WELLS — The Wells softball team had an impressive 2017 campaign, finishing 15-1 and claming the top seed in the Class B South playoffs, where it would advance to the conference final against Fryeburg Academy.

The Warriors were loaded on paper heading into the spring, returning much of the same core as the previous year. Perhaps its top returnee was junior pitcher Anya Chase.

Chase filled a number of roles for Wells in 2017, including being the starter in the circle, batting leadoff, and providing depth in the field when needed. Not only was she among the elite pitchers in the conference, but she was also top-notch in the leadoff spot and as a fielder.

“Anya is an outstanding and talented player — she works hard year round on her softball game as well as her fitness, being an all-around athlete,” said Wells coach Kevin Fox. “She’s a strong pitcher for us, got us out of some jams and won some games for us. She fields her position well, when she doesn’t pitch we can put her anywhere in the field because she’s that talented. She hit leadoff for us and hit over .500, she does a nice job getting on base and scored over 30 runs this season.”

Chase was also a model teammate, cheering her peers on at every moment while also helping others be the best they could be at practice and on game day.

“As a teammate she’s outstanding — she’s an All-Star player but she’s all about the team,” said Fox. “She’s a leader, cheers everyone on, supportive of everyone, she’s very humble and understands that it’s a team game. I can’t say enough.”

Some of her best work came on the state’s biggest stages, including a strong performance in the Class B South conference final. Although Wells fell to Fryeburg, Chase delivered, providing the Warriors with strong pitching and hitting a big two-run triple.

“Like every girl out there she gets nervous, but she does a nice job of understanding that, ‘I can get nervous and maybe fold, or I can buckle down and win this game for us.’ She’s a competitive person so when the moment comes she rises to the top,” said Fox.

The Warriors will have a new look in 2018 after losing a handful of players to graduation. Fox expects Chase to be a leader on and off the field, and believes that she will be as hungry as ever to get the job done.

“She’s got some unfinished business — I think she’ll strive to be better regardless, but as a team we lose some good players but we bring a pretty good core back and I know that she wants another shot at a title,” said Fox. “That’s going to motivate her quite a bit.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.