AUGUSTA — Lexie Cowan wasn’t even sure she wanted to play softball Thursday.

After Carrabec High School turned heads in the Mountain Valley Conference this season, locking up an appearance in the regional quarterfinals, the senior second baseman for the Cobras had put a nice bow on her playing career with a playoff appearance.

After laying down a bunt, Valley's Michaela Marden, left, sprints to first during the Class C/D senior all star game Thursday in Augusta. She beat the throw from Limestone pitcher Delaney Rossignol, center, to Central first baseman Emma Campbell. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Carrabec's Lexi Cowan hits during the Class C/D senior all star game Thursday in Augusta. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Richmond pitcher Meranda Martin throws during the Class C/D senior all star game Thursday in Augusta. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

“I was really nervous about the game,” Cowan said. “At first, I didn’t want to play in it. I wanted my last game to be with ‘my team.’ Then I figured that this would be a great way to end my season, to be able to wrap it up. I’m glad I came. It was definitely worth it.”

Cowan started at second base for the South team in the Class C/D softball senior all-star game at Cony Family Field. It was fitting that she fielded the final out of the contest to seal the South’s 4-1 win prior to the start of the Class A/B senior all-star game in the evening.

For Carrabec coach Craig Knight, it couldn’t have been more appropriate for Cowan to be honored for her season.

“She’s very, very unselfish. She’d give up anything for her team. That’s the type of kid she is,” said Carrabec coach Craig Knight, who urged Cowan — the lone senior the Cobras had — to participate as an all-star. “To come out here in the senior game and play her last game, it’s really cool.”

Winthrop outfielder Molly Glaser was also part of the South lineup Thursday. Like Cowan, she served as a building block on a team that — while built on an emergence of young talent — needed a selfless veteran to help steer the ship.

If any team was more of a surprise than Carrabec in the MVC this spring, the Ramblers certainly qualified. After winning only five games in 2016, Winthrop finished as the second seed in Class C South and advanced to the regional championship game this year.

“My sophomore year we were mercy-ruled most of the time,” Glaser said. “This year, I remember our comeback and being able to surprise some other teams. Our team has a lot of chemistry. We get along really well and we’re all friends. We just made some great memories, and I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season.”

In that sense, an all-star appearance was a perfect way to top it off.

“I wasn’t expecting to be here, so that was pretty crazy,” Glaser said. “I’m just honored to be here and to have been a part of my team (at Winthrop). I wouldn’t have gotten here without my team.”

Glaser was joined by Winthrop teammate Kaleigh Oberg in the Class C/D game. There were others all over the field, in both games — Lilly Herrin of Lawrence, Madison Clowes of Waterville and Miss Maine Softball winner Hailey Perry of Hermon — who had marked resurgences for their teams during the spring.

There were also individuals from state championship winners and state championship finalists. That fact was not lost on either Cowan or Glaser.

“All the talent. All the talent out there,” Cowan said of what she’ll remember most from Thursday. “I loved playing in the game with new girls, and seeing what they had to offer and hearing about where they were going to school and where they were going to play. I thought the whole thing was great.”

“I won’t say it was winning was the best part, because I probably won’t even remember that,” Glaser said. “It was just being able to be here and be with such great athletes. It was an honor. It’s kind of strange — you look around and it almost makes me feel like they’re all better than I am. But we’re all here, and it’s crazy when you think about how much talent is on the field at the same time.”

And, certainly, no one on Cony Family Field in either all-star game deserved to be there any more or less than Cowan or Glaser did. They’ve left behind teams that will once again should be competitive next season after making sure to leave their influence on the respective programs.

“Lexie brings a positive energy to everybody, whether it’s us, an umpire, the opposing team. She’s just a happy person and gets along with everybody,” Knight said. “It’s awesome to see her or any of our kids recognized. As a coach, you want to see your players and your school being recognized.”

Travis Barrett — 621-5621

tbarrett@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TBarrettGWC

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