford and the fun was just getting started. The Stags started with 15 straight victories, as DeRoche threw three no-hitters and a perfect game. In the finale, which was one of the most highly anticipated regular season contests in memory, Cheverus was beaten by host Windham, the reigning state champion, 3-1.

Unfazed, the Stags, ranked No. 2 in Class A South, then got no-hitters from DeRoche to eliminate No. 7 Massabesic (3-0) in the quarterfinals and sixth-seeded Scarborough (8-0) in the semifinals. That set up a rematch with No. 1 Windham in the regional final and what became a game for the ages, as DeRoche and Eagles senior ace Brooke Gerry, who will pitch next year at the University of Rhode Island, traded strikeouts and zeroes through nine innings. Finally, in the top of the 10th, Cheverus pushed two runs across, as junior rightfielder Delia Tremble and Cassidy had clutch RBI hits and DeRoche closed out the 2-0 victory with her record 23rd strikeout.

The Stags then had to quickly put the biggest win in program history (to that point) behind them.

“One of the Dads said to me, ‘It’s like the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. We just beat the Russians, now we have to beat Finland,'” Eisenhart said. “We had to quickly turn the page.”

Oxford Hills, meanwhile, lost early to Edward Little and late to Skowhegan and finished second in Class A North. The Vikings then took care of Brewer (11-4) in the quarterfinals, Hampden Academy (7-3) in the semifinals and finally Skowhegan (2-0) in Tuesday’s regional final to advance.

The teams didn’t play this spring and had no playoff history.

While the Stags were participating in their first state game, Oxford Hills took the field for its sixth, and for the second year in a row after falling to Windham a year ago, 3-1.

On a most pleasant mid-June afternoon, in front of a large crowd, the Vikings sought their third championship, but instead, Cheverus put the cherry on top its finest season ever sundae with one more inspirational victory.

One that was hard-fought until the final pitch.

Oxford Hills sophomore pitcher Kyeira Morse began the game by catching Cassidy looking a strike three and getting Tremble to ground out to second, then Lamontagne came up and used her bat, her speed and some good fortune arising from the artificial turf surface to give the Stags the lead.

Lamontagne ripped a line drive up the middle and the ball picked up speed as it got into the outfield and when it got past junior centerfielder Madie Oliveira and rolled to the wall, Lamontagne raced around second and when she neared third, Eisenhart waved her home and circled the bases to put Cheverus on top.

“It looked like it was going to be just a single up the middle, but with the turf, it got into right-center and their outfielder couldn’t stop it,” Eisenhart said. “When it rolled to the fence, I waved her home. She’s so fast. I think it was an inside-the-park home run. It was great to Addie an early run.”

DeRoche popped out to Morse, but she would take the mound with the lead.

And in the course of 13 pitches, she set an immediate tone by striking out the side, fanning DeVivo on three pitches, getting junior rightfielder Addyson Day to chase a 1-2 pitch for strike three, before fanning Morse on a 3-2 offering.

The Stags had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the second, but left two runners on.

Junior catcher Bella Napolitano Aberle grounded out to second leading off, but junior first baseman Ashley Connor singled to center. Sophomore third baseman Anna Kennedy-Jensen popped out to first, but sophomore second baseman Anna Goodman reached on an error at third before freshman leftfielder Abby Kelly lined out to right to end the threat.

In the bottom half, DeRoche struck out sophomore first baseman Charlotte McGreevy on a 1-2 pitch, fanned senior third baseman Maddy Miller, then caught sophomore designated player Cameron Mayhan looking on a 1-2 offering.

Cheverus tacked on a run in the top of the third.

Cassidy led off and tried to reach on a bunt down the third base line, but Miller threw her out. Tremble then singled to center and after Tremble moved to second on a wild pitch, Lamontagne walked. Even though there wasn’t a base open, Oxford Hills opted to walk DeRoche intentionally, bringing up Napolitano Aberle. Eisenhart had Napolitano Aberle bunt, but Morse got to the ball and threw home for the force out, only to have McPhail thrww the ball away and Lamontagne came home to make it 2-0.

