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On Dec. 15, 2021 we will begin our Top 15 Stories of 2021 countdown as we have done for the last three years, listing the softball-related stories we thought were the most impactful of the year.
Two years ago at this time, we revisited a story we had done earlier in 2019–the beautiful and inspiring story of Addie Mettler and how she ended up with Greg and April Mettler through the adoption process.
We are reprinting that story as part of our “Throwback Thursday” series as well as publishing for the first time our interview with Addie after she committed to UCLA recently.
It’s a great story however you want to look at it, a successful tale of an outstanding athlete and a wonderful, tight-knit family who will get to cheer for Addie as she enters college in 2023.
First, how Addie–a Top 5-ranked player in the 2023 Extra Elite 100–became a Bruin and, below that, the heart-warming story of how she became a Mettler!
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Name: ADDISON METTLER
Positions: Catcher/ Utility
Club team: Firecrackers Rico
Committed to: UCLA
Date committed: November 13, 2021
What have been your top softball experiences?
My top softball experience would have to be going down to Oklahoma to play in the Alliance nationals. It was in a huge stage in front of a huge number of coaches so I had a lot of pressure but, to me, pressure is a privilege and I used that to my advantage to show coaches what I can do on this team.
How did you first get acquainted with UCLA?
I had been going to camps since I was 9, so the coaches truly got to see me develop as a young athlete.
How did you officially commit to the Bruin staff last month?
I was on my official visit when Coach I (Kelly Inouye-Perez), Coach Kirk (Walker) and Coach Lisa (Fernandez) sat me down in the office and we began to talk about my developing as a player. We began to talk about my offer, and she didn’t think I would make a decision on the spot, but I knew this is where I wanted to go so when Coach I asked me if I wanted to be a Bruin, I said “Yes!”
When did you know for sure that UCLA was the place for you?
It was the best feeling because minutes after that, the team was waiting in the clubhouse for me so, when I walked out, they were also cheering and hugging me. That’s when I knew that the team was more than just a team—they are a Bruin family—and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of that.
What did the UCLA coaches say they liked about you enough to bring you into the “family?”
The coaches at UCLA told me that they knew I could be a huge leader in the field because I like to talk and hype up my teammates and because I will have someone’s back after every play. As a player, making sure that my teammates are in the right headspace is really important to me because that is something that can impact the whole team.
Any idea what you’ll study once you reach Westwood?
In college I will be majoring in Communications; I believe I have a huge calling to be in journalism and sports broadcasting so I know this major will help me get where I need to be. And to hopefully use my voice to better this world in any way possible.
Where would you like to be after your softball career is completed?
In 10 years, I can see myself mentoring young girls about my life and the journey of being a student-athlete… and hopefully more. I love speaking to younger girls about the same things—it is something that I was so glad I had at that age as well. I want to be an outlet to young women who also love the sport to let them know all the things they’re feeling—or are going to feel—are valid and that, if the sport is something you truly want , there are certain things that you can do to get better.
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Favorite 2019 Stories: The Winding Path to a Complete Family… the Addie Mettler Adoption Story
Originally published Dec. 15, 2019 on Extra Inning Softball
Hard to believe, but we’re wrapping up the 2019 year in a few weeks!
Beginning this Tuesday, we are going to count down our Top 15 Softball Stories of the Year, the ones we feel were the most impactful and relevant to the sport of softball–from youth, club and high school all the way up to college, internal and pro.
We’re also going to run some of our favorite stories of 2019, including ones like today’s that we published in the Spring.
Addie Mettler is a promising athlete from Northern California who has a touching family story as she was adopted by the Mettler family which is definitely all about softball!
Addie helped lead the Nor Cal Firecrackers – Mettler team (yep, coached by her dad, Greg) to a 17th place finish at PGF 14U Nationals this summer and was named PGF All-Tournament after she had a game-winning hit for the Firecrackers.
