DISHS catcher takes the field in Maine All-Star Game

Catcher Naomi Duke was the sole Blue Hill Peninsula player selected for the annual event

Naomi Duke is the DISHS catcher for during the regular season and plays in tournaments throughout the summer. Photo courtesy of Emmi Duke Duke.

June 30, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

STANDISH—Deer Isle-Stonington High School softball catcher Naomi Duke, a junior, took the field at St. Joseph’s College at the Maine All-Star Softball Game on June 25.

As the only athlete from the peninsula participating in the game, Duke suited up for the Nationals team, turning an unexpected opportunity into a formative experience.

Duke’s path to the all-star game was unconventional. DISHS athletic director Colin Ciomei reached out to the event organizers to ensure the school was on the mailing list for future years. To Ciomei’s surprise, the organizers said that they had missed the school on this year’s list and invited Duke to join the roster on the spot.

“There were a lot of different players from schools I hadn't seen before,” Duke said of the game. 

While she admitted to feeling a bit of pre-game nerves, she said the atmosphere shifted as soon as warm-ups began.

“Nobody was really taking it super seriously. It was more fun than serious, so I got more comfortable,” Duke said.

Once on the field, Duke wasted no time showing why she earned the spot. She opened the game with a double, later adding a single to her stats.

Duke joined dozens of softball players from around the state during this month’s showcase event at St. Joseph’s College. Photo courtesy of Emmi Duke.

For Duke, the same was a culmination of nearly a decade of hard work. She began playing at age seven, attending clinics in Blue Hill before joining her local Little League team—a squad coached by her father, Brian, who encouraged her to step behind the plate.

“Once I got older, in middle school, I really started to stick with it and work at it more because I found it very fun,” Duke said.

Her commitment to the sport shows no signs of slowing down. Duke now plays year-round, with summer tournaments and weekend games to keep her ready for the official season. Her focus remains simple: continue working hard and enjoying the game she loves.