Phillies seek new ballgirls

The Phillies are looking for some glovely women.

Next Friday is the deadline for females 18 and older to apply to be a Phillies ballgirl.

It's not just a glamorous way to get a great seat and have fun with the Phanatic.

And forget about any hanky-panky with the players, or appearing in bikini calendars.

"This is an opportunity for women in sports," said squad supervisor Michele DeVicaris. "For all the opportunities for men, this is the one thing we can do for women."

"It's actually a lot tougher than it looks," she said, explaining how the job's responsibilities have expanded in recent years.

On the field, always being ready to make "split-second decisions" can be "nerve-wracking," she said.

A mistake could mess up a game, by interfering with fielders trying to catch foul balls.

So you have to be athletic, she said.

Indeed, one Phillies ballgirl's great snag of a one-hopper made the Top 10 plays on ESPN's Sports Center one night this season.

"I didn't think it was that big of a deal until I watched ESPN that night," said Samantha Arnone, 20, of Audubon, Camden County.

"It was pretty cool to be able to be on the show," said Arnone, a Drexel senior planning to become a physical therapist.

About half of this year's ballgirls are teachers, and the roster ranges in age from 19 to 26, said DeVicaris, who's 30. Only one was African-American, but DeVicaris has seen a more diverse group of applicants this time.

"We're getting better at that," she said.

Until last year, the Phillies had just a half-dozen ballgirls, who did mostly on-field chores.

Then the roster was expanded to about 16 so the ballgirls could take on more roles, appearing at special ballpark events, on radio and TV, and at charity and other events.

Now, for example, there's the Summer Softball Showdown, a charity tournament played at FDR Park that pitted the Phillies ballgirls against the Flyers Ice Girls, the Soulmates, and the Sixers, Wings and Kixx dance teams.

(Nope, no Eagles cheerleaders.)

The Phillies ballgirls won.

Ballgirl dunk tanks made a splash at the ballpark, raising money for charities.

For most charitable events, the charity pays a fee for the appearance, DeVicaris explained.

The team's profits go to Phillies charities, making such events a "win-win," she said.

All ballgirls rotate through the on-field duties, but have a lot of leeway about how many appearances to make.

They're paid by the event, but it's a job to do for experience and fun, not big bucks, DeVicaris said.

"You definitely couldn't live off it," she said.

Arnone, in her second year, likes the job so much, she wishes she could come back. "I would love a third year," she said.

She's also hoping to work the World Series, but only two ballgirls get chosen for each game.

Last year, she worked the second game of the playoff series against the Colorado Rockies.

"The atmosphere was crazy," she said. "It's probably something I'll never forget, being on the field that day."

The Phillies are also gradually introducing more merchandise related to the ballgirls, like the bag the ballgirls carry, as well as hats and t-shirts, DeVicaris said.

But don't expect any swimsuit calendars or lingerie.

"That's not the direction we want to go in," she said.

So far, more than 800 women have sent in resumes, DeVicaris said.

As for restrictions like not dating players, that's not a problem, Arnone said. "I totally understand why," she said.

About 100 would-be ballgirls will be invited for a tryout session, that will include fielding, hitting and throwing tests, as well as on-camera auditions to test public speaking, she said.

How to apply. Those interested have several ways to apply:

(1) Send a resume and a photograph to: Attn. Ballgirl Applications, c/o The Phillies, Citizens Bank Park, One Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

(2) E-mail information to DeVicaris at mdevicaris@phillies.com.

(3) Apply online. Go to at http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/community/ballgirls/index.jsp

No phone calls will be accepted.