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.
RILEY ASSALONE – Senior – DuBois Central Catholic
Daughter of: Becky and Mark Assalone
Sports Played: Soccer, Basketball, Softball
2015-16 Highlights: Assalone is a three-sport star for the Lady Cardinals and has been an all-conference selection in all three sports. Her best sport is softball where she has pitched DCC to District 9 Class A titles in two of her three years at the school including this past season when they Lady Cards went to the PIAA semifinals. She was fantastic both in the circle and at the plate. Pitching, she was 19-1 with a 0.79 ERA while striking out 136 in 115 ⅔ innings of work and walking just 25. She had a stretch of over 53 innings during the season where she didn’t allow an earned run. At the plate, she hit .447 with seven doubles, two triples, 34 runs scored and 19 RBIs. In basketball, she was the leading scorer for DCC averaging 12.2 ppg, which was tied for 22nd in District 9. She added 3.5 rpg, 2.4 spg and 1.4 apg. In soccer, she helped DCC to a second-place finish in District 9 Class A.
Post High School Goals: Assalone plans on attending college after graduation and is hoping to play sports. She isn’t sure what she wants to major in yet nor where she wants to go, but she’s been contacted by a few colleges including Mount Aloysius, Carlow, La Roche, Geneva, St. Vincent and Alderson Broaddus.
Q&A With Riley Assalone
D9Sports: Do you have a favorite sport, and if so why?
RA: Softball. I’ve been playing it the longest, and I work on it the most. I’m hoping to continue my career in college.
D9: What is your best high-school related sports memory and why?
RA: Winning the District 9 Class A title my freshman year. We really turned the program around that year, I think. We had a really good season, and we were all hyped going into the playoffs. That year we just had a lot of fun and played really well together. Plus, helping my team win a district title as a freshman was pretty exciting.
D9: Has there been a coach and/or teacher who has influenced you the most in your high-school career to this point, and if so, why?
RA: My dad has had the biggest influence on me. He always set up lessons for me and put me on travel teams to help my game. On days that I didn’t want to practice, he made me do it because he knew it would make me a better player and athlete. A lot of parents would let their kids do whatever they wanted. But, he knew deep down I wanted it and by pushing me he helped me realize it.
D9: What do you like best about playing sports in high school?
RA: I like getting close to my teammates. It’s really cool when you figure out your team chemistry. Getting in shape is cool, too. I would never do it on my own if I didn’t play sports.
D9: What is the hardest part about playing sports in high school?
RA: The hardest part about playing sports is finishing the motivation to keep up with school work and studying.
D9: How much offseason work do you put into your sports?
RA: I put in a lot of offseason work. I play on a travel team, pitch/hit on my own and lift with the team a few times a week for softball. We play in Y-League and have open gyms for basketball. I also run for soccer a few weeks before the season starts to get in shape.
D9: What is your favorite subject in school?
RA: I don’t have a specific subject that’s my favorite, but I really like all the science classes I’ve taken in high school.
D9: What do you like to do for fun when you aren’t playing sports?
RA: I usually just hang out with friends or find a good movie or TV show on Netflix.
D9: What are your goals for the upcoming school year both sports wise and academically?
RA :My goals for this school year are to possibly take my SATs again to try and better my score, apply to (and hopefully get accepted to) a few colleges and make it on the honor roll each semester. Athletically, I hope to improve my skills in basketball. Along with that, I hope to lower my ERA farther, add some speed to my pitches, raise my batting average and hopefully make all-stars for my fourth year in softball.
