Walter J. Pileggi Memorial Scholarship

On October 18, 2006, Media Area Girls Softball unexpectedly lost a Coach, Board Member and most of all, a Friend.

Walter J. Pileggi, known to all of us as "Walt", suffered a massive stroke on October 16, 2006 and died two days later. Walt had become a fixture within the organization. Not only would he be seen coaching "his girls", but anytime the league needed something, Walt would come to the rescue. In 2005, the league was looking for a tractor to use for dragging the fields. Walt had a friend who owed him some money and also was looking to sell a tractor. So Walt traded the debt for the tractor, and the next thing you know, MAGS has a tractor in their shed that we can now use for field maintenance. This is just one example of the things Walt did.

In 2008, at the suggestion of our founding president, Pete Thomas, the league voted to establish the Walter J. Pileggi Memorial Scholarship. This $500 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior of Penncrest High School who has played in our organization and is choosing to further her academic learning"s at a secondary institute of learning. The winner will be announced at the Senior Award Ceremony held each year at the school. Any girl who meets these requirements, are encourage to fill out an application and submit it to your guidance counselor. These are applications can be found either in the guidance office or by clicking here.

Scholarship Winners

Year Recipient
2011Brigid Shehan
2010Brooke Kalman
2009Jordan Mirarchi
2008Kim Sides
2011 Winner Brigid Shehan with Ryan Pileggi, Sandi Pileggi, Steve Byrne and Domenica Pileggi


History of How Walt Got Started


It was a Saturday afternoon and I was scheduled to take my youngest daughter Domenica down to Barrell Field to pick up her practice schedule and to meet her Coach. In our family I was the one who took our children to their activities because Walt was always working. Since it was close to lunchtime I decided to call Walter and ask him if he would like to meet us for lunch. Walter just happened to be in Media so he told me to pick him up at his office on Second Street. When Walter got in the car I told him I had to make a quick stop at the field so we could get Domenica's practice schedule and then we would be off to lunch. Since parking was nearly impossible I asked Walter if he would just walk her down to meet her Coach and pick up the schedule while I circled a few times. He grumbled but agreed. I drove around the field a few times and finally found a parking spot. I decided to wait in the car with our other daughter and keep an eye out for them. I waited and waited. Finally, Domenica came running to the car with a smile from ear to ear. Walt was following but his expression did not remotely resemble Domenica's. When the car door opened Domenica shouted, 'Daddy's our Coach'. I replied, 'No he's not.' And she shouted back, 'Yes he is, he's our Coach'. When I looked at Walt his face had said it all, he was the Coach. When he got in the car, barely speaking to me, I began to ask questions. I asked him if he volunteered? He said NO! I asked him is he knew anything about Softball or Coaching for that matter? He said NO! So, I asked him one more question. Then how did you become the Coach? He then told me that when they went down to the field to 'meet the coach' they were met by Pete Thomas who informed them that this team did not have a Coach and unless someone stepped forward the girls would not have a team. Did I mention that he was the only Dad there that day! Every little girl on that team looked at him and began begging him to be there Coach. He did say NO a number of times and never had a problem in the past sticking to it, but on this day, he was beaten by a bunch of third grade girls.
It was so funny watching him with the girls that first year. They adored him and in his eyes they could do no wrong. By the next year he began to fall in love with coaching 'his girls'. One year he even had sweatshirts made with a little baby girl smoking a cigar as the emblem and under it, it simply had W.W.C.D. (What Would Coach Do). Coaching those girls was probably one of the best times he had in his life.
That is how Walter started Coaching. I know he would be so proud of the Scholarship presented in his memory through this wonderful organization.
Thank You, Sandi Pileggi