WORCESTER, Mass. — The Saco 13-16 All-Star softball team knows the definition of heartache.

A core group of girls who make up this year’s team has spent the past three seasons on the outside looking in when it comes to various all-star state title games.

In 2006 the team finished second as 12-year-olds in the majors division. It happened again in 2007 finishing second as 13-year-olds in the junior division and in 2008 the team as 14-year-olds playing in the junior division finished second again.

This year, however, perserverance and patience, coupled with great pitching and a potent offense, have propelled the girls from Saco to go over that hump. Last weekend it won the state title against Camden/Rockport. The win earned the team the right to play in the Eastern Regionals in Worcester, Mass., for which it left on Friday afternoon.

“It feels really good, said 15-year-old Mary Brown, the team’s shortstop and at times centerfielder. “After three years of finishing, it feels good to know that we finally made it.”

On Saturday, the team won their first game of the tournament, 3-0, against Massachusetts (see story on B1).

They were scheduled to play today against defending Eastern Regional champ New Jersey at 11 a.m., after the Journal Tribune’s deadline.

While the Saco team’s players said they are happy to represent Maine in the tournament, they also said they acknowledge the challenge they face.

Included in Saco’s pool is Pennsylvania and New Jersey, two historically dominant teams, said 16-year-old Kristen Duross. Saco is guaranteed four games in the tournament with the pool winner advancing to the final round.

“Some of the teams seem pretty hard,” said Duross, who anchors leftfield for the squad. “A lot of them come from bigger states and Pennsylvania is where Little League was founded. We’re going to have fun and see what happens, but it would be a miracle if we won this tournament.”

That miracle, however, could happen said 15-year-old Taylor Duranceau, the team’s first baseman.

“They are going to be tough, but you have to be a team and you have to all want to win it,” she said. “If you all want it together, you can get far. That’s what we did this year and that’s what got us to this point.”

Talent also helps.

The Saco girls hit well. In the state tournament, they mercy-ruled Camden/Rockport once, overcoming a 1-0 games deficit. In Saco’s wins, they beat Camden/Rockport 13-3 and 7-0. Rain shortened the second game to five innings instead of six.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Saco coach Stan Scontras said. “We do hit the ball really well. We scored 20 runs in those two wins and we did it in 10 innings.”

The arm and mind of Katie Kalagias doesn’t hurt, either.

Kalagais, 15 and the team’s starting pitcher, has kept hitters at bay all season with a solid fastball and stealthy changeup, Scontras said.

“What makes Katie a good pitcher is her head,” Scontras said. “You don’t have to throw fast to be good. She mixes speeds real well and she’s clever.”

Regardless if its talent, good pitching, solid hitting or desire, the Saco team members all say they have one goal as the tournament progresses.

“We just want to keep playing,” Duross said. “For me, softball is my life and my life revolves around softball and we all know we want to play for as long as we can.”

— Contact Al Edwards at aedwards@journaltribune.com.