Working for Phillies a dream fulfilled
“Awesome,” is the word Moira DiSandro said would best describe hHU wRUN DV D 3hLllLHV EDllJLUl DnG her experience has been a dream come true.
The Villanova junior and Ambler native said growing up, she and her three brothers would go with their GDG tR “95 SHUFHnt RI [3hLllLHV@ home games,” where she soon became a rabid fan.
HHU SDVVLRn IRU Dll thLnJV 3hLllLHV soon gave her the dream of one day working for the organization. Little did she know that her dream would one day come true.
A softball player for most of her lLIH, DL6DnGUR VDLG VhH SlDyHG fiUVt base because there were few positions for someone who is left-handHG. WhHn VhH JRt tR hLJh VFhRRl at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Flourtown, she said she chose to give up softball and focus primarily Rn fiHlG hRFNHy. YHt, VhH VDLG, VhH wasn’t ready to completely give up on the game and kept playing in a number of charity games and tried to stay involved as much as she could.
In the fall of freshman year at Villanova, she submitted a résumé and DVD as an application for the ballgirl position. She said her passion for the game drove her to apply and hoped that this would be her chance tR Iulfill hHU GUHDm RI wRUNLnJ IRU thH 3hLllLHV.
The application process was extensive, she said, noting applicants had to demonstrate a great personality, must be softball players and possess strong public speaking skills. For the DVD submission,
DiSandro, now 21, had to explain why she wanted to become a mhillies ballgirl, show off her winning personality and also needed to include footage of her playing softball.
After the initial round of the application process, DiSandro said she then performed a softball tryout followed by a live on-camera interview with a local sports reporter to test if she could handle the pressure she might face from reporters with cameras. Afterward, she had to take a mhillies knowledge test, EHIRUH finDOOy ODnGLnJ Dn interview with her future boss, who gave her the job.
She said while she gets paid for her work, she is doing what she normally would have done anywayW watching the mhillies. The job is a year-round position, she said, beginning in January, that ballgirls can do for a maximum of two years before having to step down.
During the season, the EDOOJLUOV DUH Rn WKH fiHOG collecting baseballs that roll out of play and interacting with the crowd. DiSandro said when she’s Rn WKH fiHOG GXULnJ D JDPH, it’s always “exciting and nHUYH UDFNLnJ.” TKH fiUVW time she walked out onto WKH fiHOG IRU D JDPH, VKH said, was surreal for her EHFDXVH KHU GUHDP KDG finally come true.
The players are “all really nice” but the ballgirls have to act professionally and keep their excitement in check, she said.
:KHn nRW Rn WKH fiHOG during games, she said the ballgirls are involved in the mhillies Green Team, which helps collect recyclables from large groups like schools and businesses.
During the offseason, DiSandro said the 15 mhillies ballgirls are heavily involved with various players’ charities, such as the Hamels Foundation’s Diamonds in Denim. She said the ballgirls’ main responsibilities are to act as ambassadors for the mhillies by escorting players, SHUIRUPLnJ UDIflHV, JUHHWing people and performing other various odd jobs.
The girls also work with Macy’s department store for various promotions and attend pep rallies and ceremonial check presentations from players to organizations.
DiSandro said she will miss “everything” about being a mhillies ballgirl after her time is up in January.
lne of her favorite PHPRULHV RII WKH fiHOG, she said, has been working with a number of schools in the area that are in “bad shape” because she said she likes “being a part of giving back.” She also will always remember the number of mhillies block parties that took place during the postseason because she got to mingle with fans and dance on stage with the band Mr. Greengenes.
She said she will miss her fellow ballgirls most of all because they are all “really close” and are the sisters she never had.
Currently studying economics, DiSandro said she is hoping to land a career in the sports business. She said her new dream is to land a job with the mhillies permanently.