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.
Wilcox says she had a lot of fun playing this year and had a great
summer. She was thankful for the experience. 
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
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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