Maura Gorman didn’t need to wait until she got to high school to know what she wanted to do.
Long before she arrived at St. Hubert High School, she was a Bambie.
Even if she had forces pulling her in other directions.
“It’s kind of a family thing because my mom went to Ryan, and so did my oldest sister (Samantha, class of 2012),” said Gorman, a rising senior at Hubert. “My older sister (Riley, class of 2019) went to Hubert’s and she loved it. They all loved high school. But I would go to all the games when (Riley) was playing and they won the PCL championship.
“I remember asking Coach (Dave) Schafer if I could go to the workouts before I was in high school. He let me go. I loved it. I was so happy being there. I love everything about St. Hubert’s, the sisterhood. I honestly, when I got there, I fit right in. The girls were really welcoming. When I was there, it felt right. It felt like home.”
Gorman got a sneak peek at what it was like being a Bambie while she was in Calvary, but now she’s not just a Bambie, she’s the head deer.
The first baseman was a starter since she arrived at the school, and next year, she’ll be changing positions and taking on a new title.
Gorman will move from the infield to the circle when she takes over as the starting pitcher for the team. She’s also the lone returning senior next year, and she’ll take on the role of team captain, which was announced last week at the team’s season-ending banquet.
She’s ready for all of the above.
“It feels good, I’m the only senior next year, so I feel honored to just be someone to these girls that they look up to,” Gorman said. “I had great seniors my freshman year, I want to mirror that and be the best I can be for these girls. Hopefully show them the ways and be a good leader.
“I’ve always had great leaders. My older sister Riley, she is just a leader, it’s written all over her. She was hurt, she was going to play softball, but she had surgery. I look up to her. I remember when she won the championship, I want that to be me, I always looked up to her. She’s good now, she goes to most of my games, she’s cheering me on. I have a lot of good leaders around me.”
That was the case this year, too.
The Bambies had a strong senior class who helped them advance to the Catholic League quarterfinals. They had the potential to win more, but this was an incredibly competitive league and they just fell short in the playoffs.
They rebounded, though, to defeat Central and win the District 12 Class 6A championship, which gave Hubert the right to go to the state playoffs.
That’s where the Bambies’ season ended, falling to Spring-Ford 11-0 in a first-round game. It was a very tough draw, but it gave the team another chance to be together and compete, which was a success.
“We had a great group of seniors, so it was good to get another chance to play with them,” Gorman said. “They have been great leaders. They were everything they could be. They always were there for us. They taught us everything they could and they’re definitely leaving us ready to carry on that tradition.”
Gorman will be next one.
Obviously as a senior captain, she’s ready to take over that role, but she’s also set to be the player on the field.
She’s been a top pitcher for her club team, Nightmare Fastpitch Elite, and just as she’s done the past three years, the Chalfont native will be one of the top hitters in the Catholic League.
The Catholic League will be stacked once again, but Gorman is confident the Bambies will compete.
“Hitting is probably my strong suit,” said Gorman, who will represent the Catholic League in the Carpenter Cup this year. “I’ve been off and on, the four and five hitter since freshman year. I’m excited to pitch, too. This year we had a great pitcher, and I love playing first base. It was great. For my club team, I’m a pitcher, so I’ll be comfortable pitching. I’ll do whatever we need.
“I have nothing but good things to say about the seniors from this year, the energy they brought to the team, they made everyone want to play. I want to do the same, show them what softball is all about. Playing for St. Hubert’s is special. I want all the players to feel the same way I do about the team.”
She won’t just be adding to the team atmosphere. She’ll be documenting it, too.
Gorman is a member of the Bambies’ ambassador team, which means she is involved in recruiting the next generation of Hubert students. Next year, she’ll serve as the social media coordinator for the group, which means she’ll be busy posting on the school’s Instagram page.
“I’m techie and into social media, so I’m looking forward to doing it,” said Gorman, who plans on playing softball in college while majoring in criminal justice in hopes of being a lawyer. “I do it for myself, I’m always on Twitter with highlight videos and trying to get recruited, so I’m into that kind of stuff. And I love Hubert’s, so that’s perfect for me.”
She is looking forward to all things that come along with being a senior. She’d also like to continue following in her sister’s footsteps.
In her final year, Riley won a Catholic League championship and little sister was there for all of the excitement that goes along with hoisting the plaque at the end of the year.
But that wasn’t her plaque. She wants to rectify that next year.
“I think we’re going to be very good, and we’ll work hard to do that,” Gorman said. “I’m very happy go lucky, I love getting everyone excited. I’m always trying to hype everyone up, get everyone hype. I want to leave a mark on these girls’ lives. I want them to do the same when they are senior captains and try to be the best they can be.
“I had great leaders with the seniors every year I played here and with my sisters. I was lucky and know how important it is. I want to do the same for (the underclassmen).”
