Gardiner’s Taylor Takatsu jumps onto home plate after hitting a solo homer against Winslow during the Class B softball championship game last season in Gorham. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Much like last year, the 2023 central Maine softball season promises to have more than its fair share of state championship contenders.

After edging Winslow 10-9 to win the Class B title last season, Gardiner is not only set to defend its crown, but may have a stronger lineup than it did last season.

“They’re kind of looking like right where they left off (last season),” Gardiner head coach Ryan Gero said. “They haven’t forgotten anything, so that’s a good thing.”

The batting order will be led by senior Taylor Takatsu, one of the top power hitters in the area. The biggest area of strength for the Tigers, however, will be in its pitching staff. Brooke Gero and lefthander Lainey Cooley are both back in the circle this season for Gardiner. But the Tigers gained another hurler in Raylee Gilbert, who transferred from Waterville, and has the capability of hitting 60 miles per hour.

Ryan Gero said he’s not yet decided how he will use the three pitchers to start the season.

“Me and the coaches have talked, and we’re not exactly sure how it’s going to turn out yet,” Gero said. “There’s three distinctive styles, all three have a different look. But the biggest thing they have right now is, all three believe in each other. We’ve even talked about going into a game, maybe one starts and the other comes through (later in the game) just to give a different look. If it has to be that way, then that’s the way we’ll go. But my plan to start the season is to just go on a full pitching rotation, where each one will pitch a game and sit for two and we’ll pitch all three all year. All three of them are very seasoned, and if I tell them we need (any of them) to go in a hurry, they’ll be ready to go.”

It won’t be an easy road to another Gold Glove for Gardiner, which plays in Class B South. Winslow is the defending B North champion and nearly upended Gardiner in the Class B title game. The Black Raiders graduated some key hitters and have a new coach in Liz York, a 2016 Winslow graduate. But the Black Raiders also return a good chunk of its roster, including Emma Michaud, one of the top pitchers in the conference.

Challenging Winslow will be Lawrence, which faced the Black Raiders in the B North title game last season. The Bulldogs return most of its roster from last season, including pitchers Sage Reed and Jazmin Johnson.

“(The strength) is they’re so experienced,” Lawrence head coach Joey Marcoux said. “They’ve played so much summer ball. By the time they get back around for their senior year, I’ve got five seniors and two juniors that have played a ton of softball.”

The most feared pitcher — and returning Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B Player of the Year — resides in Newport, as Mia Coots returns to once again lead Nokomis. The Warriors will once again be contenders thanks to the hurler, who went 75 straight innings without allowing an earned run last season, striking out 224 batters.

“We’re going to do well,” Nokomis head coach J.D. McLellan said. “We’ve got Mia, who can control a game. Compared to last year, we’ve been working more on our offense, because our defense is solid. The goal for this year is to score more runs, that’s for sure.”

Coots will be joined by top athlete and shortstop Camryn King, as well as catcher Megan Watson.

Lawrence’s Sage Reed throws a pitch to a Maranacook batter during a softball game last season in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

In Class C, Hall-Dale went on a tear, winning its second consecutive Class C title to cap another undefeated season. The Bulldogs graduated five key contributors from that team, but head coach Steve Acedo said they should be in the mix again.

“The sophomores stepping in, they got a lot of playing time last year, so that helps a lot,” Acedo said. “Most of the spots we have (open) are filled, we’re just going to see how it shakes out, see how we are. We looked pretty good in both scrimmages. We were hitting pretty good and the defense was pretty good, so I don’t have any complaints right now.”

Hall-Dale won’t have to worry about its battery, as top pitchers Ashlynn Donahue and Rita Benoit return, as well as catcher Zoe Soule. Donahue and Benoit have the distinction of having not lost a game in the circle over the last two seasons. Donahue is also a dangerous hitter, with a team-best .537 average last year. Soule is one of the best catchers in the area and a leader behind the plate, along with plus-power with her bat.

As it normally is, the Mountain Valley Conference will have multiple contenders nipping at the Bulldogs’ heels. Monmouth Academy went 14-4 last season, falling in the C South quarterfinals. The Mustangs will have pitchers Brooklyn Federico and Shanna Parson, a lefty, to use in the circle. Madison graduated MVC Player of the Year Brooke McKenney, but the Bulldogs always find a way to go deep in the playoffs under the direction of head coach Chris LeBlanc.

Hall-Dale pitcher Ashlynn Donahue fires a pitch to a Dirigo hitter during a game last season in Farmingdale. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

In Class A North, Messalonskee was one of the more stunning stories in the state last year — going 5-11 during the regular season — before getting hot in the playoffs, upending Skowhegan 10-0 to win the A North title. The Eagles return most of that team in 2023, including Morgan Wills, who proved to be one of the top pitchers and a KVAC Class A first team selection.

“We have nine returning out of 11 for this season,” Messalonskee head coach Samantha Tunningley said. “I think our biggest advantage is these girls are coming in a lot more confident than they did last year, when they were really meeting each other and building team chemistry. This year, they’re having each other’s backs and being more confident. I think one downfall is having a much (bigger) target on our backs after our postseason run.”

Skowhegan finished 16-3 last year and graduated KVAC A Player of the Year Jaycie Christopher. But the River Hawks are still set to be contenders in the conference with a veteran-heavy squad and the pitching of Sierra Carey.

In Class D, Richmond will look to improve upon its trip to the D South semifinals last year.