The defending Class B North champion Hermon High School softball team will have a new look this season.
The Hawks returned just three starters and lost three Penobscot Valley Conference Class B North first team selections to graduation in pitcher-shortstop Braelynn Wilcox, catcher Molly Simcox and third baseman Addy Waning.
But head coach Steph Biberstein said “it’s going to be a good team.”
“It’s different. We’re doing a little more small ball. We’re a little more aggressive baserunning than we’ve been in the past,” Biberstein said.
The team has a “really good young corps” and a culture of hardworking, committed players, the coach said.
“We’re going to be really good,” said junior pitcher-shortstop Rebecca Balmas. “We work really well together and we have a lot of talent.”
Balmas threw a complete-game no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and three walks in the team’s season-opening 3-2 win over a very good Old Town team on Tuesday.
Hermon beat Old Town in the Class B North title game last season, 6-4, before losing to Medomak Valley of Waldoboro,1-0, in the state championship game.
Balmas is one of the three returning starters along with pitcher-first baseman Mikelle Verrill and second baseman Kenzie Gallant, who was the center fielder a year ago. Both are seniors.
Verrill was an All-PVC Class B North first team pick last spring.
Verrill and Gallant each hit over .400 in 2025.
Biberstein said junior third baseman Elena Walker would have started a year ago but missed virtually the entire season with an injury.
She is back healthy and is the Hawks’ leadoff hitter.
“She is a fantastic third baseman. She is a lefthanded hitter and is super fast,” said Biberstein.
Her sophomore sister, Leah, is the Hawks’ catcher.
“She has a great arm. She will continue to grow and develop throughout the year,” said Biberstein.
Leah Walker was a courtesy runner/pinch runner last season and was among the team leaders in runs scored.
Junior MK Tracy plays shortstop and is new to the position, but Biberstein said she has “really developed” during the preseason.
Balmas was an outfielder her freshman season before being moved to shortstop last year, so there are options for her when she isn’t pitching.
Sophomore Brielle Phair is the left fielder, and junior Hannah Waning is the right fielder.
“Hannah played quite a bit in the playoffs because someone got injured. She did a good job,” Biberstein said.
Sophomore Vivien Morin is the center fielder and played on the jayvee team last season. She also pitches and can play second base.
Verrill, Balmas and Morin will do the pitching.
Verrill had an earned-run average below 2.00 and averaged over 10 strikeouts per seven innings. She and Wilcox were the team leaders in innings pitched.
Balmas and Katie Fowler saw some innings on the back end of the rotation.
Fowler has graduated.
Julia Meader is a senior who is going to be a “role player for us,” according to Biberstein.
“She is probably one of the best kids I’ve ever coached. She is instrumental in our culture,” said Biberstein.
Freshman Anna Knights is a fast, lefthanded slap hitter who plays in the outfield and at second base, and sophomores Addison Decker and Kyla McCannell are outfielders.
“We’re going to be good,” said Gallant. “We want to get back to the northern Maine final and the state game.”
Hermon has played in three B North championship games since Biberstein returned for her second stint as the head coach in 2022.
She was the head coach from 2003-13 and led them to the state B title in 2010. She did take the 2007 and 2008 seasons off after giving birth to her second son, Jacob.