Tennessee High junior Macie Strouth was recently asked to describe herself as a softball player.
“I’m a very determined player with a lot of grit,” Strouth replied.
The girl with grit can certainly hit.
Strouth has smashed, slammed, and smacked pitches to the tune of a .455 batting average, three home runs and 25 RBIs for the Vikings (20-4), who won the Upper Lakes Conference championship and begin District 1-AAA tournament play this week.
A sure-handed third baseman as well, Strouth has committed just two errors all season and owns a .935 fielding percentage.
While a couple of newcomers have starred for Tennessee High this season – Carly Compton has dominated as the ace pitcher since transferring from Tazewell and freshman shortstop Addie Wilhoit is a phenom at the plate – Strouth has been her same ol’ reliable self.
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“She has been rock-solid for three years,” said THS coach David Boggs. “She is a leader and leads by example. She has played in big games and helps the team when the pressure is on.”
Strouth was just a freshman when she delivered a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give THS an 11-7 triumph over the Elizabethton Cyclones in the finals of the 2022 district tournament. She doesn’t mind those pressure situations and has stepped to the plate in high-leverage moments on many occasions.
How much of a factor is that experience?
“I think it really helps with nerves,” Strouth said. “But you never know what a team can come out and do on any given night.”
Boggs knows for sure that he’s going to get maximum effort from Strouth each time she steps on the field.
Consider that she played the 2023 season with a torn labrum in her hip and held off surgery until shortly after the season ended with a sub-state loss to Gibbs.
“She is one of the toughest players I have ever coached,” Boggs said. “She gets tougher each game. She reminds me of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator. No matter what life throws at her, she continues to battle. The Tennessee Terminator.”
Tennessee High has plenty of weapons as demonstrated by the fact the Vikings have outscored their opponents 199-48.
“I feel really good about this team going into the postseason,” Boggs said. “They have already had a great season, but they are still hungry. They are not satisfied. They have their sights set on making history this year. I certainly wouldn’t want to be the one trying to stop them.”
Strouth cites Tennessee High’s team chemistry as a strength of the squad and that’s impressive considering the high-profile additions of Compton and Wilhoit.
“Our team has such a close-knit bond you really can’t tell when someone is new,” Strouth said. “I have played travel ball with Addie since 10-under and Carly has fit in like she has always been like here. They have both made a huge difference.”
Compton appreciates Strouth’s role on the squad.
“Macie is a huge asset to our team,” the pitcher said. “She is one of the biggest motivators on the team and most selfless, hard-working person you could meet. She always puts the team above herself. … Macie will play through absolutely anything under any circumstance to be there for her team. She will do it with a smile on her face and not a single complaint out of her mouth.”
Wilhoit concurred.
“She has always had a great attitude and it eventually rubs off on everyone else,” the freshman said.
The player that Boggs calls the Terminator hopes her team avoids elimination in the next few weeks.
“I think we’re very eager and determined,” Strouth said. “We’ve had a great season so far, but I honestly don’t think we’ve even reached our potential.”