With the Phillies season mercifully ending earlier this month, we thought it would be a good time to catch up with a Cinnaminson High School and softball alum, Val Miller. Miller finished up her first season as a Phillies ballgirl this month.
We had a chance to talk with Val on two separate occasions about this opportunity, her time at Cinnaminson High School, her college playing days and the process she went through to become a ballgirl for her favorite team.
Miller is a 2010 graduate of Cinnaminson High School. Her favorite class was Honors Algebra 2 with Mr. Kolev.
Miller graduated from Holy Family University in 2014 with a degree in sports marketing and management.
One of Miller’s adjunct professors at Holy Family, Sal DeAngelis, also works as the Director of Operations/Security for the Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies.
“Mr. DeAngelis got me interested in sports management and helped me out a lot while working towards my major. He taught me a lot about facilities management and how the whole setting works.”
Miller’s love for baseball/softball began with tee ball when she was in first grade. Miller played softball all four years at Cinnaminson and all four years at Holy Family.
Her most memorable moment from high school softball was when she hit two homeruns in one game.
“I almost hit a third, but the center fielder played really deep and was able to rob me of another one.”
Aside from softball, Miller tried her hand in basketball, cross country and winter track, but softball eventually took over her life.
“I played for Cinnaminson High School, the Mystics and the Cinnaminson in-town travel team.”
Miller expressed her love for the Phillies and that becoming a ballgirl was something she thought would be interesting to do someday.
“I would go to the games when I was an undergrad and always thought, ‘It would be cool to be a ballgirl, to work for the Phillies.'”
“A lot of the people I have met at the Phillies were enrolled in sports programs. That’s why I wanted to get my foot in the door there, to see if I can move up in the organization.”
Miller mentioned one of her softball teammates from Holy Family who was a Phillies ballgirl and encouraged Miller to tryout in 2013.
“I wasn’t chosen the first time, losing by 30 votes in the Twitter hashtag contest. When I was interning with the Phillies in 2014 I constantly talked with the Phillies ballgirls to see what it was like for them. It convinced me to tryout again for the 2015 season.”
Miller had to send in a video resume that highlighted her softball skills. She then had to take part in a tryout at the stadium that involved fielding in the tunnels and hitting off a machine in the batting cages. She then had to meet with Scott Palmer to take part in a media session that was recorded.
Miller was contacted by the ballgirl supervisor in December for a formal interview and then notified in January that she had been chosen as a member of the 2015 squad.
Miller’s favorite events off the field were Carlos Ruiz’s bowling event and an appearance at Webster Elementary School in Port Richmond with Cole and Heidi Hamels before the ace was traded to the Texas Rangers.
“Chooch is such a nice guy. He talked to everyone who attended and thanked them for coming personally. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”
Miller also had the opportunity to play in charity softball games throughout the month of August. She also worked games while not on the field to assist in raffles and work on the Red Goes Green Team.
“When it comes to the most exciting game I worked on the field, it has to be the one my entire family attended. It was for my grandmother’s 80th birthday. I was on the field when they were there. They were cheering for me. I was on the Phanavision board. The Phanatic came down to the section for my grandmom. Cody Asche hit a walkoff home run against the Chicago Cubs (9/12). It was awesome.”
“There was so much to experience there. I got to meet some of the players. It was cool to stand close to Ryan Howard. I also did some events with him. There are a couple events in the off-season we help out with. On October 25 we are going to Children’s Hospital for a Halloween party for the kids.”
All in all, Miller had a fun first season as a Phillies ballgirl and is looking forward to the many off-season events in which the squad takes part.
