Last Game

My last game of the season was one for the books!  I got to top off my first year as a rookie by throwing out soft Phillies balls out to the crown after the 9th with Justin DeFratus and Mike Adams.  It was Fan Appreciation Weekend, and what we do is all for the fans. 

That day I stood in a raffle kiosk for 7 innings, and the total grew to the second highest total we've had all season.  Then after I cashed out, I ran down into the tunnel where we waited until the end of the 9th and proceeded out the right field gate.  Danielle and I walked out to center field by the bullpen and started tossing the balls out into the stands.  As we were throwing balls out, the bullpen emptied and DeFratus and Adams came over to the bucket and started throwing them out too.  I was not expecting to be pegged in the back of the head by DeFratus, but he apologized and we all laughed about it. 

Seeing all the fans faces as they received these unexpected gifts was the best way to end the 2014 season!  Thank you everyone for your support and love for Philadelphia sports!

The Last Home Stand of 2014

First and foremost, I would like to apologize for my brief absence on my blog recently.  I just started my Drexel co-op interning with the Philadelphia Eagles and I have been consumed with that for the past few weeks.  I started on Monday, but I have been running around getting things together for my first day from running errands and buying new business casual clothing.  I won't ever complain about new clothes, though.

Now for the topic at hand...the last home stand of the 2014 season.  What a wonderful and crazy year it has been, and as I reflect on what this year has brought me, I can't help but feel so fortunate to be where I am today.  This season was such an incredible experience to be a part of, and everyone at the Phillies is a pleasure to work with. 

I was given opportunities that I would never have had anywhere else.  This one might be my favorite story of the season:

I was the 3rd base ballgirl on the field when Tom McCarthy caught Freddie Freeman's home run, and I was the one who had to retrieve it when he threw it back!  I ran across the outfield, picked it up and handed it to girl, who took the ball and ran back up her section back to her family.   Never did I stop and think, 'Oh wait, a commentator has never caught a home run before.  I should hold onto this.'  Nope. I did my job, and that's exactly what I needed to do.

A few days later, I get a few texts from friends saying they heard my name on the radio station 94.1 WIP!  I was so curious as to how they found out my name, so I check their website and turns out, they interviewed Tom McCarthy about the home run catch experience.  The radio host offered $500 to the person who returns the ball to Tom, as this ball has historic value now.  So after listening to the interview myself, I had not heard my name.  I was confused, but I was thrilled that Tom had said, "Well I saw the ballgirl get the ball and give it to a little girl, so at least they got a piece of history," and of course I sent the interview link to my whole family.  What happened the next month floored me.

I was walking down the concourse after selling raffle tickets one night, and I hear someone call my name.  I turn around and the girl goes, "Lesley? It IS you!"  As it turns out, this 11 year old named Jordan was the girl I gave the ball to.  Her father was with her and told me that he was listening to WIP that morning and contemplated calling in about the ball, and ended up doing so.  He told them that "ballgirl Lesley" had given his daughter the ball and he now had it (so there's where my name came from!).  He was unsure whether to give it back, after all his family had a piece of history and he didn't want to take anything away from his daughter.  But Jordan wanted to give it to Tom herself, and the radio station ended up giving her the $500, and the Phillies gave her and her family an amazing day at the ballpark.  She was able to go up into the commentator's box, and received a signed ball from Matt Stairs, Jamie Moyer, and Tom McCarthy himself, and much more!

I was in shock standing on the concourse as they were telling me this.  My one act of giving a piece of history away to a fan made their family's day that much better.  And their generous act of kindness in returning the ball gave them the opportunity of a lifetime.  I don't think I've felt more rewarded in my life.  Just the look on her face when I handed her the ball, and the same look as when she found me on the concourse that night.  Sure, there's a lot of exciting moments throughout the year from working player charity events, sitting on the field for Howard's RBI to win the game, to watching the Phillies pull through for the W in extra innings from the stool.  But I think this one takes the cake.  Making a fan's day is definitely the greatest feeling.

Not everyone gets the chance to experience opportunities like this, and I just feel really lucky to be in my position.  It makes me feel like every life choice I've made lead me to be exactly where I need to be.  Had I not transferred home from Rhode Island after my freshman year of college, and had I not chosen to stay local and attend Drexel, I would not have been able to be a ballgirl, or had this great internship with the Eagles. 

It may be the last home stand of this season, but I am fortunate enough for this to be my first of two season with the Phillies.  I am so happy with how this season went and I am looking forward to next season, too!  And don't worry, I will be posting throughout the off season too, as we do appearances throughout the community!  Thank you all for your continued support!

Ballgirl Charity Softball Game

In order to be a ballgirl, you must have softball skills!  I played when I was younger, and I still have all the skills necessary to perform my duties.  Once you are on the roster, you are also on the Ballgirl softball team! This means that anyone can have their charity play against the ballgirls in a softball game for charity.

This year, the ballgirls participated in a charity softball game on June 22nd, 2014 for the Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding program at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown, Delaware! The girls met up at Kelly and Kory's house, and we carpooled down together in 3 cars.  We made a quick stop at the beach in Delaware to take some pictures on the beach in our uniforms, and they came out beautifully!  I can't figure out how to put all these pictures in a slide show, so I'll just continue to post them in the actual post!  We did a lot of different poses and just had a lot of fun with it, as it was one of those nice moments when we weren't really working; we were just hanging out as friends. 

When we finally got to the field, we put our hair up (including ribbon, of course!) and our game faces on!  The game started off with a few of their riders hitting some pitches we threw and them running the bases!  It was so nice watching these kids laugh and smile while participating in the softball experience.  We lined the baselines as they ran the bases and encouraged them with applause and cheering!

After that, their program leaders took the field and the ballgirls were up to bat!  We were stacking up the runs, and we thought this was going to be a nice and easy day.  The leaders were up to bat, and the innings went quickly as we rotated from batting to fielding.  Then our game faces really went on, as the SDTR program sent out their team of their softball playing staff; a group of athletic women who were all-state softball players in college.  They were very good, and they definitely gave us a run for our money.  Everyone did so well, and the best part was that the riders had a great time.  Their parents and friends all gathered to watch this wonderful event happen. 

When the game was over, they had one of their horses run the bases, and that made everyone smile! Definitely a wonderful surprise! They even had him wearing a Phillies shirt for the occasion!  The ballgirls had such a great time playing softball for an even better cause!