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Addison DeRoche’s college destination has been the subject of statewide attention and anticipation since her Cheverus High debut two springs ago.

On Friday, the softball standout revealed her decision.

DeRoche announced her commitment to Florida State on the social media platforms X and Instagram, making her the first Maine softball player to commit to a school in a power conference. The Cheverus junior and two-time Gatorade and Varsity Maine Player of the Year picked the Seminoles over a list of Division I schools, including Texas A&M, Alabama and Oregon.

“It’s a pretty full-circle moment. Every little girl dreams of this, especially coming from Maine. It’s kind of like an uncharted territory for a lot of softball girls,” said DeRoche, a Westbrook resident, who informed Florida State of her decision Wednesday. “This whole process has been incredible. It honestly doesn’t feel real right now.”

In two years, DeRoche will head to a program that has been one of the country’s best. Florida State won the NCAA title in 2018 and went to the final of the Women’s College World Series in 2021 and ’23.

“It’s something you dream of,” she said. “I’ve always watched Florida State, I love how they play, I love their grittiness. … They’ve set a standard, and I hope I can go there and keep it there and make it better.”

DeRoche has led Cheverus to two regional finals in her two years and the Class A state title as a freshman. Last year, she went 12-1 with a 0.43 ERA, striking out 177 batters in 81 innings and pitching two seven-inning no-hitters. She also hit .533, hammered seven home runs, drove in 30 runs and posted a 1.794 OPS.

She fanned 389 batters over 168 innings while allowing six earned runs in her first two seasons, and in the process became a nationally-known recruit. Still, Cheverus coach John Eisenhart said there was a surreal note to DeRoche’s announcement.

“These are kids that we watch every late May, early June, on TV in the playoffs. Florida State’s a perennial threat to win the national championship. I think it really is incredible that a kid from Maine is going there,” he said. “Part of me is like ‘I can’t believe this,’ but you see when you’re with her every day, she’s a special, special kid. She’s exceptional. She’s physically exceptional, she’s competitively exceptional.”

And she knew, deep down, where she wanted to go. She’s known Seminoles coach Lonni Alameda since meeting her at a Vermont clinic as a rising eighth grader in August 2022, and her visit to Tallahassee the first weekend of September only built upon that interest.

“I’ve always had a spot in my heart for Florida State,” she said. “I just always said in my mind, ‘That’s where I want to get to.’ … It’s where I’m supposed to be, it’s where God wants me to be. … It all fits, it’s all right, and I can’t wait to be a Seminole.”

DeRoche said she’s had preliminary talks with her future coaches about what her Florida State role will be.

“They definitely see me developing as a pitcher and getting the opportunity to hit as well,” she said. “Whatever I can do to make my team better.”

Eisenhart said she has the makeup to handle the jump in competition.

“She’s got everything it takes,” he said. “Her ability to be coached, her ability to compete, and her work ethic will serve her very well at the next level.”