Great Valley rallies past Downingtown East in softball

"Sarah Schubert, super-fast."

It was that simple for freshman third baseman Erin Bevec when she described how she knew her Great Valley softball teammate was going to make it home to score the winning run.

It was the top of the seventh and the Patriots were tied, 3-3, with Downingtown East. There were two outs.

Schubert stood on second, having beaten out a grounder for an infield single and then stealing a base. Bevec was at the plate, already 2 for 3 on the afternoon.

With two outs, Schubert was running anyway. Then Bevec ripped a single to right.

Schubert looked at coach Jeff Cellucci and knew she'd be waved home. Bevec knew she'd make it in time.

She did, the Patriots held Downingtown East in the bottom of the inning and Great Valley went on to complete a come-from-behind 4-3 win.

"It was exhilarating. It was so exciting," Bevec said. "I knew she was getting home. I was really happy at that point, because we fought really hard to get into that position."

Great Valley chipped away after the first inning did not go as planned for the Patriots against East (1-2,1-1 Ches-Mont League). In the bottom half of the first, Great Valley (2-0, 2-0) gave up three runs on two hits, committing three errors.

At the plate, the Patriots were getting the hits they needed. They just couldn't get them when they needed them, particularly with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners through five.

"I think our team is really good at [stringing together hits], it just sometimes may take a few innings," Schubert said. "We really were hitting all game. It was a team effort."

Bevec knocked in the first run in the fourth, but it was the sixth that really got the Patriots going as Morgan Orlowski and Kasey Bryan had RBIs.

"Every run is important," said Orlowski, who threw a four-hitter. "Little by little, it builds our confidence more."

Great Valley 000 102 1 - 4 17 4

Downingtown E. 300 000 0 - 3 4 1

WP:

LP: WP: Morgan Orlowski LP: Claire Kelly

2B: GV- Sarah Schubert; DE-Claire Riley, Stephanie Jacoby