Over the course of her four years as a Windham High School athlete, graduate Brooke Gerry accomplished a lot. She helped lead her varsity softball team to their first state championship in 2023, she’s a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and has achieved 500 strikeouts, among many other accolades. On Tuesday, June 18 at Saint Joseph’s College, Gerry was named 2024 Miss Maine Softball, the top honor for a prep softball player in the state. She will attend the University of Rhode Island to major in Kinesiology and plans to become an athletic trainer or a sports medicine physician.
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| Windham graduate Brooke Gerry winds up to pitch on Friday, May 24 against Cheverus at Windham High School in the final regular season softball game. Before the Class A and Class B All-Star senior game at Saint Joseph's College, Gerry was honored as this year's recipient of the Miss Maine Softball award. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
The Miss Maine Softball honor is chosen each year by the Maine High School Softball Coaches Association and Edge Academy, a softball facility in Portland. It is awarded to the best senior softball player for this award. When statistics were compared from her regular senior season, Gerry’s numbers were consistent. She can compete both offensively and defensively.
Over the course of her entire senior season, including the playoffs, Gerry allowed only 23 hits. She had 149 strikeouts. At the plate, she batted .533 with 32 hits and 22 RBIs.
When Gerry looks back over the last four years, she realizes how much she’s had to grow and how much she’s learned through overcoming adversity. The challenges she faced made her stronger. She kept moving past obstacles in order to achieve her goals and she played within herself and with class. Gerry says that she is very proud of what she’s accomplished.
At the age of 4, Gerry began playing softball and by age 6 was pitching. Softball has always been a big part of her life and the relationships she’s made and the dedication to her teams have kept her going. She was able to play alongside her sister, for her mother, and with her best friend Ella Wilcox. Gerry was also coached by Fred Wilcox who believed in her and taught her so many life lessons; all this made Gerry love the game more.
“Beyond playing in the strongest division in the state – Southern Maine Activities Association, Class A, Brooke is easily one of the hardest working players I have ever coached,” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “Any chance to get extra repetitions she takes, any chance to pitch to an extra batter in practice, she doesn’t hesitate. Brooke truly goes into every practice wanting to get better and that work shows in a game no matter what she is doing.”
Another thing that keeps Gerry going is the younger players that aspire to be just like her. She’s driven to be a good role model and to give back to the game that has given her so much throughout her career. When she’s down, she looks up and sees all of the younger players cheering her on and it instantly makes her push through. She’s given lessons and helped out with clinics and a summer camp for younger athletes.
“Through these I have been able to make unforgettable relationships with all of them,” said Gerry. “I try to make lasting relationships with these athletes and explain to them how I was just like them when I was younger; hoping it will inspire them to work hard and continue with the game.”
She attributes her successes to her hard work and dedication along with the support from her friends and family. There are a lot of people in her corner. She also wants to thank the people who wanted her to fail, because that lit a fire inside her and drove her to up her game.
“It's time to prove myself as a player and show that I'm ready for the next level,” said Gerry. “College softball is a different platform and I have to work that much harder to earn time in the circle.”
Gerry will play college softball for the University of Rhode Island starting this fall.
She plans to give back by giving lessons and eventually coaching softball in the coming years.
“Brooke is deserving of Miss Maine Softball because this award reminds me of dedication and the ability to strive for greatness and that’s what I think Brooke did throughout her entire softball career,” said teammate and Windham senior Stella Jarvais. “She has left a name for herself in the state of Maine for her career. She was able to go above and beyond just the game of softball by also positively impacting younger communities by all that she has achieved.” <
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