WINSLOW — They were close. In fact, you really can’t come any closer.

The final game of the 2022 Maine high school softball season ended in a celebration of black and orange — just not the one the Winslow Black Raiders wanted. After taking a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the final inning in the Class B state championship, Winslow fell 10-9 as Gardiner won on a walk-off passed ball.

“We think about that game a lot, definitely,” said Winslow senior Nevaeh Duplessie. “There’s a lot of motivation this year. We want to get back there this season, and we really want to win this time.”

There’s reason to believe the Black Raiders can do that in 2023. With much of the roster from last year’s run returning, the Winslow softball team — possibly the best sports program currently at a school that prides itself on great ones — has as good of a chance as ever to end an 18-year state title drought by adding a seventh Gold Glove to the trophy case.

For two years in a row now, Winslow has entered the state softball playoffs flying under the radar. The Black Raiders were an afterthought in 2021 as they concluded the regular season with a 4-11 record, and although they improved to a 9-7 regular season last year, they still had the same No. 8 seed as the postseason began.

Both times, the Black Raiders emerged as improbable Northern Maine champions. Two years ago, they beat Hermon in the Round of 16 before upsetting No. 1 Old Town, Foxcroft and Nokomis; last season, they topped Presque Isle, beat the top-ranked team (Nokomis) again and then beat Lawrence and Hermon for the title.

“I think it just comes from getting more comfortable in the playoffs because you realize that, ‘OK, if we lose, this is over,’” said pitcher Emma Michaud. “We get to the point where none of us are really ready for it to end, so we figure out where we are and kick it into another gear.”

Michaud, one of the top pitchers in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, has been a major part of that postseason success. The Winslow ace was at her best in the regional semifinals and title game last year, allowing a combined five hits while striking out 25.

Winslow softball player Emma Michaud works through a drill during a March 28 practice in Winslow. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Producing hits and runs against Winslow will only prove more difficult in 2023. Yes, Michaud is back with another year of experience under her belt, but the Black Raiders have two more incoming freshman arms in Katelyn Gibbs and Grace Melvin.

“They both throw in the high-40s, so they’re both people we can rely on whenever (Emma) might need a break in the circle,” said first-year head coach Liz York. “We have a good outfield, and as a whole, I think we have some very good hitters and fielders. I think we have a well-rounded team.”

Although Winslow must replace Leah Knight, Harley Pomerleau and Kaci Fortin, the Black Raiders are at the top of Class B contenders with everyone else returning. That includes the entirety of that strong outfield as well as the bulk of a lineup that averaged 7.4 runs per game last year.

York, who replaced Kasey Larsen as Winslow’s head coach, was in her players’ shoes not all that long ago. A 2016 Winslow graduate, she was a power hitter for the Black Raiders less than a decade ago before coaching at the middle school level. She briefly stepped in for Larsen two years ago when the former took a brief absence.

“She’s helped us out in past years, so it’s not really much of an adjustment because they’re kind of about the same,” Michaud said. “It’s mostly just about getting comfortable with her, making sure the team meshes together pretty well and not making too many adjustments.”

Winslow softball player Nevaeh Duplessie tosses a ball during a March 28 practice in Winslow. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Winslow will have to navigate a Class B North field that’s as tough as ever. Nokomis, which was 16-2 last year, returns a Varsity Maine All-State pitcher in Mia Coots as well as much of its lineup, and a Lawrence team that nearly took down the Black Raiders in the regional semis brings back a stud pitcher of its own in Sage Reed.

It’s Winslow, though, that’s made it out of the Northern Maine field for two years running. The Black Raiders have unparalleled championship game experience, and they’re hungry to take it one win further this year after coming just an out away from claiming the biggest prize of all a season ago.

“We have a great group of girls who have been on that big stage and know what it’s like to play in those big games,” York said. “They know how it feels, and I know it feels as a player, too. I know they’re ready to show what they can do.”