Audubon High School sophomore Adrianna DeValerio was preparing for one of the biggest games of her softball career on Friday when her life changed.
DeValerio was pulled from practice Friday by a family member with the news her father, Chris, had been involved in a fatal motorcycle accident.
Two days later, Adrianna DeValerio jogged out to right field to take her regular position in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 softball final at Clayton.
It’s what her dad would have wanted.
DeValerio recorded an outfield assist in the game, throwing out the lightning-fast Clipper leadoff hitter Gianna Muhaw as she tried to go from first to third on a single, but the Green Wave fell to Clayton, 3-2, in a thriller in which they had the potential tying and winning runs on in the last inning. It was Clayton’s third straight sectional title and second straight against Audubon.
“My dad loves to come see me play softball,” said DeValerio. “He’s my biggest supporter. He’s always been there for me, even with my downfalls. He’s been talking about this game for I don’t know how long, wanting us to come back and win it this time.
“So I knew he really wanted to come see this game, and I wanted to come play for him and I always will play for him, because I knew that’s what he would want me to do. Every single game I’m going to try to win it for him and play my best for him.”
DeValerio said her dad was the one who first got her involved with the sport.
“Even when he had to come right from work or had to hurry home to make dinner so he could take me to practice, or if I was doing bad, even if he had worked forever, he would come out and help me practice,” said DeValerio. “I appreciate him so much.”
Audubon coach Erin Small said Chris DeVelario had been a youth coach in the area, had helped develop many of the Green Wave players, spent many weekends watching his daughter and other players at travel ball tournaments and often brought fruit for the Audubon players.
The game was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday but Audubon requested the game be pushed back after the tragedy, which Clayton granted. Instead of playing on Saturday, the Green Wave held a short practice which DeValerio attended.
“She didn’t have to be there, obviously, but she wanted to,” said Small. “She wanted to be with her teammates. A lot of these girls are her best friends, and I think that helped being around her. She didn’t have to play, but Adrianna said from the beginning I want to play for my dad.
“We just did some light hitting and we ordered Chick-fil-A, and there were some tears throughout the practice. We just said we’re going to put our best forward.”
Even with the defeat, Small admitted she couldn’t have asked for any better effort and focus as her team took on the fifth-ranked team in the state.
“It’s been a tough couple days for us, and I am so proud they showed up and competed,” said Small. “They could have not, but they did. They told Adri from the get-go we had her and her family, and she played and I’m just so proud of their fight, no matter the outcome.”
As often happens when standing in the outfield, a player’s mind can wander. DeValerio admitted on those occasions her mind often went back to her dad.
“I was thinking sometimes what he would say, even with the team I could hear him screaming the loudest out here, louder than all of us,” said DeValerio. “I just wish he was here.”
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Bill Evans covers the BCSL, CAL, Colonial, Colonial Valley Conference, Olympic, Shore and Tri-County Conference. He can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bybillevans.
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