Jessie James, Amanda Sadowl and Katie Wambold were seniors on Hatboro-Horsham’s 2008 PIAA Class AAAA state championship. All three have younger sisters on this year’s Hatter squad – Chrissy James, Valerie Sadowl and Julie Wambold - that will be competing in Friday’s state title game at Penn State. Julie – then a freshman - was the designated player on the 2008 squad.
The three older siblings were asked what advice they would give not only their younger sisters but to the entire team. Here’s what they had to say:
“Appreciate the time that you have now because you’re never going to experience anything like it again. You can wait for another experience like that, but it’s not going to happen in the same circumstances, so appreciate it while it’s here.”
--Jessie James, #15
“Enjoy the entire experience, and enjoy being with each other. After you’re done with high school, you’ll see each other again, but it will never be all of you together like that again. This is the last time you’ll all experience something like this together. Just enjoy it, make the most out of it, and go out there and do your best.”
--Amanda Sadowl, #17
“Don’t take the experience for granted. There are a lot of teams that aren’t playing now. They’re graduating, they’re done with high school, and they’re moving on, and you’re the only ones left playing in Pennsylvania. Enjoy it because when you’re my age old and older, you’ll say, ‘Remember when that happened,’ but you’re not living in the moment, and all you have is a ring and a couple of articles.”
--Katie Wambold, #10
Valerie Sadowl and Chrissy James can tell you exactly what they were doing on this night three years ago, and the Hatboro-Horsham juniors didn’t need to check their calendars to jog their memories.
The two Hatters – then in eighth grade – were busy making posters, planning their coordinating outfits and finding the right color pom-poms to wear in their hair for the big state title game pitting Hatboro against Latrobe.
It turns out Sadowl and James had more than a passing interest in the game since their older sisters – Amanda Sadowl and Jessie James - were key members of that Hatter squad that went on to down Latrobe 3-0, capturing the school’s first ever state softball title.
“I do actually remember that – they had special shirts made for us, and they had red, white and black in their hair,” Jessie James said. “It really was a special experience, especially after the game.“They all came running and gave us hugs. We all held the trophy and got our pictures taken together on the field. It really was special to know they believed in us as much as we believed in ourselves, and they wanted to be there.”
“We went to every single game,” Valerie recalled. “We were really excited and pumped up.”
“I remember me and Val would leave class early to go watch our sisters,” Chrissy said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Three years later, Valerie and Chrissy – wearing the numbers their sisters wore – will be playing for a state title of their own when the Hatters take on Pennsbury on Friday at Penn State University.
“It really motivated me because I look up to my sister,” Chrissy said.
“Back then, I wasn’t really thinking about high school yet,” Sadowl said. “But I’m sure all of us were saying we wanted to be there someday.
“It feels a lot different watching than playing. I remember watching and being nervous, but playing – I don’t really get that nervous.”
Their teammate – senior Julie Wambold – was actually the designated player on the 2008 state title squad. Her older sister, Katie, was the senior second baseman on that team.
“It was really nerveracking,” Julie said. “Everyone was a senior on the team except for three of us.
“Walking onto the field with all the seniors – you want to win, and you have that edge. When we won – words can’t describe it.”All three older siblings have their own unique memories of that historic journey in 2008.
“I remember during the game I was very intense – I have never been that focused in a softball game in my entire life,” Katie Wambold said. “I don’t know why. It was like a switch turned on right when I stepped onto the field.
“I was not nervous at all, which is different. You would think someone in that position would be very nervous. The whole infield, the starters, the seniors – I just felt very confident. We had been there before our sophomore year.”
Jessie also remembers the game as if it were yesterday.
“Honestly, I can’t remember the bus ride there, and I can’t remember the hotel,” she said. “I know we stayed over, but I can’t remember where we were or what was going on. I can’t even remember warm-ups.
“The only thing I remember was the actual game.”
And what a game it was.
James hasn’t forgotten the double play triggered by outfielder Megan Kelly with the bases loaded. The sophomore outfielder threw the ball to third baseman Rachel Gieringer, who fired home to James – the catcher - for a double play that cut the heart out of Latrobe and swung momentum in the Hatters’ favor.
