SACO — Katie Verreault spent the first two years of her high school softball career at Scarborough, which just happens to boast arguably the top program in the state.
Verreault made the move to Thornton Academy as a junior, and while she was excited to play softball for head coach John Provost and the Golden Trojans, the decision was more about the academic experience TA provides than the athletic opportunity.
“I’m kind of sad I didn’t leave (Scarborough) earlier because I met so many new people and they are all so great. The experience is so much better (at TA) … just the classes and the layout, it was more college prep than anything. It was just more relaxed and it’s inviting,” said Verreault.
Verreault put together an incredible senior season for TA as she hit .529 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI. The standout third baseman would come up big during the Trojans’ postseason run, which included an impressive win over Noble where Verreault went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles.
“Coming into the season I was really excited because I knew we were going to be good this year,” said Verreault.
TA’s season and Verreault’s high school career would come to an end when her old team earned a 3-2 win in the Class A South final. One of the players celebrating when Scarborough won the regional title was Verreault’s younger sister, Mollie.
“There wasn’t much discussion. She was excited for it. Everyone was happy for her,” said Verreault on the experience of playing against her sister.
The younger Verreault would celebrate a state championship a few days later. So was the former Red Storm standout rooting for her old team in the state final?
“(I was) only a Mollie fan,” Verreault said.
While Verreault wasn’t able to capture a state title, there’s no doubt in her mind that she made the right decision to move to TA and play for coach Provost.
“Oh my God, it’s been fantastic. I wish I moved there sooner just for him,” said Verreault. “He’s such a good person. He coaches very well. He knows the game. He’s a character … he’s just so funny.”
Verreault will take what she learned from Provost and on the TA campus to Boston this fall when she attends Wentworth Institute of Technology to study architecture and play softball.
“It was definitely a mix of softball and education. I had opportunities to go to a higher division, but I just wanted to focus on my education more,” said Verreault on her decision to attend Wentworth. “I didn’t want any sports getting in the way. They are still going to compete at a high level, but I just wanted to not get everything mixed up too much.”
Verreault knew instantly that Wentworth was the place for her.
“The (Wentworth) coach found me at one of my showcase tournaments and she let me know about their architecture program and how successful it is and I fell in love with it there. I visited the school and just fell in love with it and I’ve always loved Boston,” Verreault said.
The TA graduate was thrilled to find out she was selected as the Journal Tribune’s Most Valuable Player — especially with players like Biddeford’s Brook Davis and Noble’s Reagan Kelly in the running for the honor.
“I’m so honored. I play with Brook during the summer. She’s a fantastic person and a great player. Reagan Kelly, I know she works her butt off all the time, she gets up early every morning to pitch and it paid off, she’s a really great pitcher. I’m just honored that you guys picked me … I’m so happy,” said Verreault.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.