Remember the name Gracie Osbron.
As we researched players for the Elite 100 2018 class, her name kept coming up and for good reason: she’s one of the top athletes in the class (also a two-time All-District basketball player) and she’s tantalizingly good behind the plate or in the infield.
Gracie has been clocked at college camps with a 1.5 pop time and her arm strength is arguably the best in the senior class. One college coach said, “Don’t be surprised if she’s a future All-SEC catcher, she’s just that good.”
And one of the top club coaches in the South told us, “She’s got a great arm, it’s comparable to Julia Cottrill (the 2019 Florida catcher commit who is on the USA Softball Junior National team).
Gracie, however, isn’t just a promising backstop, some coaches have said she could be an elite shortstop or play somewhere else in the infield or even the outfield.
And don’t forget that Ralph and Karen Weekly have one of the top catcher/hitters in the country also signed in this class in Ally Shipman from Valencia, California.
It will be fun to see how it plays out for the Vols, who loaded up with one of the top recruiting classes signed last November.
Here’s a closer look at Gracie and what makes her one to watch this summer on the club level and then next year in the SEC…
NAME: GRACIE OSBRON
Hometown/ST: Paris, Tennessee
Grad Year: 2018
Position(s): SS/C
Club Team: Tennessee Fury Platinum
High School (City/ST): Henry County (Paris, Tennessee)
GPA: 3.8
College: Tennessee
When Committed? December, 2016 (sophomore year)
Height: 5-foot-8
Top Honors: Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 (#22); All State (9th, 10, 11th grade); West Tennessee Miss Softball for AAA (11th grade); four-time All District; District Defensive MVP; led high school team to first ever state tournament and to a 3rd place finish; West TN Sports Digest Preseason Player of the Year
Key Accomplishments: Invited to try out for the Junior National Team in 2017; won ASA National Championship in 2014; won ASA southern Nationals in 2013; in basketball was District MVP 11th and 12th grade years
2018 High School Stats (28 games): .560 batting average, .639 on-base percentage, six home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, .952 slugging percentage, 1.591 OPS
Career High School Stats: .520 batting average, .583 on-base percentage, 33 home runs, 164 RBI, 234 runs scored, .931 slugging percentage, 1.568 OPS
Other Sports? Basketball
Other Universities Considered: University of Kentucky, Texas A&M, University of Louisville, Oklahoma, University of Georgia,
Preferred College Major: Pre-law
Coaches Comments: “Gracie is one of the most athletic players we have ever recruited to Tennessee. She could just as easily be going to college on a basketball scholarship. Her versatility is a real plus – she has an incredible pop time behind the plate and also makes plays at shortstop that you just can’t teach.” – Ralph & Karen Weekly, Univ. of Tennessee
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10 QUESTIONS WITH GRACIE:
Graduating from high school… looking back or looking forward?
I am extremely excited to graduate! High school has been a lot of fun and I have made many memories with some really good friends, but I am ready for a change and to play college softball.
