Thursday, August 6, 2020

Windham’s Chloe Wilcox honored for softball career by New England Girls Softball League

By Matt Pascarella

The cancellation of the spring sports season left many seniors without that final act to close out their high school athletic careers. But the New England Girls Softball League (NEGSL) worked hard to provide a summer softball experience for many athletes.

Windham High School senior Chloe Wilcox has been playing on the Southern Maine River Rats Orso team in the NEGSL this summer and on Thursday, July 30, the league honored Wilcox, as well as seniors from other towns, at Saint Joseph College in Standish.

From left,, Natalie, Chloe, Ella and Fred Wilcox
gather at a New England Girls Softball event
honoring high school seniors at Saint Joseph College
in Standish on July 30.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA
Wilcox says she had a lot of fun playing this year and had a great summer. She was thankful for the experience.

All the work Travis Demmons and the Southern Maine River Rats organization did to make sure the athletes from the local programs got a chance to play this summer made a difference. It was much appreciated, according to Wilcox.
One of the things she said that she missed the most about her spring season at Windham High was getting to experience her “last everything,” including her last first game playing for the school, her last playoff game and most of all her last time taking the field with an Eagles team that really became a family to her.

Wilcox said there is there is so much to be proud of from her time of being a Windham Eagle.

One moment that will always be special to her was a game against Thornton Academy. Her team went in with a common goal, put in every ounce of effort and it ended up being an 11-inning game.

“Though it didn’t end exactly as we may have wanted it, seeing the team come together and fight until the very end will reside with me forever,” said Wilcox.

Her coach and dad, Fred Wilcox, said he couldn’t ask for a better player to coach.

He said that she’s always working on her craft and is a great teammate.

“She understands that softball isn’t an individual sport and it takes a team to be successful. Off the field, she’s a hard worker,” he said. “I’ve watched her grow into a beautiful and smart young lady who is destined for great things.”

Most of all, the coach said that he’ll miss her leadership and skill on the field next year, but is looking forward to her continuing her success at Colby College.

“If you’re reading this Chloe, thank you for all the memories. I’m so proud of you. You’ve been a great mentor to your sister, Ella. She’s the player she is today because you helped her set the bar high and reach higher. We love you.”

Chloe would like to thank coach Travis Demmons who supported her through her high school career. She said that she wants him to know that he is so greatly appreciated.

She also would also like to thank her family, who have been very supportive with special recognition to her dad and coach.

“He has put endless hours into helping me and making me who I am today, not only as a softball player, but as a person. I don’t think I could thank him enough for the things he has done,” she said.

Her Southern Maine River Rats travel coaches, Kim and Gary Orso have been some of her biggest supporters. Wilcox said.

“I can confidently say that I would not be who I am today without them,” she said.

In the fall, Wilcox will head to Colby College to major in chemistry with a pre-med track where she will start a new chapter in her life and athletic career. She said that just talking with her future teammates is making her very optimistic for her next four years. <

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