So far in high school, she’s pulling down a 4.3 GPA as a freshman at Pitman High in Turlock, California. Addie made the JV volleyball team and is currently playing for the JV basketball team.
Her future, though, appears to be on the softball field and Addie’s been noticed by top programs nationwide (including having camped this summer at UCLA and in the fall at Washington).
The athletic accolades are great for her family, but mom and dad are especially appreciate of how well she’s done in the classroom.
“April and I are incredibly proud of how strong her academics have developed,” says her father. “School was a struggle when she was younger but Addie’s work ethic in the classroom has matched her work ethic on softball and it is showing in her grades.”
Here’s more on what we felt was one of most inspiring stories of 2019!
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
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The Winding Path to a Complete Family: the Addie Mettler Adoption Story
Originally published March 19, 2019 on Extra Inning Softball
Greg and April Mettler both played sports in college—football for him at Sonoma State and softball for her at Santa Rosa Junior College—both in Northern California.
Eventually the married couple would get into coaching youth fastpitch softball as their oldest daughter, Alexis (now 21 years old), would grow up to be a four-time All-Conference honoree and All-State selection as a senior before she’d go on to play for the University of Virginia.
But that wouldn’t be the end of their softball journey nor their family increasing in size—far from it, for the mom, dad and athletic daughter who live in Turlock, California.
The Mettlers felt they needed one more addition to make their family complete, but it wouldn’t be easy, for it would entail a white family of three opening their arms to adopting a young black girl in foster care.
Here’s the heart-warming story of how a beautiful two-year-old came into their lives and today is starring on the softball fields for her parents’ Firecrackers team as one of the top players in the 2023 class and an Extra Elite 100 candidate.
This is the adoption story of Addie Mettler as told by her father, Greg…
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In 1997, April and I became first-time parents when Alexis Mettler was born. After a few years we felt it was time to add the final member to our family as we had both always wanted to have two kids.
What we took for granted with having the first child became the beginning of an emotional, sometimes heart-breaking, but ultimately amazing journey that would bring Addie Mettler into our lives.
For approximately eight years after our first was born, April and I tried for a second. We visited doctors, tried Invitro but nothing worked.
As we continued down the path for our second child, through the tears and the heartbreak, we never once wavered knowing our family was meant to be four in number. What gave us strength was the amazing support of family along with the love and support from our oldest, Alexis.
We finally realized that our second child was already born… God had just not connected us yet.
Once we decided to head down the adoption path, it started a journey for us that is indescribable.
You began a process that makes you ask yourself questions you never thought to ask. You are asked about the obvious issues such as gender and age.
Then comes the tough questions: what medical issues you are ok with? Would you take on siblings or not? and the biggest, are you open to adopting a child of a different race?
Though we were open to all races, you begin to ask yourself if you are ready to face things that, as a child, you never had to deal with due to race.
But in the end, all those questions that seemed so significant in a sterile office setting disappeared. All the concerns about what you are ready for or not disappears.
Why would they disappear?
The answer was clear: the day came when we were introduced to this beautiful young girl, only a few months shy of turning two-years-old. A young lady who, the moment she waddled into the room, stole our hearts.
This was the day we met Addie.
One cannot describe the feeling of seeing a child walk into a room and knowing immediately God destined her to be part of our family. For us, it could only be described as your heart being a puzzle and the final piece was just put in place.
Addie did not have the easiest life up to that point. She was removed from her biological family’s care due to neglect and for her safety. When most kids would be growing up surrounded by love and security, Addie was placed in to the foster care system, a system that is staffed by some incredible social workers with a near-impossible job.
We knew we wanted her in our lives and began the adoption process. A few weeks later, April received a call while I was away on business. It was happening the very next day and I’m not sure how they did it but in one night April and Lexi converted our spare room into a princess room. Addie, we found out, LOVED the Little Mermaid.
The day she joined our family Addie came with just one outfit and one toy, but also one of the most amazing spirits to grace this crazy world.
