Hatboro-Horsham slugger Wambold did it all for Hatters

On May 27, Julie Wambold hit a home run over the fence at North Penn to help lift Hatboro-Horsham to a 3-0 win over Spring-Ford in the quarterfinals of the District 1 Class AAAA softball playoffs.

A few days later, Wambold hit another homer over the same fence in the Hatters' 8-5 win over Pennsbury in the district championship game.

Earlier last week, the Syracuse-bound Wambold laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out for a single in a 2-0 win over Neshaminy in the PIAA state semifinals.

The feats were typical of this highly competitive senior, who is willing to do almost anything to help her team win.

"She could probably play any position but pitch," said coach Joe DiFilippo, whose Hatters won the PIAA Class AAAA championship in his first year at the helm.

Thinking about what he had just said, DiFilippo gave it some reconsideration.

"She probably can pitch, too. I've just never seen her do it," he added about The Inquirer's Southeastern Pennsylvania player of the year in softball.

Wambold certainly showed her versatility this season as the Hatters rolled to a 26-2 record, their first District 1 championship, and their second state crown in four seasons.

A freshman designated hitter when the school won its first state championship in 2008, Wambold began this season at shortstop. When catcher Kelsey Koelzer got hurt, however, DiFilippo turned to Wambold and asked if she would step in behind the plate just as the district playoffs were getting started. Wambold remained there.

"She's the type that would play anywhere to help the team," DiFilippo said. "For us, she's been a great leader on and off the field."

Wambold, batting third in the order, hit better than .550 this season with 26 RBIs and nine home runs. But she gave credit to her teammates for the team's success.

"Winning a state championship was one of our goals, and we needed everyone to contribute to do it," Wambold said. "And they did."

Wambold is the last of the Wambold clan at Hatboro-Horsham. Older sisters Katie and Lisa played for the Hatters and went on to college careers. Lisa, 25, played for Hofstra, and Katie, 21, just finished her senior season at Albany. Sister Sherri, 29, was a "very good hitter," Julie said, but gave up softball after Little League age.

When asked what attracted Syracuse to her, Julie Wambold put it in two words: "My bat."

There is surprising power packed in her 5-foot-7, 150-pound frame.

"It's all muscle, " she added with a laugh. Seriously, she pointed out that she has always worked hard to improve her stroke, particularly in the offseason. "I'm always looking for pointers," she said.

DiFilippo says the secret to her power is her bat speed.

"She's so quick on the ball, it's unbelievable. She has the fastest bat I've ever seen," said DiFilippo, a veteran travel-team coach who succeeded Kelly Crier this season as Hatters coach. "Her eye-hand coordination is tremendous."