Alle-Kiski Valley athletes of the week: Plum’s Lily DeLuca, Deer Lakes’ Anthony Smith

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 5:34 PM

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Lily DeLuca

School: Plum

Class: Freshman

Sport: Softball

Claim to Fame: DeLuca crushed a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Plum (8-2, 4-1) defeated Section 1-5A opponent North Hills, 12-10, on Friday.

Tell me about the moment you hit the home run.

I had a lot of adrenaline, and I got really excited. Everyone was cheering a lot.

Where you nervous at all before your at-bat in the seventh?

A little bit, but as I kept seeing more pitches in the at-bat, I was fine.

What was your reaction when you saw the ball go over the fence?

I was really excited and happy and loved to hear my teammates cheering. If they didn’t continue to hit with two outs, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to win the game.

What was it like to be mobbed by your teammates?

It was a really exciting moment for me because as a freshman it’s hard to get playing time, and I’m grateful that I’m able to play for the varsity team.

Was that the first ever walk-off you hit in high school?

Yes.

Your first home run?

No, that was my fifth this season.

Were you able to retrieve the ball, and, if so, where will you keep it?

My dad was able to get it, and I have it sitting on a shelf with all the other softballs I’ve saved from moments and games.

What’s been a key to the team’s early success this season?

We’ve been hitting a lot, been pretty smart on the bases and very solid in the field, which has helped us to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.

As a freshman, what adjustments did you have to make playing on varsity?

I told myself not to think about everyone else being older than me because if I did it would feel way different than if I was with my travel team in my age group.

What were the team’s goals coming into the year?

Win the section and continue to get better throughout the season.

What individual goals did you set for yourself this season?

Before I knew I was going to be on the varsity team, one of my biggest goals was to be a starter on the varsity squad.

Do you have a favorite college softball team you like to watch?

Yeah, I like Oklahoma. They have a strong connection with one another and have been doing a lot of winning recently. They have a four-peat for the national title.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I started high school wrestling this year, and I have been playing soccer my entire life.

Why did you start wrestling, and how do you like it so far?

I picked it up because I’ve always wanted to wrestle the last few years but never really had the time. It’s a good way to stay conditioned, have fun and challenge myself.

What is one hobby you would most like to try?

I used to want to play lacrosse, but I don’t have the time because it’s the same season as softball.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

Math because I like solving all the problems.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family.

What two nonessential items would you want to have if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island?

My mom and my dad.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Dog person. I have a pomsky, which is a husky and pomeranian mix.

What is an item on your bucket list that you would like to cross off?

To play college softball.

What song would you choose to play every time you walked into a room and why?

“Wild Things” by Alessia Cara. I like the energy it has, and I love to sing along to it.

Anthony Smith

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Senior

Sport: Baseball

Claim to fame: Smith smashed a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 10th to lift the Lancers (4-3, 4-1) to a 4-3 Section 3-3A win over Ligonier Valley on Monday.

Set the scene for your walk-off homer.

I felt comfortable at the plate the whole game. Our second hitter doubled to tie the game up in the bottom of the seventh and after that at-bat, I was intentionally walked. I came to the plate with a chip on my shoulder because I wanted to walk it off in the seventh. I was thinking it was a pretty important game for us, and I wanted to get the win for us.

Were you nervous at all heading to the plate in such a pivotal situation?

Not really. I felt throughout the extra innings that there was no way we were going to lose this game. Our team had picked it up with the bats in the last couple of innings.

Do you remember what the pitch was?

It was a fastball up and over the middle of the plate in a 1-1 count, so I was ready for it.

What was your reaction when you saw the ball clear the fence?

Halfway down the first-base line I was thinking, “that might get out. Please get out.” Before that at-bat I had popped one out to the warning track, so I was begging it to go over. I was ecstatic when it did go over.

Was that your first walk-off home run?

I hit one in youth, but as far as high school goes, that was my first walk-off, first important one.

Were you able to get the ball, and, if so, where do you plan on keeping it?

My good friend was there to watch the game and when I hit it, he ran out to the fence beyond center field and grabbed it. I’m planning on keeping it with the others I have up in my room.

Had to be a relief for you and your teammates, playing into the tenth inning. What were the collective thoughts as the game kept going?

A game like that, because we had beaten Mt. Pleasant in our second section game in nine innings, we would like to get them over with earlier, but we keep fighting. It’s a mental thing with our squad. We’re mentally tough, and Coach Snyder preaches that in practice and during games and that’s helped us a lot.

Last year was a disappointing year for the team. What have you seen so far this year that says this year’s team is different and can make the playoffs?

The last two years, we’ve had eight total wins and playoffs haven’t even been a thought. Last year we played teams a lot closer, but that mental toughness wasn’t there for us and we would sort of fold in the later innings. This year we’re a lot better throughout the lineup offensively, and we’re playing well defensively and are pretty solid pitching wise.

What were the team’s goals coming into the year?

To win our section, which went through some changes, but the bigger goal is to make the playoffs.

What individual goals did you set for yourself?

I’m going to play third base in college, so I wanted to play solidly in the field. I didn’t do great with the bat last year, so I wanted to be more confident at the plate.

Favorite baseball team and/or player?

I like the Pirates, but I also like the Los Angeles Angles, because I liked Mike Trout for a while.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family.

If you had to live in a fictional movie, which would you choose?

“Monsters University.”

What is one item on your bucket list?

To attend an Oklahoma City Thunder home game.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

It was math a couple years ago, but this year I really like our English teacher, who makes it enjoyable to read books.

What was the last book you read?

We just finished reading “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Pick up basketball is fun for me, and I played on the football team the past couple years.

What is one hobby you would like to try?

Fishing.

What do you believe is overrated?

The Kansas City Chiefs.

What two nonessential items would you want to have if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island?

A basketball and a baseball glove.

What are your future plans?

I’m attending W&J to play baseball and will be studying child development to become a teacher.

What is a piece of advice you would want to leave your teammates before you graduate?

Don’t take it for granted, it goes by fast.