“It was 0-0 at that point, and I think it made us realize we were going to be okay,” Jessie said. “Most of the team played in the state championship game two years before, and we were all scared because you know one little thing can make or break a game.
“After that, we picked up our game and started playing.”
None of the players have forgotten what it felt like after the final out was recorded and the state title was theirs.
“I remember at the end of the game when we all ran together, and I also remember the bus ride home,” Jessie said. “It really never is the same again after that.
“We all went off and played college softball, and we all have had many different experiences – some bad and some good, but there’s nothing like high school softball. You really have to know what you’re experiencing.”
“I got it back then,” Katie Wambold said. “I think that’s why I was so focused. We were coming out with a win – that’s what I thought. We were going to win or we were going to be really miserable.
“I still feel the same exact way. Every time I see one of the seniors that graduated in that class - we always come up with memories of that season. There’s a lot I still remember and will remember for years to come.”
Katie went on to encourage the players to get used to their surroundings before game time.
“They need to go the day before and look at the field because it’s pretty overwhelming,” she said. “It’s a brand new stadium.
“I played there a month ago in regionals with my college team (Albany), and it’s amazing. The stadium is looking down on you. I hope they get to see how nice the field and the facilities are before they actually step on the field and play the game.”
While Valerie, Chrissy and Julie might well be calm when they take the field on Friday, the same cannot be said for their older siblings in the stands.
“I’m pacing and biting my nails during her games,” Jessie said. “I didn’t think I would be like that, but I’m bad. I can’t sit still. I’m walking from place to place. It’s hard.”
Ditto for Katie and Amanda.“Oh my gosh – I definitely get nervous,” Wambold said. “You can’t control anything. You’re not on the bench to say, ‘Come on, you can do it. Pick your head up.’
“You’re not even within yelling distance, so you just have to sit there and watch everything happen and play itself out, but you just want to be out there.”
“It’s definitely different watching them,” Sadowl added. “If they’re in a tough situation, you can’t do anything about it.
“I was sitting at the last game (against Neshaminy), and I was shaking. Obviously, they’re a really good team, and you trust in what they can do, but it’s weird to not be able to do anything about it.”
All three older siblings share an unmistakable sense of pride watching their younger sisters excel.
“It really is amazing,” Jessie said. “Going through that myself, I’m so happy she gets to experience it because you really don’t know what it feels like unless you’re there and unless you’re with the people you’ve been with the whole season.
“You have this connection and this special bond that no one really understands. It really is special she’s able to experience what I experienced. It’s something that I will never forget.”
Watching their younger sisters living the dream has connected the siblings.
“This brings us closer because we both went through the experience,” Amanda Sadowl said. “I’m so proud of Valerie, and I’m so proud of the whole team. Just to watch her go through all of this – it’s awesome.”
Jessie James has a piece of advice for all the players.
“I actually talked to my sister about this yesterday when we were in the car,” she said. “I told her to make sure to take advantage of every second she has left.
“Every game before this – there was a chance it could have been your last game. This game is your last game, no matter what. Everyone has to give it their all and seniors especially realize - this is it. I told her – you have to make sure everyone is there, everyone is smiling, laughing and enjoying it because it will be over, and it’s not going to be the same next year with different people.”
Her teammates can attest to that as well.
“I remember just the whole journey of getting to that final game,” said Amanda Sadowl, who is now playing softball at Mount St. Mary. “That was the best feeling in the world.
“I wish I could have a feeling like that every day. It was awesome. There’s nothing that has come close to feeling that way. I remember the next day waking up and thinking, ‘I don’t want to forget how it felt.’
“Going to college, you start to forget about it, but looking back, I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I wish I could have a game or a day that feels like that again. There’s nothing better so far in my life.”
Valerie, Chrissy and Julie are the youngest of four siblings to go through Hatboro’s program in a span that covered 15 years. Vanessa, Amy and Amanda preceded Valerie. Jen Julie and Jessie went before Chrissy, and Sherri Lisa and Katie played before Julie.
Interestingly, Vanessa Sadowl got married the summer of ’08 after Amanda’s Hatter squad won states. A summer wedding is being planned for Amy Sadowl, and the Hatters are hoping that history will repeat itself, and Amy’s wedding will bring Valerie the same luck Vanessa’s brought Amanda.
Stay tuned.
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