Staff Writer

The Scarborough High School softball team has enjoyed a perfect 8-0 regular season, as of press time and junior pitcher Melissa Dellatorre said the team is improving with each game.

“We’re better at every position,” Dellatorre said. “One through nine, every batter we have has confidence they’ll get a hit.”

Even though the team has enjoyed success, Dellatorre said there is still plenty of competition in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association, an athletic conference comprised of 16 teams in western Maine.

“It feels really good,” she said. “One of our team’s goals is to get to 10 wins. We have a lot of competition each season. You can’t take any team lightly.”

The Red Storm still have games against top teams on their schedule, including games against the Cheverus Stags and South Portland Red Riots. 

However, Dellatorre said the team has yet to play their most anticipated game against the Biddeford Tigers. 

Biddeford defeated Scarborough in the Class A Western Maine Final last season after the Red Storm enjoyed a perfect 16-0 regular season. The two teams square off against each other May 26 at Biddeford.

“I think we’re really excited about the Biddeford game, because they beat us last season,” Dellatorre said.

Dellatorre, the team’s top pitcher, was selected as last year’s SMAA Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore.

Dellatorre said she began playing softball at age 8, and around the same time, participated in a pitching clinic with Scarborough head coach Tom Griffin.

“She’s our top pitcher,” Griffin said. “What she gives you is a lot of effort. She’s very consistent. She keeps her emotions in check. She works very, very hard and we have complete trust in her when she’s on the mound.”

When she isn’t pitching, Dellatorre plays outfield.

“I don’t really have an infield spot,” she said.

Dellatorre said she doesn’t have much of a thought process when she’s pitching. She relies on catcher Heather Carrier to decide what pitch she is going to throw.

“Most of the time I just try to throw the ball as hard as I can,” she said. “Heather does such a good job catching. She does most of the thought process.”

During the offseason, Dellatorre said she runs cross country in the fall and is also a member of the indoor track team during winter to help her keep in shape for softball. 

She said she also participates in hitting and pitching classes during winter and plays on summer softball teams.

Off the softball field, Dellatorre likes to hang out with friends, and enjoys her summer job working at Ken’s Place seafood restaurant.

“It’s a lot of fun, I really like it,” she said.

With more than a year to go before college, Dellatorre said she has looked into some schools, but does not yet know what she would like to major in.

“I’m more of a math and science student, so something that involves that,” she said.

Dellatorre said she hopes the Red Storm continue to have success as the season goes on and be one of the last teams standing during the playoffs.

“We definitely want to be there and hope to be there,” Dellatorre said. “But we just take it one day at a time.”

Staff Writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219