Player Profile: MacKenzie DiTullio, Clarion

D9Sports.com and EYT Media are doing a series of player profiles on returning high-school athletes this summer. The year in school listed by the athlete is the year the athlete is entering this fall.

MACKENZIE DITULLIO – SENIOR – CLARION

Daughter of: Scott and Joyce DiTullio

Sports Played: Softball and Baton Twirling through Twirling Angels in Sharon, Pa.

2016-17 Highlights: MacKenzie had a strong year in a part-time role at the plate for Clarion hitting .368 with a .967 OPS. She had five doubles, a triple and seven RBIs while scoring nine runs and stealing two bases.

Post-High School Goals: She plans on furthering her education by majoring in occupational therapy with minors in psychology and sign language. I plan on Twirling in college and possibly playing softball.

Q&A With MacKenzie DiTullio

D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in?
X: I enjoy both sports equally.

D9: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
X: Sophomore year beating Coudersport because we were moving onto the D9 championship and that hadn’t been accomplished since I was in seventh grade. It meant so much to all of us to get there because it had been a goal since the first practice.

D9: Why do you play high school sports?
X: I play high school sports to have a great time with my teammates and improve my skills.

D9: Is there a high school player on your team or another team that you enjoy watching play? If so, why?
X: I enjoy watching Colby Himes (Clarion-Limestone) play. He has so much love and enthusiasm for baseball and he gives everything to each game he plays.

D9: When not playing sports I would rather (pick one) – Go to work, play video games, shop, hang out with friends, play pickup sports, go the movies
X: Hang out with friends.

D9: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
X: I’d go to Italy to explore the culture of my family heritage.

D9: Who has had the most influence on you as a person?
X: Brianna Colbert, my baton coach, has the most influence on me as a person. She’s the older sister figure in my life and watching her twirl is how my career started. Her work ethic and love for the sport show in everything she does and she has pushed me to do the same.

D9: What do you like most about growing up in your hometown?
X: Autumn Leaf Festival is the best part of growing up in Clarion.

D9: What do you wish you could change about growing up in your hometown?
X: I wish that I became friends with people from other schools at a younger age.

D9: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
X: How have sports helped you in high school? Through the business of rescheduling games, sports have helped my stay organized and prepared for any possible situation. I’ve learned how to balance my time between school work and sports and maintain good grades.

D9: Do you or have you had any siblings or other immediate relatives who have played high school sports?
X: My brother Noah will be a freshman this year and is looking forward to baseball.