East High softball player Taria Page knows success. She played on the Nunaka Valley team that captured a Little League world championship in 2012 and she recently won her fourth straight state high school championship with the Thunderbirds.
But earning a spot on the All-America high school team was both unexpected and special, Page said after learning she was one of 62 players nationwide named to the MaxPreps All-America team.
"I won a World Series and I was 4 for 4 in the state championships for high school and me and my team have dominated," Page said Tuesday, "but when I found out, I was just like, 'Wow. Your hard work was recognized nationwide.'
"I was not expecting it at all. I thought I was a good player in Alaska. It feels good to know I've gotten national recognition."
Page was one of two T-birds honored by the website.
East coach Paul Schoenborn, who has guided East to 86 straight victories, was named national Coach of the Year. This season, his team was 27-0 and outscored opponents by double digits 15 times.
Page, an infielder who will play Division I softball for Louisiana Tech next season, batted .741 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs in her senior season.
Page, 17, said she learned Sunday that she was one of 31 players who merited second-team All-America selection from MaxPreps. She learned about the honor at the ASA state championships at Albrecht Fields, where she played her final fast-pitch game in Anchorage before heading off to Louisiana Tech.
"It was bittersweet," Page said. "It was my last time on the dirt there. For 10 years I put my sweat and my blood on the field. I probably won't be on it again till I'm old."
In Page's case, "old" means 21 or 22, which is the age you might see her playing for one of Anchorage's recreational slow-pitch teams. Though she could join an adult-league team when she's 18, Page said she won't give slow-pitch a shot until she's done with fast-pitch, and even then she might not be ready for the recreational game.
Page wants to be a coach, and she said when she's out of college she'd like to coach a summer travel team for young Alaska girls "and pass on the knowledge."