On Friday, April 1, 2011, Hatboro-Horsham seniors Danielle DiFilippo, Melissa Spinosa and Julie Wambold were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play softball at the collegiate level. The three seniors are the tri-captains of this year’s Hatboro squad.
Julie Wambold – Syracuse University (Softball)
Major: UndecidedFinal list of colleges: Syracuse, Hofstra
Reasons for choosing Syracuse: “Being there is just incredible. The campus, the academics just blew me away, and every time I stepped on that campus, I wouldn’t leave. I was so attached.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate softball? “All my sisters got scholarships – my one sister went to Hofstra, and she got a scholarship, and my other sister went to Albany, and she got a scholarship. In my family, I always looked up to them, and I wanted to become one of them. My family was always supportive.
“My travel team, Newtown Rock, was where Syracuse found me. I wrote letters, I went to clinics, and that was the school I put my all into. I’m glad it turned out the way it did.”
Coach Joe DiFilippo says: “Julie is a great hitter. As a freshman, she was the DH on the team that won the state championship. That says a lot. With the talent they had on that team and for her to be a freshman and come on and be the DH – she’s just a great all-around hitter, and she’ll do whatever you want her to do.
“Julie has a very good arm, and she’s a very good fielder, but the key is she knows what to do before the play happens, and that’s what makes a good fielder. When she (goes behind the plate to catch), you are not stealing a base. She comes from that great softball family. All her sisters played, and she’s been going to games since she was two years. She’s a great all-around player.
Danielle DiFilippo – Millersville University (Softball)
Major: Special Education/Early Childhood EducationFinal list of colleges: Millersville, Widener, Eastern University, West Chester
Reasons for choosing Millersville: “I actually really liked the softball team, and I loved the coach. I like the environment, and I liked how everyone was so positive.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate softball? “I always thought about playing in college because I really like softball, but I thought I would be pitching – I didn’t think I would be playing first base, but I hurt my back. I’m actually glad I’m going to play first base.
“It was hard because of the back thing - I had to get over that and switching from being part of every pitch to being part of every play really changed how I had to play the game.”
Coach Joe DiFilippo says: “As her father, I have coached Danielle since she was five or six playing t-ball. Honestly, I think Danielle has had it harder than any other kid on our team. I’m a very competitive person, and she takes after me.
“Danielle was the starting varsity pitcher until her sophomore year when she hurt her back. She always played first base and outfield when she wasn’t pitching. Now she’s really concentrating on first base, and she just has a great glove. As far as a defensive first baseman, you couldn’t ask for anything more, plus she has long arms.
“She’s a very disciplined hitter. When you need a clutch hit, she comes up with the clutch hit. She hardly ever strikes out – she almost always makes contact. She’s very hard on herself as a hitter. If she doesn’t hit the ball hard, she’s mad.”
Melissa Spinosa – West Chester University (Softball)
Major: Nutrition/DieteticsReasons for choosing West Chester: “The major I’m majoring in is really hard to find, and I knew I wanted to stay pretty close to home, and West Chester was one of the only ones that was pretty close, and I liked it a lot. I just went with that.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate softball? “I didn’t really think about it until I was a junior, and I really wasn’t sure. You’re playing softball all of your life, and you’re not really sure how much longer you want to play. Once my senior year hit, I was like - I don’t think I’d be ready to stop playing altogether because I’ve been playing so long, so that’s when I decided to play. It might have been late, but it worked out.”
Coach Joe DiFilippo says: “Melissa is an above average outfielder. She has a very good arm, and her speed makes up for everything. She’s just so fast. I have her batting leadoff mainly for her speed because she can bunt and get on base. She is quick, and she can also drive the ball. She’s a great base runner – she glides.
“Whatever you tell her to do – she tries 100 percent to do exactly what you tell her to do. She’s a pleasure to coach.”
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