On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Quakertown senior Ellie Hilton was recognized for committing to continue her softball career at Delaware Valley University. (Photos courtesy of Jennifer Banas/QCHS)
Ellie Hilton – Delaware Valley University (Softball)
Major: Animal Science
Final list of colleges: Delaware Valley, Penn State Altoona
Reasons for choosing Delaware Valley: “I initially applied to Del Val because of their incredible animal science program and the hands-on learning opportunities they offer on campus. But after meeting Coach Jamie (Stefani) and being introduced to a few of the players, I quickly realized that the positive, welcoming environment the coaches and team built was something I truly wanted to be a part of.
“Even while touring other schools, I kept thinking about Del Val – both for its academic advantages
and the instant connections I felt with a team I hadn’t even committed to yet. Ultimately, I made a gut decision driven by my love for the sport and the desire to play in a supportive team atmosphere.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “Initially, playing softball at the next level wasn’t something I planned to pursue, so I didn’t have a traditional recruiting process. However, my coaches and teammates saw my dedication to the sport and encouraged me to consider continuing my career.
“Since I hadn’t originally planned on playing in college, I only reached out to another school at first, but that ultimately was not the right fit for me. Later, since I received my academic acceptance in Delaware Valley University, I decided to look into their softball coaching staff and team just for fun, figuring I had nothing to lose. I heard back quickly from Coach Jamie (Stefani), and we stayed in close contact.”
Quakertown softball coach Rich Scott: “Just a couple of Ellie’s stats – I wasn’t here her freshman year, but she had three at-bats, and in those three at-bats, she had two hits and one RBI. Sophomore year, I came in and that’s when I saw Ellie had the ability to hit the ball, and anytime anyone can do that, you have to find a spot for them on the field, so her sophomore and junior seasons, she was our designated player. Sophomore year, she had a .297 batting average with 25 RBIs. Junior year, her average went up to .328 with 20 RBIs, second on the team batting behind Leah Schwalm - who is a great player at Shippensburg – with 29 RBIs. Senior season, Ellie became our fulltime catcher, and her average went up again to .397 with a team-leading 31 RBIs. She caught 110 of our 111 innings and received second team All-SOL Liberty Division honors this season. The past two seasons, she also was honored.
"As a role model her sophomore and junior year, Ellie knew what her role was on the team and did it very well. She never complained once about her role on the team. She was a great teammate, and this past season as the senior catcher, she did an awesome job behind the plate with two young pitchers that she helped mentor along the way. Anytime you have good pitchers, you need to have a great catcher in order to do that. She was our number three hitter and led our team in RBIs. She played every game with a lot of passion and enthusiasm. She was a great teammate and a very dedicated person. She was a team leader, and we couldn’t ask for a better person or better player in that position. Good luck, Ellie, at Delaware Valley, and we’ll be watching.”
About Ellie:
Favorite food: Chick-Fil-A
Favorite TV show: One Tree Hill
Favorite artist: Megan Moroney
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