On Friday, March 9, 2018, eight Neshaminy seniors – Amber Brugger, Sarah Dowalo, Hallie Duffy, Amber Kurtz, Paige Metz, Natalie Rio, Victoria Smith and Alexis Watkins - were honored at a special college recognition event. The six listed below have committed to continue their softball careers at the collegiate level. Check back for a gallery of photos.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had such a large and talented group of seniors who have been playing together so long,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “It was special to see them all play for each other and the support the underclassmen gave as well. They had goals this season, and they did almost everything they set out to do. Despite what happened at the end (a loss to Parkland in the state semifinals), I think you could look back and say it was a very successful campaign for a great group of girls.”
Amber Brugger – Kutztown University (Softball)
Major: Sports Management
Final list of colleges: Kutztown, West Chester, Pitt Johnstown
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “They had the major I wanted and I really liked the coaches, the school and the whole atmosphere.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “I always knew I wanted to play in college. I’ve been playing since I was five, and as I got older, I just wanted to keep playing.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Amber’s been a four-year starter. Over those four years, she’s been a first team all-league player, an MVP, a Golden Team Player of the Year. You just can’t say enough about Amber. It took a while for her to understand about getting on base and setting the table as our leadoff batter. She hit for great average, but she also led our team in walks. She really did a great job this year putting herself on base and giving the girls behind her a chance to score a bunch of runs. She’ll be going on to Kutztown where I expect she’ll make an immediate impact with her pitching skills.”
About Amber:
Favorite food: Italian Sausage
Favorite music: Pop
Sarah Dowalo – Siena University (Softball)
Major: Biochemistry with an interest in Genetics
Final list of colleges: Siena, Villanova
Reasons for choosing Siena: “I was going to go to Villanova, but after my surgery, they decided to not take any chances. I got lucky with Siena. I met the coach – she’s very nice. I had surgery in July, and it was literally a 10-minute surgery, one stitch. I feel like I’m stronger than I was before.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “I started playing softball when I was eight – me and my dad in my front yard. He finally convinced me to join an in-house league in Middletown, and It just progressed to this.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Sarah came into the season and coming off her labrum surgery, we didn’t know what we were going to get from her. She came back and immediately knocked all the rust off, and she was everything she was (before the surgery) and even a little bit more. She was fantastic. She’s going on to Siena University, and I expect her to make immediate contributions.”
About Sarah:
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: I am Number Four
Favorite music: Hip Hop/Rap
Paige Metz – Mercer County Community College (Softball)
Major: Mathematics
Final list of colleges: Bucks County Community, West Chester, Rider, Kutztown, Mercer County Community College
Reasons for choosing Mercer County Community: “I was in a Bucks program through Neshaminy. It was a dual enrollment program, and it opened my eyes to community college. I was already a part-time student there and at Neshaminy. I chose to go to Mercer because Mercer was able to offer a scholarship, and it’s an opportunity to play for a team that went to the JUCO World Series.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “My parents put me in t-ball when I was four, along with other sports just to see what I wanted. I progressed playing soccer and softball up until high school. I made my decision to play softball when I entered high school my freshman year. I started travel in seventh grade, and I’ve played travel ever since.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Paige is a hard worker, and that hard work she put in really paid off this year. She was a first team all-league catcher and deservedly so. She was excellent handling our pitching staff, and she had a great year offensively. She accepted a scholarship to go to Mercer – because it’s a JUCO, they do give scholarships, and I would expect Paige to have a successful career at Mercer and even on after that.”
About Paige:
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect
Favorite music: Country
Natalie Rios – La Salle University (Softball)
Major: Psychology
Reasons for choosing La Salle: “I really loved the area and how close it was to my house – I really didn’t want to go far. The campus is gorgeous. I loved everything about it.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “I knew I wanted to play softball in college for a long time, ever since I was little. As I got older, I figured it would be hard to not have it in my life, and I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Natalie racked up all the accolades this spring. What a tremendous player. What she did this year for us was nothing short of amazing. She set the school record in hits, she was the Golden Team Player of the Year, her travel team just won the USA 18U Gold National Championship, and she played a big role in it. You can’t say enough about Natalie. She’s a once-in-15-years player that we were lucky enough to have. She had it all from a great attitude to just ability in every facet of softball.”
About Natalie:
Favorite food: Uncrustables
Favorite movie: Black Panther
Favorite music: Anything
Victoria Smith – Moravian College (Softball)
Major: Biology
Final list of colleges: Moravian, Susquehanna, King’s College, Washington & Jefferson
Reasons for choosing Moravian: “I loved the school atmosphere. I met the coach, and I really liked the coach, and I think Moravian is a nice area.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “Around middle school I started to get more serious with softball. At first it was fun and then it got more serious, and I knew I wanted to play in college.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Victoria was a two-year starter. She came in this year and she absolutely was just hustle, team and effort. The team took on her attitude. If you needed a big defensive play, you knew she was going to try everything she could, and most of the time she made those plays. If not, she was going to give you everything and come up with a face full of dirt trying.”
About Victoria:
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting
Favorite music: Pop Rock
Alexis Watkins – Holy Family University (Softball)
Major: Pre-Med
Final list of colleges: Holy Family, Iona, Kutztown, Messiah
Reasons for choosing Holy Family: “I chose Holy Family because it was close, and I like being with my family. It also was a good school for my major.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “As soon as I knew college softball was a thing, that’s when I knew I wanted to keep going with it. I was in seventh or eighth grade, and I remember my coaches would say stuff about it, and I knew that was my goal.”
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Alexis accepted a scholarship to Holy Family. She was a four-year starter who had multiple accolades her whole career – she was a first team all-league player. Alexis was a cornerstone in our outfield for four years, and she’s going to be very hard to replace. I’m sure she’s going to go right into Holy Family and make an immediate impact there as well.”
About Alexis:
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite movie: The Lovely Bones
Favorite music: Catfish & the Bottlemen
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