1995

McDaniel's 'mean streak' stuff legends are made of

Meet the stars This is the 18th in a series of articles about the area prep athletes who are partici– pating in all-star games this summer. Who: Olivia McDaniel. What: Mississippi High School All-Star Softball Game. Where: Hinds Community College. When: July 8, 2 p.m. Tomorrow's star: Deann Frazier. "We've kind of grew up together," Neshoba Central coach Billy Smith said. "She's been in the basketball program since seventh grade and played every year of softball. "I wish I had 100 more like her." McDaniel was the Rockets' most valuable player in both sports, sharing the basketball honor. She was named All;District in both, and is the first Neshoba Central softball player to make the All-Stars. "I probably enjoy basketball more," McDaniel said. "It's just a little more competi– tive and physical than softball." In softball, 'The Big 0' played left-center field for Neshoba. This summer, she's playing right for her league team.

Ty Cobb stories are legendary. The Georgia Peach was notorious for his r.ompetitiveness, for his aggressiveness. Olivia McDaniel is almost in the same cate– gory. "I've got a reputation of being real mean," said McDaniel, a Neshoba Central High gradu– ate. "I let it go off the court or the field, but it shows when I'm playing." McDaniel, who will play both basketball and softball at East Central Community College, is scheduled to take part in the Mississippi High School All-Star Softball Game on July 8 at Hinds Community College's Raymond campus. Don't look for any new chapters to be writ– ten for her 'rep.' "I'm more aggressive in basketball," McDaniel said. "I got a technical once because a girl fell on me. "She stole the ball from me and fell down," she said. "I held on to her leg on purpose." In hoops, McDaniel averaged 10.9 points per game for the Rockets, who were 20-11. . On the diamond, the outfielder led Neshoba Central in runs batted in and home runs, and batted more than .500. The Rockets, in their third year as a pro– gram, were 7-9.