Trib HSSN athletes of the week: Riverside’s Danny Fox, Canon-McMillan’s Katelyn Greaves

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 | 11:06 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Danny Fox

School: Riverside

Sport: Baseball

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Riverside has been one of the top WPIAL baseball programs for a long time thanks in part to the legendary coach Dan Oliastro. The Class AA champs in 2016 and 3A champions in 2017 have clinched the Section 2-3A championship with a perfect section record and are ranked No. 1 with an overall mark of 13-1. A big part of this year's success is the pitching and hitting of senior Danny Fox. Last week, Fox was 6 for 10 at the plate in three wins, with a double, a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs. He picked up two wins in pitching a combined 10 innings, allowing only three hits and striking out 17 in wins over Mohawk and Beaver Falls.

With a big target on your back as two-time champs, your team is unbeaten in section play with only one loss the entire season. What has been the key to the Panthers success?

We know we have the target on our back and because of that we can't take anyone lightly. The key to our success this season has been our offense; scoring a lot of runs takes the pressure off of us in the field, and makes our pitchers' jobs a lot easier.

If 2016 Riverside played 2017 Riverside in a video game, who would win?

It would be a close game, but I think the experience and pitching of the 2016 team would give them the edge.

What's it like playing for a true living legend in Coach Oliastro?

Playing for Coach Oliastro is a lot of fun; his experience and knowledge for the game is unmatched. He believes in every player on the roster and puts us in a good position to win every time. As far as keeping up with what's in and what's not away from baseball, I think he gave up on that a long time ago. Sometimes we'll be doing stuff that he just has to laugh at.

While winning back-to-back WPIAL crowns, Riverside has not been able to reach the state finals, falling in the semifinals and quarterfinals of the PIAA playoffs the last two years. Is that a goal you players talk about?

Winning the WPIAL championship the past two years is a great accomplishment that we're all proud of. However, the losses in the PIAA playoffs left a bad taste in our mouths because we know we had very good teams both years. This year, we have a very good team once again, and we have unfinished business from the ‘16 and ‘17 seasons. Everyone on the team knows what the goals are this year, and we've been working hard toward them since the fall.

What are your plans after this season on and off the diamond?

After the season, I will be attending Clarion University, majoring in business administration and playing baseball.

Who are your three best current major league ballplayers, and who is your favorite all-time player?

My three favorite current MLB players are Javier Baez, Fransisco Lindor and Marcus Stroman. My favorite player of all time is Derek Jeter.

What are your three favorite things to do that have nothing to do with sports?

Spend time with my family and friends, fish and listen to music.

Katelyn Greaves

School: Canon-McMillan

Sport: Softball

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: For most of this decade, Canon-McMillan has been a dominant force in the highest classification in WPIAL softball. While this year's team was unable to continue the section championship streak the Big Macs have been on since 2012, they are playoff bound with an unusual mix of key seniors and promising freshmen. One of the standout seniors is Katelyn Greaves, who had a dominant week in what has been a great season. Last week in five wins, Greaves hit .600 (12 for 20) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, seven runs scored and 11 RBIs. For the season, she is hitting .526 with four home runs and 16 RBIs, with a .985 fielding percentage.

Was there pressure on this year's team to keep the Big Macs' six consecutive section title streak alive? (The streak ended with Tuesday's loss to Baldwin).

There definitely was a lot of pressure for everyone. Not just the players, but also the coaches. You never want to be the group that “breaks the streak.”

With so many freshmen playing key roles on the team, did you think the Big Macs would have had as much success and you have had thus far?

In all honesty, after getting to know all of the freshmen as, not only players, but also as individual people, I had total confidence in every single one of them. There is not one person I would be scared to put onto that field. I have never doubted any of their abilities.

Do you take more pride in your offensive state or your defensive success?

I cannot say I take more pride in one over the other. You can't win games with just one strength. I need to be able to rack up hits and RBIs for my pitchers, but I also need to be able to scoop a ball out of the dirt when my shortstop or third baseman dive deep in the hole for a ball.

Up and down the lineup, the Big Macs can mash the ball. Do you feel that's the key to having postseason success, outscoring your opponents?

Being able to put big hitters all the way throughout the lineup is a big positive we have this year. There are quick runners in our lineup who could bunt if we needed them to, but from top to bottom our lineup is very powerful.

Your coach, Michelle Moeller, has had great success for more than a decade and a half. What makes her and her staff so good, and is she underrated?

Coach Moeller knows the game better than most. She has been a coach for a long time now, but has also played herself, making her that much better at what she does. I believe that many people underestimate her and the ability she has to produce wins, but in some ways that may work in our favor.

As your high school days are winding down, can it be tough to focus on softball with so much going on away from the field? What are some of the distractions?

One would think that my mind would be so many different places, but in all honesty softball is the only time I can take a break from all of the stress. If I do get distracted, however, it is usually because I know that my high school days are quickly coming to an end.

Your dream summer would consist of what three things? Your three dream summer vacation locations would be?

My dream summer would definitely consist of traveling the world, going to concerts, and spending as much time with friends and family as possible. I would absolutely love to visit France, Australia and Indonesia.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Riverside