Noble junior Raegan Kelly looks toward home plate during a Class A South softball game this season. Kelly went
15-3 with a 1.87 ERA as a starting pitcher, striking out 115 batters in 115 innings. She also finished with a .507 batting
average, 18 runs batted in and 23 runs scored to go along with eight doubles and a pair of home runs. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/Journal Tribune)

NORTH BERWICK — After the Noble softball team lost all four of its captains to graduation from a squad that finished 16-2, No. 2 in Class A South and reached the regional championship game in 2018, junior Raegan Kelly didn’t know what to expect from the Knights this season.

Adding to Kelly’s uncertainty heading into 2019 was a poor showing from Noble in preseason games against teams in its conference. But, instead of dwelling on graduation departures and a slow start in the preseason, Kelly used the adversity to get angry – a tactic she thinks helped sharpen the team’s focus.

“We weren’t doing as well as we wanted to (in the preseason),” Kelly said. “That really pushed us to be better and have a good season … It really made us determined.”

The motivation strategy worked as the Knights steamrolled through their first six games of the regular season, outscoring their opponents 56-17, on their way to a 15-3 overall record and a No. 3 seed in the Class A South tournament. 

As Noble’s ace, Kelly started every game, earning a decision in each one and finishing with a 1.87 ERA while striking out 115 batters in 115 innings. Kelly also put together a strong offensive campaign, batting .507 with two home runs, eight doubles and a triple, including 18 RBIs and 23 runs in 69 at-bats. For her efforts, Kelly has been named the Journal Tribune MVP for the 2019 high school softball season. 

Kelly’s production came to no surprise to her coach, Rick Melanson, who has cherished the three years he’s spent the junior on and off the diamond.

“(Coaching Raegan) has been extremely rewarding,” Melanson said. “She’s a remarkable athlete and just a pleasure to coach … She’s tremendous.”

While Kelly has received recognition for her on-field performance this year — she was a finalist for the Gatorade Player of the Year award — Melanson was quick to point out her selflessness with a short story.

Before the season started, the Noble coaching staff had the idea of naming a “leadership crew,” rather than a prototypical captain. 

The crew consisted of upperclassmen, including Kelly, but as the season went on Kelly approached Melanson and suggested the crew should only be for seniors who she felt deserved to take on the leadership role. Melanson obliged.

“She’s such a great teammate, and she’s such a good kid to coach,” said Melanson. “She’s just so nice.”

Noble’s season ended in the semifinals of the Class A South tournament in a 6-4 loss to No. 2 Thornton Academy on June 8. Despite a tough conclusion to a memorable season, Kelly said that, with the uncertainty heading in, she was pleased with how the year played out. She also had high praise for her fellow Knights.

“I had a lot of confidence (in my team this year),” Kelly said. “I feel like I did pretty well … I just tried my hardest because I wanted to make my team, my coach and my family proud.” 

The preparation for the season, like most seasons for Kelly, was a yearlong process. During the fall, she trained at any of the three Playball indoor facilities, an indoor baseball and softball training program with locations in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and Salem and Nashua, New Hampshire. 

To add to her regime, Kelly also trained with her pitching coach once a month to sharpen her skills. And if she ever felt a sudden urge for additional practice, Kelly used the garage at her house to get work done. 

Kelly hopes Noble can reach the Class A Championship in her final season. She also hopes to exact revenge on Scarborough and Thornton Academy, the two teams responsible for Noble’s losses this season, along the way. She believes next year’s Knights have the potential to check all those boxes.

“I think we have the skill to make it pretty far next year,” said Kelly. 

MEET THE 2019 SOFTBALL ALL-STAR TEAM 

 MVP: Raegan Kelly, Noble: As a pitcher, Kelly posted a 15-3 record in the circle with a 1.87 era and 115 strikeouts in 115 innings. As a hitter, the junior finished with a .507 batting average, two home runs, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Kelly had eight doubles and a triple. 

ROY: Chantelle Bouchard, Biddeford: Bouchard took Class A South by storm her freshman season, batting .475 with six home runs and 30 RBIs. The rookie also notched 10 doubles and scored 25 runs.

Olivia Howe, Thornton: A two-way star, Howe was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 104 strikeouts in the circle for the Golden Trojans. At the plate, the senior hit .633 with 32 RBIs and 15 extra-base hits.

Grace Tutt, Massabesic: One of the best players in the state, Tutt led the Mustangs with a .633 batting average, 19 RBIs and 27 runs scored to go along with 14 of her 38 hits going for extra bases. The senior posted a .699 OBP, a 1.732 OPS and a slugging percentage of 1.033.

Jenica Botting, Thornton: The Golden Trojans’ leadoff hitter and catcher, Botting concluded a stellar career at Thornton Academy by batting .607 with a 700 OBP and 26 RBIs.

Abby Miner, Thornton: As a sophomore, Miner terrorized pitchers in Class A South to the tune of a .537 batting average, eight home runs and 35 RBI. Miner also played a solid first base for the Golden Trojans, and she returned from a late-season ankle injury to deliver the game-winning hit for Thornton in its regional semifinal game.

Kelsey Lessard, Noble: The slick-fielding second baseman, Kelsey Lessard finished 2019 with a .980 fielding percentage while committing just one error on the season. The junior was no slouch at the plate, either, hitting .393 with a pair of home runs and 11 RBIs to go with 22 runs scored.

Hannah Collins, Thornton: Another powerful bat in the middle of the Golden Trojans’ lineup, Collins posted a .432 batting average and knocked in 27 RBIs in her senior season.

Kassidy Lessard, Noble: The senior held a .403 batting average and finished with 27 hits, 25 RBIs and 16 runs scored on six doubles, three triples and a home run while playing an errorless center field.

Julia Gregoire, Massabesic: As a junior, Gregoire batted .407 with a 1.280 OPS and 16 RBIs. She registered 22 hits, 10 for extra bases, and scored 18 runs for the Mustangs.

Christine Jarowicz, Kennebunk: As the only senior on the Rams’ roster, Jarowicz hit leadoff and posted a .310 batting average and scored 17 runs. She played an errorless center field.

Lexi Matteau, Biddeford: As a pitcher, Matteau went 10-6 for the Tigers with 80 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched, She posted a 4.56 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP.

Karissa Kenyon, Wells: Kenyon had a .408 batting average, with four home runs, 15 RBIs and 25 runs scored in her senior season.

Lydia Howarth, Kennebunk: Howarth returned from an early-season injury to hit .370 with four home runs and 14 RBIs for the Rams. As a pitcher, the junior struck out 75 batters in 63.2 innings pitched.

Renee Dutremble, Biddeford: The sophomore played a key role on both sides of the ball for a Biddeford team that turned a lot of heads this spring. Dutremble hit .429, with 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored while also playing a dynamic left field.

Sara Boissonneault, Sanford: The junior batted .404 with 20 RBIs and a pair of home runs for the Spartans.

Kenzie Foss, Wells: A senior leader for the Warriors, Foss batted .389 with an OPS of 0.894 to go along with seven RBIs and 13 runs scored while playing a lockdown second base.