EAST LYME—Last Spring, after leading East Lyme to the ECC Division I championship game, Vikings first baseman Grace DuBrava was rewarded with an All-ECC honorable mention nod.
Needless to say, it was one of those head-scratching decisions.
“I think she was gypped last year on receiving accolades,” East Lyme coach Judy Deeb said. “I thought she deserved more and by missing out on those accolades she missed out on some state-wide recognition. She’s a very good player. She was being recruited and she didn’t get to put that on her (resume) at the end of the year. It was very upsetting to me. We have built our team around her.”
Deeb said DuBrava paused and wondered if she should play travel ball the following summer. In the end, she did. She shined brightly, and thanks to her junior year and summer season, DuBrava got the last laugh, verbally committing to attend NCAA Division 2 University of Bridgeport—postseason accolades be damned.
“I love how close to home it is. It’s a great location,” DuBrava said. “They’re super competitive, the whole team is nice and welcoming, the coach was very welcoming. They’re a family and you can really tell how cohesive they are. They’re not playing for themselves. They’re playing for each other.”
DuBrava can understand that concept.
During her interview with the Connecticut Softball Blog, DuBrava never mentioned her slight from the ECC. That was all Deeb, believing wholeheartedly in her first baseman and was still fighting for one of her standout players.
DuBrava, however, felt connected to the Bridgeport program because she is 100 percent all about team.
With her college decision behind her, DuBrava is excited to embrace her final East Lyme season—and not just because there is plenty of talent returning; so much so, in fact, that the Vikings could make a return trip to the league title game.
“I’d love to make it back to the ECC championship,” DuBrava said. “That was a new experience. I would love to know that feeling again and to make it even further into state tournament. But mostly I want to have fun and get to know the young girls who are joining the team.”
In other words, East Lyme’s captain and first baseman is very much a team player.
“She wants to have fun, and we stress that,” Deeb said. “If you can’t enjoy what you’re doing out on the field, you’re not going to have fun. By committing early, I think it’s only going to help her in the offseason. She works hard and she pushes the other kids to work hard, too. She’s organizing our preseason and doing a lot of leadership things, so we’ll see what happens during the winter.”
Over the course of her freshman and sophomore seasons at East Lyme, the Vikings were 19-20.
Last season, East Lyme was 17-8 and in addition to the trip to the ECC title game (where they lost to Norwich Free) the Vikings made it to the second round of the state tournament.
Once her East Lyme career is over, and no matter what postseason awards might await DuBrava following the 2025 season, a career at the University of Bridgeport awaits.
“I’m really happy for her and I know there are some great things ahead for her,” Deeb said.
DuBrava grew up in Salem watching her sister play softball.
“Just having her playing is what got me into it,” DuBrava said. “I tried other sports, but softball is what stuck.”
She started her travel career with the CT Bombers and played with the CT Diamond Club travel program through 2023. She’s presently suiting up for the Seymour-based Run & Gun Lady Nightmares.
“It’s great there,” DuBrava said. “The coaches are amazing and have really prepped me for the college process. It’s super wholesome. I have hopped around teams, but without all the coaches I’ve had, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
DuBrava is left-handed so coaches naturally put her at first base.
Once she arrived at East Lyme High, however, the Vikings already had a left-handed first baseman, so DuBrava was a designated hitter at times during her freshman season.
Then, she became a left-handed third baseman out of need.
“She was coming off a torn ACL her freshman year so I couldn’t use her in the outfield,” Deeb said. “I had to find a place for her. She worked really hard (at third base) and when our first baseman got hurt, we moved her over there. But she’s willing to do anything to help the team.”
Now, even as she heads into her senior year, DuBrava dreams about playing center field, according to her high school coach.
“Right now, all she wants to do is play outfield,” Deeb said with a laugh. “She sent me a video making a catch this summer. She just wants to play center field. Truthfully, she just wants to do whatever she can to help the team.”
Postseason snubs might sting for a bit.
But Grace DuBrava knows the truly important things when it comes to being a team player.
She has one more season left with her East Lyme team before taking her talents down I-95 to Bridgeport to suit up for the Purple Knights.
And the team is what has always mattered the most.
Love Stories Like This?
Get Connecticut’s best softball features, breaking news, recruiting updates and exclusive interviews delivered to your inbox every Friday morning. Subscribe to the CT Softball Blog Weekly.
Leave a Reply