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Behind the Mask: SEC-Bound Macy Simmons Talks Catching

Macy Simmons is one of the top catchers in nation and a Top 10 prospect in the 2019 class. The  6-foot junior (6-foot-1 in cleats) helped lead her Hamilton High team of Chandler, Arizona to a Class 6A state title last year as she hit .419 with eight home runs, 19 extra-base hits and 49 hits to earn All-American and All-State honors.

As a freshman in 2016, she doubled and scored in a 3-0 to help her school win its first-ever softball championship giving her two state rings in her first two years of prep ball.

But it’s on the club scene where she’s really taken off and according to her Firecrackers Head Coach Tony Rico, “Macy has really elevated her game this past fall as she led our team in RBIs and home runs and has been excellent at helping our pitchers stay in games and being mentally tough and sound.”

Macy herself says, “Softball is my love, my passion, and my life.  Every time I step onto the field I feel the thrill of the game that I have felt from the very beginning.  I give 100 percent to every rep, every play, and every game.”

“As I have gone through my softball journey, I have been asked several questions regarding my game.  I always love to help people, so by answering some of the questions below, I will hopefully give some insight to current and future players…”

What made you decide that you wanted to be a catcher?

This is actually a silly, cute story.  I was four years old and at the time I was in tee-ball.  After one game I came up to my Mom and Dad and told them that I wanted to be the “Masker.”  They looked at me, and, with very puzzled looks on their faces, asked, “The ‘Masker? What is the ‘Masker?’”

I answered, “The one who wears ‘THE MASK’, of course!’”  It took a few more rounds of questions and answers for them to figure out that I wanted to be “the one who wears the mask behind home plate.”  Ever since I put on the gear, I fell in love with the position and I have never wanted to take the gear off or regretted my decision to be a catcher.  I love being a leader on the field, helping my pitchers, and I absolutely love throwing runners out!

What runs through your mind when a runner is barreling from third to home as you are receiving the ball?

I get very excited when a runner is coming home!  I get very intense and focused.  I am determined to not let her come near home plate because that is my turf!

I’ve had some tough hard tags at home plate…even to the point of taking the runner’s helmet off as she slid into my glove for a tag while holding on to the ball.  It is sooooo fun and rewarding to make those kind of plays!

How do you keep your knees healthy from all of the catching you have done?

I work out six out of seven days per week to keep myself in shape.  This helps to keep my body overall healthy and strong.  Since I am tall, it is especially important to work out and keep myself strong and limber.

Also, I ice and stretch regularly.  Icing and stretching are essential to the recovery of your knees and, really, any part of your body.  Also, I love going to Cryotherapy!  It helps tremendously!  I highly recommend going to Cryotherapy and foam rolling after a long weekend of playing.

What have you been doing to improve your game over the past year?

This past year I have continued working nonstop on every aspect of my game. I have been working intensely six days of the week giving myself one day off to recover, but also, mixing up my workouts and the areas I focus on so that I don’t overuse one area or another.  I have been focusing on strengthening my physical game, as well as my mental game.  Both have progressed, but I really feel that I have made a huge leap in my mental game.

I am very analytical and I tend to overthink way too much.  I made a commitment to myself, to trust myself when I step on the field by not thinking about my mechanics, but to just see the ball and trust my skills.   Essentially, to trust all of my hard work and training.  This has allowed me to relax and play more freely on the field.

Additionally, my coach, Tony Rico has been working closely with me on both my mental and my physical game.  And my other coach, Rob Weil, is really good at bringing out my best.  They complement each other as coaches really well!  I credit both of them for my advancements in both my mental and physical game.  Coach Tony has also worked with me on my leadership, game and field management, and a lot of other little things that make a huge difference in the game.

What do you love most about the game?

I love everything about the game of softball, but if I had to choose one thing I would say the strategy.  For example, pitch calling is very strategic.  I love throwing people off balance or calling a certain pitch that throws them off.  I am learning a lot about pitch calling from both Coach Tony and Coach Rob.

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