Neshaminy senior Grace Hughes, who will continue her education at Bucks County Technical High School, was recognized by her teammates and coaches recently. (Photos provided by Neshaminy softball)
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By Mary Jane Souder
Grace Hughes heard a commotion outside her house on a recent May evening.
“All of a sudden I heard beeping, and I’m thinking, ‘What’s going on here?’” the Neshaminy senior said.
What was going on was a special senior night drive-by for the softball team’s beloved manager.
“It was a lot of cars - I was shocked,” Hughes said. “I had no idea. It meant a lot. They’re not just my teammates, they’re my sisters.”
Sisters or BFFs – take your pick. There’s no mistaking the bond Hughes shares with her teammates, and it’s a two-way street. Hughes loves them, they love her. She brightened their day with her smile and upbeat personality, and they brightened hers.
The senior night parade capped a remarkable journey for the Neshaminy senior that began freshman year when Rachel Hughes sent an email to then coach Dave iof behalf of her daughter, who has Fragile X Syndrome, an intellectual disability.
“I took a risk when she was a freshman and emailed coach Chic,” said her mother. “Her sister played softball and Grace wanted to play as well.
“I was told by many people it may not be possible to play on the team, but I took a chance anyway. He agreed to have her on the team, no questions asked.”
According to Chichilitti, it was a no-brainer.
“I had no reservations – it was easy, absolutely,” the former Neshaminy coach said. “I’m a special ed teacher, and my assistant coach taught special ed for 30 years.
“We had no problem using this tool to help her socially. With her coming out and being around the girls, getting comfortable, socializing, it allowed her to set new goals for other things she hadn’t done. It allowed her to grow as a person. Ultimately, it was – we’re doing this to help her, but she helped us more than we helped her.”
“It’s been a blessing,” Rachel Hughes said. “She’s made friends. Dave was able to push her in ways that her teachers didn’t have the opportunity to socially, making her more independent and able to take care of herself at away games.
“In the beginning, there were some problems – like her getting upset. Each year Dave would increase what she could do with the team, and she was able to meet those demands, which was amazing for me to see because I didn’t know that would ever happen. It was way more than being part of the team. It helped her to be who she is today.”
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Ken Gurysh, formerly the jayvee coach, took over the helm this year, and he had a front row seat to watch the strides Hughes made during her years with the team.
“I get chills even thinking about it – what being on the softball team meant to her compared to what her high school career would have been without it,” the Redskins’ coach said. “It’s interesting because it’s not just what the softball team meant to her, it’s what she meant to the softball team too.
“It was a complete two-way street, and it’s something that gave these kids a whole new perspective on things that they may not have had if Grace had not been there. She loves those girls and calls them her BFFs. It goes back to her freshman year. Dave’s background was in special ed, and he gave her that opportunity. She has meant a ton to the program and vice versa.”
Hughes has made several cameo appearances at the plate during her three years as manager. None more memorable than the home run she hit freshman year in a game against Bensalem.
“That was crazy,” said. “That was a planned thing. I knew (Bensalem coach Dan) Schram would Chichilitti say yes.
“I didn’t want it to be a thousand YouTube views or for us to be on the Fox show. It wasn’t about that. I texted her mom and said, ‘Make sure you and your husband are here today.’ That’s all I wanted. I didn’t want that moment to be what it was, but it’s good for Grace that it was.”
Hughes also played in a scrimmage against Hatboro-Horsham sophomore year.
“We were going through a funk – we had just lost going into the playoffs, so we scrimmaged them,” Chichilitti said. “We let her bat, and that was a good boost. That’s when we made that (postseason) run to the (state semifinals/quarterfinals).”
Last year, Hughes had an appearance at the plate in Neshaminy’s game against Council Rock North. This year was supposed to be Hughes’ fourth as manager, but the season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was very disappointing knowing you’re not going to play your last season, but you’ve got to stay positive,” Grace said. “Me and the girls have talked – we were devastated. You never expect your senior year to end this way.”
Hughes acknowledged her experience with the softball team was life changing.
“From my freshman year to my senior year, I think just my maturity level – I’ve become more of a positive person than I was,” she said. “I never expected to be on a high school softball team. I was not expecting that at all, so I was very glad.
“Chic was amazing. He supported me throughout my freshman year to my junior year. It was very hard to lose him. It was shocking – I was crying. I didn’t want to start out my senior year that way. We all wanted him back, and we tried.”
Chichilitti didn’t return, but Hughes’ special bond with her teammates, especially the seniors, remained.
“You see her in the hallway- she just has a way about her,” Gurysh said. “On April 9 when Governor (Tom) Wolf announced that schools were going to be closed the rest of the year – that meant that no sports were going to be played.”
“It was my birthday, and I had to tell my daughter (senior Kiley Gurysh), her best friends and the whole team – your senior year is over,’” the first-year Neshaminy coach said. “Grace wished me a happy birthday on Twitter. It brought a smile to my face. It was one of the worst days, and she has a way to make you smile.
“This is by no means to minimize anything for the other seniors, but for my team, all six of the other seniors are going to play college. This was it for Grace. This was her last year of softball. That was tough one for her and her family to swallow. She wanted it so bad.”
A segment of Rachel Hughes’ speech at the September meeting of the school board on behalf of Chichilitti sums up what the softball team meant to her daughter.
“Grace loves people but truly did not have any friends until she met coach Chic,” Grace’s mother said. “This truly has been a blessing to her and to our entire family.
“She is a member of the team. The team loves her and respects her for who she is. Having Grace on the team was not always easy for coach Chic or for the girls. Her first two years she could not go without Scott, my husband, or myself present. Now coach Chic has given her the confidence to go without us and to be an active member of the team.”
This fall, Hughes will be enrolled at in the Life Skills curriculum at Buck s County Technical High School. She aspires to be a nurse, following in the footsteps of her mother, a nurse practitioner, in the medical field. She has gained experience by volunteering at a local retirement community.
“The residents love her,” said Rachel Hughes of her daughter.
A confident Hughes is eager to begin the next chapter of her life.
“Absolutely, yes I am,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and making new ones. I’m very excited about next year.”
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Grace Hughes developed an unmistakable bond with her fellow seniors and they with her. Each of the six seniors shared comments about their teammate.
Asia Baranard: “Grace has taught me way more than I could have ever taught her. She brightened everyone’s day on the team, and I am honored that she was part of Gym Night. She has an amazing personality and deserves the world!”
Kiley Gurysh: “Having Grace on the team truly brightened all of our days. She always had a smile on her face and made any bad situation 10 times better.”
Liana Jones: “Grace’s positive attitude and her love for softball has continuously helped guide our team to success. She is loved by everyone.”
Rachael Koehler: “Grace is definitely a special person to have around. She always brings so much positivity to our team and always has a smile on her face. Grace is always so supportive and always has our backs. The last four years wouldn’t have been the same without her.”
Gianna Pickens: “Grace has always had a super important role on the team! Both on and off the field she always finds a way to make you smile and is always checking up on her teammates. I’m so grateful I was able to play with her while getting to know her better. Neshaminy Softball wouldn’t be the same without her!”
Emily Siwek: “Grace is a wonderful person. She is always smiling and happy, and she cheers you up when you’re down, and she will always have your back no matter what. Grace will always be able to put a smile on your face and make you happy. She is a great team player, and she is a great friend. I am so lucky that I had the chance to play softball and be one of her best friends.”
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