By Lindsay Evitts ’07

Baseball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being raised on hot dogs and baseball at Veteran’s Stadium is a cherished part of my childhood. As long as the Phillies were in town my family would be there as often as we could. Although I can’t remember my first game, my most memorable games were the 1993 World Series with the Blue Jays. It was just my dad and I at the sold-out event and I remember it like it was yesterday. The Phillies didn’t win the Series that year but I stayed true to my favorite team.

For a sports fan, being on the inside is magical. Lindsay Evitts is no exception. That’s Lindsay with the Phillies Phanatic from 1993. Fellow students will recognize her as she looked on campus.

Everyone asks how I got to be a Phillies Ballgirl. It started with a visit to the Phillies website. A press release said the team was looking for ballgirls for the new Citizens Bank Park that opened in 2004. I jumped at the chance and sent my résumé. A phone call sent me to the ballpark for an interview.

I remember thinking I blew the interview because of how nervous I was. All I heard them say before I left was, “We’ll call you when we’ve made our decision.”

A couple weeks later I was taking a quiz, when my phone rang. “Phillies calling,” my phone said. As soon as class was over, I ran home and called back. To my surprise I was offered the job. The first person I called was my dad.

Since the 2005 season, I’ve had the privilege to be on the sidelines at Citizens Bank Park for Phillies home games. We do much more than wear the pinstripes, sit on a little stool in the outfield, catch foul balls, give the balls to the fans, and smile for the camera.

The Phillies ballgirls started with working the games and gradually got more attention by promoting the team. It started small by visiting schools and nursing homes with the Phillies Phanatic; then turned into appearing on television programs such as the local news and Comcast Sports Live. Learning how to be comfortable in front of the camera was my biggest obstacle and eventually I got used to it. Now I jump at any chance to speak about the Phillies in a positive light on camera.

Philly Phans are the most intense fans around and my job requires me to interact with them at all time. Once I step foot in the ballpark, I instantly become a celebrity. Signing autographs and having pictures taken is such an ego boost it makes the job even more exciting than it already is.

My ballgirl memories are countless and if I told you about all the exciting things that have happened I could go on for hours. Some of my favorites are appearing in Sports Illustrated and ringing the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Bell.

In Sports Illustrated I was the “unidentified ballgirl.” I work three feet from the foul line and this ball looked like it was going to fall right on me. I didn’t know which way to move because I didn’t want to interfere with 6’4” leftfielder Pat Burrell whose feet I could hear pounding my way. At the very last minute I grabbed my stool and booked it. Luckily for me, I didn’t interfere with the play, although a fan did by reaching over the fence to catch the ball. When my co-workers showed me the photo in SI I thought it was hysterical my scariest moment was caught and published in a national magazine.

On Opening Day this season, April 2, I rang the Philadelphia Stock Exchange bell with legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas. I was so excited and honored as we rang the bell three times. It didn’t last long. We had to make it back to the ballpark in time for our radio and television interviews, autograph signings, and of course, the game.

Normal practice has been to keep ballgirls for one or two years before making way for new ones. In previous years there were only six ballgirls who worked the games and did personal appearances. This year the Phillies decided to take the ballgirls to a new level and formed a Phillies Ballgirls softball team. I was part of the search for fourteen dedicated and talented girls who love the game of baseball. The process was tough and extensive but the team turned out just as planned if not better.

I’ve played softball since I was six years old and accomplished a lot in my softball career. Sometimes I wished I could show off my skills during the games but that wasn’t possible…until now.

The Phillies Ballgirls softball team gets us out into the community to raise money for the team’s charities by playing other local teams from radio, police, and fire stations. We have dozens of games scheduled and I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to show everyone we’re more than a pretty face with a glove – we’re athletes.

In addition to playing softball, we also volunteer our time doing other charitable events including the Relay for Life walk and the annual Phillies Phestival.

Lindsay mans the Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society) book sale table for one of the organization’s fundraising events.

Volunteering has always been something I take pride in. With my involvement with the English honor society (Sigma Tau Delta) and the Shippensburg Gerontological Organization, giving back has always been something I’ve found to be worthwhile. So I was immediately open to being part of the Phillies Charity Plan.

Being away at school, it wasn’t easy traveling back and forth to Philadelphia, but the trips were worth every minute. The Phillies have allowed me to experience my dream and much, much more. Although my college days at Ship have wound down, I hope my days with the Phillies continue as long as possible.

Remember, we always have and will BELIEVE. Go Phillies!

Lindsay Evitts ’07

Hometown: Warminster

Major: English with a technical/professional communications minor

Campus Activities: Secretary, Sigma Tau Delta (International English Honors Fraternity) and secretary, Shippensburg Gerontological Organization (SGO) since its inception in Fall 2005

Career Goals: I’m going to spend the summer with the Phillies before jumping into the real world. I’ve been researching graduate schools online for the spring but that would depend on if I find a rewarding job. I’ve been sending out my résumé but I can’t put my finger on exactly what I want to do. There’s so much out there to explore.