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Name: Riley Best
School: Glendale
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Sport: Softball
Athlete of the week achievement: Best had 11 hits, three of them home runs and two doubles, while leading Glendale to a 4-0 week with wins over Cambria Heights, West Branch, Blacklick Valley and Williamsburg. She was also the winning pitcher against Heights and threw a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts against Williamsburg.
Season update: Best has nine home runs this season, giving her 18 for her career at Glendale, a school record. She's batting .667 with 19 RBIs, five doubles and a triple and has scored a team-high 31 runs for a 11-2 team.
Coach Bruce Vereshack's quote: "I know she's had a pile of home runs. She's the leadoff hitter and is a team leader. I could talk for an hour about how great of a player and kid she is. My girls are seeing beach balls right now up at the plate, and the focus on hitting has seemed to pay off."
Favorite teachers: Mr. Damiano and Mrs. Kallas
Favorite subject: Anatomy
Favorite movie: "21 Jump Street"
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite song: "Sun to Me" by Zach Bryan
Outside interests: Spending time with friends and family
Favorite professional team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Favorite college team: Oklahoma
College athlete most admired: Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl
Best athlete I ever competed against: Clearfield graduate Emma Hipps
Most influential person on my athletic career: My dad, Jeff Best
Proudest athletic achievements: "Winning the District 6 championship in my sophomore year, making it to the state semifinals last year and committing to Lock Haven to play softball."
How I got my start in softball: "I started playing at 6 for Irvona Sluggers."
Future goal: "To be as great as I possibly can be and make the most out of my college softball experience."