There’s not much Addie Mettler, the talented eighth grader from Northern California, can’t do.
She plays softball, basketball and volleyball and was an exceptional swimmer, but her schedule wasn’t compatible with softball—and with over 20 Div. I college programs following her, fastpitch is definitely her future sport.
Addie is in cheerleading as well and also loves to sing and dance. She even is carrying a 4.0 GPA as she finishes eighth grade and gets ready for high school.
As for the lefty slugger’s prime sport, she is so good at such a young age that last year she played 14U for her father’s Firecrackers-Mettler team although she was 12U age-eligible. Addie even had inquiries to play up—way up—as in 18U age division up.
“She has been asked to play for two very accomplished 18U teams,” Greg Mettler says, “but we feel that there is no need to have someone in junior high playing with 17 and 18-year-olds for social reasons.”
The youngest of two softball playing girls in the Mettler family—older sister, Lexi, has just finished playing at Virginia—Addie has played travel ball since the age of 8 and had the benefit of having both parents (Greg & April) coach her in the Firecrackers organization and also at Turlock Christian Jr. High.
Here’s a closer look at this humble athlete who lets her actions on the field do the speaking for her…
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NAME: ADDISON “ADDIE” METTLER
Hometown/State: Turlock, California
Grad Year: 2023
Position(s): C/3B
Club Team: NorCal Firecrackers-Mettler
Current School/Future High School (City/State): Turlock Christian Jr. High/Pitman High (Turlock, California)
GPA: 4.0
Recruiting Situation: uncommitted
Height: 5-foot-8
Top Honors/Accomplishments: Selected for Tony Rico Select Team and Nor Cal Select Team for the OnDeck events; invited to 2018 OnDeck Hemet Jamboree; invited back to 2019 OnDeck Jamboree; selected to 2018 Sparker Jr. All American Games; MVP for volleyball, basketball and softball for 2018-19 season.
Club Stats: In 2018 for the NorCal Firecrackers-Mettler 14U team batted .485 with 70 RBI, 103 runs scored, 11 home runs and 50 steals with 18 K’s in 261 at-bats.
Preferred College Major: Marine Biology
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What would it mean to you to be considered as one of the top 100 players in your grad class?
It would be cool and amazing but hard to believe because there are so many amazing players out there.
Where you happy or bummed when the Early Recruiting Rules came out and meant you couldn’t be recruited and/or commit until shortly before the start of your junior year of high school?
I was thrilled because a lot of the pressure was taken off and I was able work on my skills as well as attend more camps at different schools. I was also sad because I wanted to commit to my #1 choice
Talking recruiting, have you started thinking about colleges you’ll consider and have you visited or camped at any schools?
I have been to three University of Washington camps and five UCLA camps. I loved the coaches and the campuses. I am going to an Oklahoma camp in the spring.
What would you say has been the biggest key to your becoming the successful softball player you are today?
The biggest key to me in becoming a successful softball player is to stay positive and happy even when things don’t go the way you want them to. If you don’t stay positive, it brings you and your teammates down.
When was the first time you realized that you really loved softball and what triggered that feeling?
I knew I truly loved softball when I played basketball at age 10. When I stepped on the court and played, I liked it but my intensity and love for basketball wasn’t as strong as when I was on the softball field.
What are you looking forward to most this upcoming summer?
