AUGUSTA — Arika Brochu acknowledged she was a bit surprised when informed Thursday she was one of three finalists for the Miss Maine Softball award, given annually to the state’s outstanding senior player.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she said. “It’s definitely an honor. I was surprised because there are plenty of other options around the state.”

Cony senior pitcher Arika Brochu delivers a pitch during a game last week at Cony. Brochu was named a Miss Maine Softball finalist. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Brochu joins Gardiner’s Kristal Smith and Thornton Academy’s Bailey Tremblay. All three are pitchers.

The winner will be announced between the Senior East-West all-star games at Cony High School in Augusta on June 25. The C/D game will be at 4 p.m. and the A/B game will be at 7 p.m.

“It’s an honor,” Brochu added. “The other two girls, I’ve played with them or against them, and it’s a privilege to be named with them.”

Brochu was 11-3 for Cony in the regular season with a 1.01 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 10 walks. She hit .604 with five home runs, 19 RBIs and 29 runs. She was the KVAC Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and hit a team-record 18 career home runs.

Cony coach Rocky Gaslin, whose team reached the Eastern A semifinals, called Brochu “an amazing player.”

“She is the (Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference) player of the year for two years in a row,” he said. She’s a phenomenal pitcher and a great athlete.”

Smith was 15-0 in the regular season for Gardiner with 131 strikeouts and 22 walks in 84 innings pitched. She batted .607 with six home runs.

Tremblay went 14-2 for the Trojans in the regular season with a 2.01 ERA, 130 strikeouts and 22 walks. She had 46 career wins and over 350 career strikeouts. She also batted .547 with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 11 runs scored.