Player Profile: Carly Best, 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.

CARLY BEST – JUNIOR – CLARION

Daughter of: Matt and Melanie Best

Sports Played: Softball

2016-17 Highlights: Carly hit .451 for the District 9 Class 1A fourth-place finishing Lady Cats with a .973 OPS. She was tied for second on the team with 25 runs scored while driving in 13. She also stole a pair of bases.

Post-High School Goals: Carly plans to attend college and eventual get a doctorate degree. She doesn’t plan on playing sports in college.

Q&A With Carly Best

D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in?
CB: Softball

D9: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
CB: Obviously winning is always fun, but I love all of the little funny moments I share with my teammates.

D9: Why do you play high school sports?
CB: I play high school sports for the love of softball but also the love for being on a team.

D9: Is there a high school player on your team or another team that you enjoy watching play? If so, why?
CB: I love watching my cousin Sadie (Rudesyle) play. She’s amazing at the sport but also always so supportive to every team member.

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
CB: Definitely shop with my friends.

D9: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
CB: I would love to go to Auschwitz and visit as many historical Holocaust sites as possible.

D9: Who has had the most influence on you as a person?
CB: My mom definitely has the most influence on me as a person. She had accomplished so much while parenting three children and she always strives to be the best person she can be no matter what the situation.

D9: What do you like most about growing up in your hometown?
CB: I love how small clarion is. I know lots of people and make many friends because of it.

D9: What do you wish you could change about growing up in your hometown?
CB: I wish I would’ve been more involved in volunteering and helping the community.

D9: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
CB: What career I plan to pursue. I would like to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and after get my Ph.D.

D9: Do you or have you had any siblings or other immediate relatives who have played high school sports?
CB: My dad played football at Keystone and was a member of the 1989 team that reached the PIAA championship game.