The LeBlanc family had been without a state championship for 20 years.
But that ended last spring when first-year Madison High School softball coach Chris LeBlanc led the Bulldogs to a 1-0 win over Calais for the state Class C title.
LeBlanc, who also is the athletic director at Madison, played on Madison’s 1988 and 1989 state Class C football championship teams.
His sisters, Laurie and Vicki, had played on state championship softball teams at Madison.
The two were on the 1992 Class C title-winning team, and Vicki played on another one in 1994.
The 1994 team began a run of four straight state titles for Madison.
“I think they were something like 81-1 during those four years. Their pitcher, Denelle Surman, was one of the best ever,” recalled Chris LeBlanc, who got to share last year’s triumph with his daughter, Aly LeBlanc, who was the team’s starting catcher.
After losing to Searsport 4-3 in the 1998 championship game, Madison hadn’t played for a state title since losing to Bucksport 7-0 in 2013.
The build-up that led to last spring’s title began at a state championship Under-10 softball tournament several years ago.
“We played the Capital Maineiacs from the Augusta area, and they came in fully equipped with things like matching bat bags. They looked like a team from California. They walloped us,” Chris LeBlanc said.
“We had two choices. Keep doing what we had been doing and keep getting walloped or we had to put a lot of time and effort into our summer program,” said LeBlanc who, along with a lot of the other town fathers and mothers, decided it was time to amp up the summer program.
“Now we’re reaping the benefits,” said LeBlanc, who pointed out that the juniors on this year’s team were on that Under-10 team.
Summer vacations were highlighted by playing in numerous softball tournaments, and it was capped by an end-of-the-year tournament in Brewer in which the team camped out over the weekend.
“We made it a community affair,” said LeBlanc, who pointed out that he has been blessed to have several valuable assistant coaches, administrative support and community support.
The Bulldogs had some key personnel losses off last year’s team, but LeBlanc said the winning culture has been established and expectations are high.
Headlining the list of departed personnel is ace pitcher Emily McKenney, who hurled a three-hit gem vs. Calais.
LeBlanc will rely on three pitchers this spring in juniors Kayla Bess and Erin Whalen and sophomore Madeline Wood.
When she isn’t pitching, Bess is the shortstop and is considered the best in the Mountain Valley Conference by LeBlanc.
Whalen is the shortstop when Bess is pitching, and she also plays first base.
Wood, whose inside-the-park homer beat Calais, plays first base after playing second last year.
LeBlanc’s daughter is back behind the plate, and the lone senior, Tori McLaughlin, plays left field.
Several freshmen have broken into the starting lineup including third baseman Whitney Bess, Kayla Bess’ sister, second baseman Ashley Emery and center fielder Sydney LeBlanc, Aly LeBlanc’s cousin.
Freshmen Aishah Malloy and Marah Hall and sophomore Destiny Howes are the candidates in right field.