How Arlington softball's Addie Graham put an ACL injury behind her to dominate in 2024

Arlington High School’s journey to the 2023 TSSAA state softball tournament lacked a certain junior infielder named Addie Graham.

After a sophomore year in which she hit .667 with 76 hits and 63 runs scored , Graham tore an ACL playing the fall season with her travel ball team.

“I’ve never been injured before this,” she said.

Four months of physical therapy, followed by strength and agility training got her back on the playing field. And just in time, as the Tigers were once again on the road to Murfreesboro.

Stepping on the state's biggest stage

Graham, the 2024 Commercial Appeal Softball Player of the Year, batted an eye-popping .692 with 74 hits and 59 runs for Arlington, which defeated Dickson County, 12-6, on May 18 to advance to Spring Fling.

“It was definitely super cool,” Graham said. “I was really excited because all of the parents wanted me to play at state to see what I could do; just get the experience. So, winning the sub-state game and having the celebration of going to state, I think that was the coolest moment. You just get to enjoy it and have fun from that point, because you basically met your goal.”

The Tigers (31-6) dropped a 2-0 decision to Nolensville in their tournament opener. Walker Valley eliminated them the next day, 12-6, but not before Graham went 3-for-4, including a three-run homer.

“My sophomore year was very different than my senior year,” she said, “because my sophomore year I slapped a lot. Recovery-wise, I wasn’t able to slap, because I couldn’t put pressure on that leg that certain way. And so, it made me stand up and hit like a regular player. That was my proudest moment.”

Graham had 44 RBIs in 2022. That number rose to 59 during her senior year. In the triples department, she jumped from eight to 14.

“You knew she was going to get you two to three runs a game every game,” said Arlington coach Brandon Morgan, “whether it was her scoring them or whether it was her driving them in. It’s a huge bonus to know that anytime she’s in the lineup, you’re going to score a few runs – basically against anyone.”

From Tiger to Bear

Graham is now property of the University of Central Arkansas. And the thing that's brought her to Conway is the staff assembled by head coach Jenny Parsons.

“I’m a very extreme player. I don’t look for a soft coach,” Graham said. “I want somebody that’s going to push me to the best of my abilities. I want stern and aggressive – that’s the kind of people and players I want to be around. And UCA really has that.”

Said Morgan: “They’re getting a great one. I would be shocked if she doesn’t go in and win a spot pretty soon. If not right away. And I get it, D1 – it’s a jump, but she can attack you from multiple different ways – and that gives her a leg up on most girls. She can read a defense, see what she needs to do – and if one aspect of her game isn’t working, she’s got two or three more in the bag that she can go to – and she can do them all well.

“Beyond the crazy numbers and all that – she just had instincts and a softball IQ that was just light years ahead of most high school kids.”

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Arlington softball's Addie Graham put an ACL injury behind her to dominate in 2024