NO CHANCE AGAINST DECIANCIO
CANFIELD OH- South Range High School’s softball team has achieved rarefied success over the past four years, and senior Riley DeCiancio has been at the heart of it all. DeCiancio has contributed to the Raiders’ run of four consecutive district championship victories—an achievement few student-athletes ever experience.
In a recent interview on the YSN Live Podcast, DeCiancio reflected on her journey from a freshman “swinging both from JV to varsity” to a senior leader, describing each championship season as “more special, especially this year.” She said the bonds with her teammates are “like sisters,” making the responsibility of senior leadership feel less like a burden and more like a family effort. This year proved especially triumphant for DeCiancio—not just on the field, but mentally as well. “I have overcome a lot of mental blocks…This year, definitely mentally, I’ve had the best year yet,” she shared. She credits the team’s resilience to their unity, saying, “We really just had to stay close to one another and lean on one another and understand that things aren’t always going to go our way.”
The 2024 Raiders faced their share of adversity with injuries and lineup changes, but DeCiancio led the team through it, helping them peak at the right time. “Coach Starkey said that it was a new season [for playoffs], and that we were going to be a new team, and that’s really just what we’ve done,” she said. One of DeCiancio’s favorite aspects of playing at South Range is the lockdown outfield, which she describes as a “certified no fly zone,” owing to the group’s trust and communication. She takes particular pride in supporting underclassmen like standout Sophia “Mud” Brogan, noting, “Anytime that she’s succeeding, it feels like… the entire team is.”
As her high school softball career winds down, DeCiancio admitted mixed emotions: “Honestly, I feel like I’m very detached from it. I graduate in two days… I feel like it’s going to hit me once it’s over.” Yet, she cherishes the moments she’s shared, especially with her mother, her “biggest supporter,” and the rest of her family. Next fall, DeCiancio will be attending Youngstown State University to study business management—possibly with an eye on a future in real estate. But the lessons learned and friendships forged over four championship seasons at South Range will stick with her for years to come. “I’m going to miss the girls on the team, definitely. Every single one of them truly do feel like sisters,” she said. With her combination of athletic accomplishment, leadership, and strong community ties, Riley DeCiancio leaves South Range with a legacy of winning and camaraderie—on and off the softball diamond.
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