Episcopal Academy’s Rylie Spor is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The junior center fielder and leadoff hitter, a second team All-Main Line softball selection as a sophomore, is batting .333 with seven runs scored in her first 27 at-bats (as of April 30). Last year, she batted .429 with an on-base percentage of .550. A three-sport athlete (field hockey, diving and softball) at EA, she is noted for her leadership on and off the field. She was recently named Episcopal Academy Athlete of the Month.
Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?
A: The most important thing that I learned about hitting is that it’s always about confidence when you step up to the plate. Softball being such an individual sport tends to make you get in your head when you’re not performing the way you want. I like to take some breaths and clear my head, and just focus on that one at bat and those pitches.
Q: Tell us a little about your approach at the plate as a leadoff hitter, as compared to someone who hits lower in the batting order. Do you become more selective at the plate?
A: It always depends on the pitcher we’re facing, but I like to start swinging early in the count. This strategy most of the time takes away the chance of the pitcher getting ahead. I think it’s way easier to make good contact with the ball when you have a comfortable count. When you’re down in something like an 0-2 or 1-2 count it’s less likely you’ll see good pitches to hit, and harder to see good results.
Q: How do you view your role as a leader in the outfield as a center fielder?
A: I like to use this role in the games to always make sure that everyone knows where to go with certain runners on base. Communication is the best way to ensure that everyone has the same idea. Whether it’s telling the left fielder “back, back, back” so she knows where the ball is going, or letting her know where the fence is, all communication is super important. I like to use this role to also be super positive. Small things like cheering on our pitcher or getting hyped for a good play improves everyone’s mood and keeps them in the game.
Q: As a hitter, after facing a pitcher a couple of times in a game, you probably have a better idea of what she’s going to throw you late in a game. Can you give us an example of how this has worked in your favor?
A: Normally after facing a pitcher once and not getting the best results, I can understand what I need to do in my next at bat. I think about the speed of the pitch, where she tends to throw the most, and if I made contact, where it went and what part of the bat it hit. All of these things together give me what I need to think about the next time I’m at the plate.
Q: What aspect of your game did you work on most during the past off-season?
A: I worked most on my hitting. I needed to work on my swing path when it came to different pitches. I have always had trouble hitting outside pitches, so I worked most on hitting from that spot on the plate.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in softball. Who have been your biggest softball mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you about baseball?
A: I started playing softball when I was old enough to start playing tee-ball. I eventually started playing for a club/travel team in fourth grade. My coach of my Ridley Park team was one of my first and biggest mentors – he was the one who pushed me to take my playing to the next level. Another one of my biggest mentors was my hitting coach – he taught me everything I needed to know about hitting and gave me all the tools to succeed.
Q: What is your favorite ballpark and why?
A: My favorite place to play is the Midway parks in Delaware. These were the first fields that I played on when I started playing club. There are so many memories there from tournaments and practices, and we even had huge team bonfires there with hayrides. There’s also a driving range with a mini golf course there, so in between games at tournaments we would go play golf there.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: I like to eat a good breakfast and drink a lot of water. On the day of a game we like to get the team really hyped up. Once we get to the field I turn on the speaker as loud as it goes and play remixes and songs that put the team in the mood to win. We also like to scream a lot to get everyone up and loud.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at EA? What do you think you might like to major in at college? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite course was Foundations of Art. I am not very artistic, but this class challenged me to be thorough in drawing, woodworking, ceramics and sculpting. In college I’m looking to major in nursing.
Fun facts – Rylie Spor
Favorite book: The Harry Potter Series.
Favorite author: Colleen Hoover.
Favorite TV show: Vampire Diaries.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Head and Heart by Joel Corry.
Favorite team: Phillies.
Favorite place to visit: Wildwood, N.J.
Favorite pre-game meal: Motts gummies, a clementine, Goldfish.
Person I most admire, and why: “Both of my parents because of how hard they work for my family. They do everything to give my brother and me great opportunities. My dad is still taking college classes to earn his masters degree, and my mom always encourages us to be and do our best.
Family members: parents Fred and Jodie, brother Zach.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
