A week after helping the East Hamilton Lady Hurricanes softball program match their best state tournament finish in program history, Grace Hixson received the phone call of a lifetime.
Hixson was one of the state’s top hitters at the Spring Fling as the senior second baseman drove in 13 runs over four games in Murfreesboro, where she launched a trio of home runs. Her red-hot finish in late May helped East Hamilton land a final four finish, while also catching the eye of coaches at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she dreamed of playing.
“I was actually working a camp at the high school whenever Coach (Frank) Reed called me,” Hixson said. “I don’t think it has hit me yet that I will continue my playing career for UTC softball. I was planning on going there regardless just because I love the school so much.
“I wasn’t ready to part with softball. It was really hard for me coming home from the state tournament not knowing if I was going to play again. The timing was just perfect. I am very, very excited about this.”
Hixson was one of the local players helping to make up the victorious Volunteer State’s roster in Tuesday night’s 25th annual Tennessee-Georgia All-Star softball classic at Frost Stadium. The Tennessee all-stars defeated Georgia 7-6 in the first game of the doubleheader as Baylor’s Katie Raper, a North Carolina State signee, homered and drove in four runs, while Soddy-Daisy’s Tatum Massengale, a Tennessee Wesleyan signee, also homered and fell a triple shy of the cycle.
Gordon Lee’s Chloee Fryar had a three-run triple, while Dalton’s Aliza Martinez just missed a game-tying home run in the final frame for Georgia.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / East Hamilton’s Grace Hixson waits on deck during Tuesday’s Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Softball Classic at Frost Stadium.After the UTC softball team finished its season on May 11, a window of opportunity arose for Hixson to catch Reed’s eye and on May 31 she announced her commitment. In her final seven games, Hixson had 19 RBIs and four home runs.
The end of a 10-year state tournament drought started with a bang for East Hamilton, which finished 28-12 overall.
Hixson scored the game-winning run on a walk-off hit by Ashlynn Watkins to defeat Gibbs 10-9 in the state tournament’s opening round on May 23. Hixson was locked-in at the plate as she went 3-for-3 with a walk and blasted two home runs, including a grand slam on her way to a season-high six runs batted in.
“The best time to get hot is at the end of the year,” Hixson said. “The timing was just right. I had been hitting a lot and going to the cage with my dad. To make it to state meant so much to all of us. We wanted to go out on top and got pretty close. A lot of girls stepped up. It was amazing and one of the best experiences I have ever had in softball.”
Hixson finished the season hitting .445 with six home runs and 48 RBIs, while also drawing 26 walks compared to just nine strikeouts. She also had 18 stolen bases while posting a .960 fielding percentage and over her last three seasons she connected on 16 home runs.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / East Hamilton’s Grace Hixson committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team a week after her high school senior season came to a close.The storybook finish to her prep career was one Hixson will never forget.
“I have wanted to go to UTC for a really long time,” she said. “I have come to all the camps here and have always been interested in playing for them. I love everything about the program. It’s amazing that this opportunity I had been longing for finally arrived. I couldn’t be more thankful and wouldn’t be where I am if not for years of hard work.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com