Brett’s a real hit

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

Brett DiFelice knew that if he stuck with it, good things could happen.
That was four years ago, when DiFelice was a freshman rightfielder on the Chestnut Hill Academy High School baseball team.
DiFelice, a Bustleton resident, was a contributing member of that squad, but his contributions didn’t mean a whole lot because . . .
"We were really bad, really bad," said DiFelice, whose team finished 0-10 during the team’s Inter-Ac schedule. "There were a lot of things; we were really young and we were good and we worked hard, but we weren’t good enough to play with the rest of the guys. We were getting overpowered in every game."
Things got a little better during his sophomore season, as the team won three of its 10 games.
Then, last year, the Blue Devils improved a little more, winning four games.
This year, in the middle of his senior year, DiFelice and his teammates have a chance to do something special. They have a chance to win the always competitive Inter-Ac, often one of the best leagues in the area.
"You see the great players who play in this league . . . teams like Germantown Academy, Malvern (Prep) and Penn Charter all have great players," he said. "But we’ve been working on this year for a while. This is our year.
"When we were getting blown out, I mean, we were losing by a lot," he said. "But when we were losing, we were getting better. I think we’re good now because we played against great teams the past four years and we learned so much by getting pounded on. I had a feeling that we’d get better."
DiFelice is one of the reasons for the team’s turnaround.
Currently one of the top hitters, in terms of batting average, in the Inter-Ac, DiFelice hits second in the Blue Devils’ order. Also, as a four-year starter with plenty of experience, he provides leadership.
And, in his opinion, his greatest talents are in the outfield, where he uses his cannon of an arm and his mind for the game to his team’s advantage.
"I’m a good hitter, I think, but I like defense, I pay attention on every pitch," he said. "People always ask me if the outfield is boring, and I really don’t think it is. I learn a lot from standing out there and watching. It’s amazing what you can pick up.
"And I get into the game," he continued. "I know it’s my game, but I enjoy watching. It’s fun. When you’re hitting, you’re thinking, but when you’re playing defense it’s a lot of reacting. That’s what I enjoy."
He also enjoys the school. The commute from Bustleton to Chestnut Hill each morning takes roughly 40 minutes — 40 minutes that could be spent in bed.
But that doesn’t bother DiFelice. He’s getting a great education, and by going to the school, which sits on Willow Grove Avenue, just west of Germantown Avenue, he has had the opportunity to make a lot of new acquaintances.
"Going to Chestnut Hill is a lot better now because I drive," said DiFelice, who used to depend on a ride from classmates. "Now, I just get up and go, which is a lot better.
"Plus, the good thing is I already know a lot of the guys from around here," he continued. "I met a lot of cool people at Chestnut Hill. And I’m still friends with the guys around here."
Next year, it will be a new beginning for DiFelice.
He has accepted a scholarship (part academic, part athletic) to attend Georgia College and State University, a Division 2 school in Milledgeville, Ga., roughly an hour from Atlanta. The school is currently ranked as the top Division 2 baseball team in the country.
He hopes to major in environmental science and continue his success on the diamond.
"It seems like a great fit because it’s a great school and they have a really good baseball program," DiFelice said. "Another cool thing is it’s right near Atlanta, so I will hopefully get a lot of Phillies games on TV out there.
"Plus I think the warm weather will be a nice change," he added. "I’ll be playing year round, hopefully, and it’s a lot better playing when you’re not freezing."
But DiFelice’s days as a Blue Devil aren’t over yet, so he’s not quite ready to head south. Besides, personal goals are secondary.
He was a second-team All Inter-Ac player as a sophomore and made first team as a junior. He also competed on the league’s Carpenter Cup squad last June, helping the team get into the second round of the prestigious tournament.
Those honors were nice and everything, but this year, it’s all about being a Blue Devil.
"We’re still in contention for the league and we think we have a chance to win it for the first time," DiFelice said. "I wouldn’t mind being MVP or making the Carpenter Cup again, or any of that, but that’s not on my mind at all.
"I was on some bad teams here, so it’s great that we’re talking about winning the league this year," he said. "It just shows you how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown as baseball players and how much you can learn by sticking with something, even when you’re getting beat." ••
Sports editor Joe Mason can be reached at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com