“Bella’s a good bunter and I tried to have her push it to the right side, but Tremble was out at home,” said Eisenhart. “Then they threw the ball away and Hailey was able to come around.”

Connor popped out to second, but the damage was done.

In the bottom half, DeRoche got McPhail to watch strike three and senior leftfielder Gabrielle Wright to go down looking as well before fanning sophomore shortstop Atalie Campbell.

Morse had her most effective inning in the top of the fourth, fanning Kennedy-Jensen, getting Goodman to ground out to third and Kelly to do the same.

The Vikings then made things interesting in the bottom half.

DeVivo led off and singled to left. She moved up on a passed ball with Day at the plate and after Day struck out swinging and Morse did the same, DeVivo took off and stole third and on an errant throw, she was able to come home to cut the deficit to 2-1.

“It’s always a gamble, because you know, she likes to steal third base, but my percentage on that is pretty good,” Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “It’s a gamble, but it’s the kind of gamble we like to take.”

DeRoche then fanned McGreevy.

The Stags got the run right back in the top half of the fifth.

Morse walked Cassidy on a 3-1 pitch, then Tremble bunted and reached on an error with Cassidy taking second. That brought up Lamontagne who delivered another big hit, as she lined the ball into right-center for a double, scoring Cassidy and moving Tremble to third.

Again DeRoche was intentionally walked and the bases were loaded with none out and Cheverus had a golden opportunity to break the game open.

But Morse didn’t let it happen, as she got both Napolitano Aberle and Connor to pop out on the infield before catching Kennedy-Jensen looking at strike three.

Regardless, Cheverus took a 3-1 lead to the bottom of the fifth, where DeRoche caught Miller looking at strike three, fanned Mayhan, then got McPhail to swing and miss at an 0-2 pitch.

Morse fanned Goodman to start the sixth, then got Kelly to fly out to right. After Cassidy singled to right, Tremble struck out swinging for the third out.

In the bottom half, senior pinch-hitter Tristen Derenburger led off and reached on an error, on a ball that Connor appeared to dive and catch but the ruling went against her. DeRoche then caught Campbell looking at strike three, DeVivo swung and missed at a 1-2 pitch and Day struck out swinging as well and the Stags were three outs from a trophy.

Cheverus hoped to extend the lead in the top of the seventh when Lamontagne reached on an infield single, but DeRoche flew out deep to center, sophomore pinch-hitter Sadie Collins struck out swinging and Connor watched strike three, as Morse capped her strong effort.

When DeRoche caught Morse looking at a 2-2 pitch and got McGreevy to fan on a 1-2 pitch to start the bottom half, Cheverus needed just one out to celebrate, but it would take awhile.

Miller managed to reach when her bunt landed amid DeRoche, Napolitano Aberle, Goodman and Connor.

“It was a mosh pit trying to catch that ball and Bella had it, then dropped it,” Eisenhart said. “She was down on the ground for awhile and I thought she was really hurt. She just needed a minute. She got up and stared at me with hunger in her eyes and said,’ Don’t even think about taking me out of this game.'”

After Miller moved up on a wild pitch, DeRoche walked Mayhan on a 3-2 pitch, putting the tying runs on and bringing the potential winning run to the plate in the form of McPhail, but DeRoche said enough is enough and got McPhail to swing and miss on three straight offerings.

At 2:45 p.m., history was made, the Stags had a 3-1 victory and the party began.

“Winning a championship with Cheverus when it had never been done before was the pinnacle of my first high school season,” said DeRoche. “Sure, I won individual awards, but I couldn’t have earned those without my team behind me. We’re a tight group and to put up the first ever softball banner in our gym is an honor and something that means more to me overall. It unites us together forever.”

