She looked to be the Erin Arevalo of old, the Erin Arevalo with a commanding presence inside the pitcher’s circle.
This time, she was draped in the red and black garb of the University of Georgia’s softball program.
And she was showcased nationally on television.
The true freshman and former East Union High standout made her first appearance since logging a third of an inning in a 9-1 loss to Alabama on April 4 during a heated Women’s College World Series contest Sunday on ESPN.
It was 8-8 in the top of the sixth with no outs and a runner on second.
Three other Bulldogs before her had trouble getting outs against third-ranked Washington. And Husky ace Danielle Lawrie, named USA Softball Player of the Year during the College World Series opening ceremonies, was beginning to find her groove after getting uncharacteristically torched through the first five.
So in comes Arevalo in the biggest game of her softball career and Georgia softball history, with the familiar look of steely determination and grizzled experience plastered onto her face despite throwing a mere 12 innings all season.  Her first pitch — a rising fastball that sailed over outstretched mitt of catcher Alicia Blake — reeked of youth and nerves.
“I wasn’t nervous, actually,” Arevalo said via phone Monday. “I don’t know, I guess I was just too excited. I was just happy to be out there. The first pitch was a miscommunication; I got the signs mixed up.”
Her dad, Carlos, watching from home in Lathrop, laughed.
“I said, ‘Oh man, that’s so typical Erin,’” he said.
Erin Arevalo went on to throw four innings of shutout ball in relief to key the Bulldogs’ 9-8 victory in extra frames at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, forcing the third and “if necessary” meeting with Washington for a final-round berth. Brianna Hesson drove in the winning run with a full-count, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth.
Arevalo was named the Capital One Player of the Game after giving up four hits and no walks while striking out one in the winning effort. The four-time Bulletin All-Area Most Valuable Player drew praise from ESPN’s analyst. Even her hometown, high school and prep accomplishments — like finishing with the fifth most career strikeouts in California history — were mentioned.
“They gave a real shout-out to NorCal,” Carlos Arevalo said. “It was a victory for everybody. It was for the town and our community, because everybody’s been real supportive of her.”
Arevalo’s late-game heroics earned her first-ever college start in the “if” contest Sunday night but lasted just 1.2 innings in a season-ending 9-3 loss. She gave up five earned runs on five hits, including a no-out grand slam to Lawrie in the first inning.
Eighth-ranked Georgia lost to Washington 3-1 in its first-ever CWS game, then eliminated Missouri and Michigan to set up the rematch in Final Four. The elder Arevalo spoke candidly of his daughter’s trying first year away from home — from injuries, to academic troubles and the lack of playing time. She finished the year 2-1 with a 5.15 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
“She had one of the toughest years of her life,” Carlos said. “She had to battle back and dig herself out of that hole. To be able to even have the opportunity to go with the team and be (involved) with Georgia’s biggest game and come through is simply amazing.”
Erin and the Bulldogs, the nation’s youngest team, aren’t done yet. With 18 returning players, Georgia figures to again be in the mix for an NCAA title in the coming years.  After a summer’s worth of classes and personal workouts, Arevalo will contend for a bigger role on the team next season.
“I can’t wait,” she said. “It’s weird now that my freshman year is over, but I can’t wait for it to start back up. I think next year will be that much better for us, especially with 18 of us coming back.”
To contact Jonamar Jacinto, e-mail jjacinto@mantecabulletin.com, or call (209) 249-3538.