When the going got tough on Monday in Pleasant Valley’s District 11 6A playoffs pigtail game against Easton, the Bears got it going.

Trailing 5-0 after the first two innings, PV rallied to defeat the Rovers 6-5 in nine innings to stay alive in the district tournament.

“We talked to the girls after the 5-0 deficit, and there was no panic or negativity,” said Bears head coach Steve Caffrey. “This team has been able to put together big innings before and that was our message to them, that they could hit their way back into the game.

“The girls never got down, they clawed back and were able to make the plays both out in the field, and at the plate to come away with the win.”

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bears started their rally when Jovi Valenzuela delivered a sharply hit liner that found the gap in center and drove in two runs.

Then in the fifth, PV really put it together after two walks to start the inning gave the Bears the base runners they needed. The first run of the inning came on a throwing error from the Easton catcher. Later in the frame, an RBI single from Lydia Borger, and a sacrifice fly from Brianca Pridham knotted the contest at five.

The Bears offense proved to be pivotal, but its defense and pitching from hurler Kailyn Getz was just as clutch down the stretch, especially in the top of the sixth. The Rovers looked primed to score a run with runners on second and third and one out, but Getz came through with a strikeout and a nice defensive play from the circle on a ball hit back to her to escape the jam.

“Kailyn is a work horse for us, and she has been throwing very well over the last few games,” said Caffrey. “She’s throwing hard, and the way she plays defense from her pitching spot gives us another good glove out there. Our entire defense made some nice plays today to help get us back into the game.”

It became a defensive contest for the next few innings as the game went well into extra innings, with no team threatening until the Bears got some offense going in the bottom of the ninth. Hailey Krock was able to single with one out and advanced to second on a ground out, with Borger coming to the plate. The freshman then delivered for PV with a double to right center field for the walk off victory.

“I was just going up there with the mentality of trying to get the bat on the ball, put the ball in play and see what happens,” said Borger. “I made good contact and hit it hard, and we were able to get the run.

“I just wanted to get up there and do something amazing for our team. It’s been a while since we’ve been in districts, and we wanted to get this win.”

NEXT UP ... PV will now go on to face No. 1 seed Parkland at Parkland on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.

LEADERS ... Borger led the Bears with three hits and two RBIs. Valenzuela had two hits and two RBIs. Pridham also added an RBI.

Easton 140 000 000 - 5 14 1

Pleasant Vy. 000 230 001 - 6 7 3

Rinda, Monks (5), Walsh (7) and Cusano; Getz and Ratti. W - Getz. L - Monks.