“I feel like everyone was anticipating the last out, so it was just so relieving when (DeRoche) finally pitched the last strike,” Lamontagne said. “I’m proud to be on this team. I feel like we fought all season and showed everyone who we are.”

“The celebration was pretty fun,” added Eisenhart, who was doused with water in the aftermath. “I knew we were talented but winning a state championship, I didn’t really even think about that until we beat Windham.

“I felt like the pressure wasn’t on us against Windham, but that flipped in this game. We were a little tight early. I lost in (the state game) at Westbrook (in 2005) and Greely (in 2018), so I know what it feels like. I didn’t want this team to have that feeling.”

Lamontagne paced Cheverus’ offense with three hits, two of which went for extra bases. She also had an RBI and scored twice.

“I just simplified my swing,” said Lamontagne. “I just told myself, ‘See-ball, hit-ball.’ You can’t overcomplicate it.”

“Hailey’s incredible with the bat,” said Eisenhart. “She’s one of the best hitters around. She’s great at getting hits against the best pitchers.”

Cassidy scored the other run.

The Stags left nine runners on.

“(Morse) is really good,” Eisenhart said. “We couldn’t pull away. We knocked at the door, but we couldn’t get the one big hit.”

DeRoche capped her season for the ages by throwing a one-hitter, walking only one while registering all 21 outs by strikeout.

DeRoche finished with 212 strikeouts in 87 innings this season, including 75 in four postseason contests.

“It’s absolutely amazing playing with these girls and in this environment, it’s a dream come true,” said DeRoche. “I think I was just throwing rise and just spinning and trusting my defense when the ball would get in play and working well with my catcher, Bella.”

“Addie was just incredible,” said Eisenhart. “Again. We needed her today. She’s so incredible, she’s such a great competitor (and) she’s so talented. She’s just an incredible person, too.”

DeRoche, who flew to Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday for a travel ball showcase tournament with her club team, Mojo Lewis, flew back to Maine at 1:30 a.m. Saturday so that she could play in the state championship game.

“It was a lot to travel, but anything for this team,” said DeRoche.

“After we won against Windham, Addie was so torn,” Eisenhart said. “She was at a showcase in Kansas City and everybody who’s anybody in softball was there.

“She came back for us, and she actually told us last fall, she would not be here if we made it to the state championship. Her parents (Joe and Bridget) threw some stuff around and they came back for us. We had thunderstorms Friday night and she didn’t get back until late. I didn’t sleep until I got the text that she was home.”

Eisenhart had plenty of praise to pass around.

“We couldn’t have done it without Addie, but we had a lot of different heroes this year,” he said. “I can’t say enough about Coach Mac (Amy Ashley). She’s such a great coach. She had to juggle her AD duties and her young kids and get to practice. Having her kids around the team reminded me of my time at Westbrook, when it was my kids who were young.”

Oxford Hills’ run came courtesy DeVivo. The Vikings left three runners on base.

Morse didn’t give up an earned run but took the loss, surrendering six hits and three runs in seven innings. She walked four and fanned seven.

“There’s some really good pitchers out there,” Goddard said. “We are fortunate to have also a really good pitcher (Kyeria Morse), and I think the more you get here, the more the opportunity you get to play big games, it just makes you feel more comfortable. Nervewracking as it might be, the expectation is we’re going to be back here and we know what it feels like.”

Back-to-back quest

Speaking of getting back to the state final, Cheverus will be favored to do so next year, presuming DeRoche is back for her sophomore season.

“I’d like three more I guess, but we’ll take it day-by-day and year-by-year,” said DeRoche.

“I think next season, we’re going to come back harder and we’re going to want it more,” said Lamontagne.

“I think (Addison) will be back and we’ll have another talented group,” Eisenhart added. “We had a full JV season this year and the team went 10-3.

“We have players ready to step up, so our future is bright too.”

Sun Journal staff writer Haley Jones contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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