Athlete of the Week: Callie Phillips

Callie Phillips drives off of determination and hard work. The years she has dedicated to the game of softball showcases it.

Phillips has played since she was four years old for the White County Youth Tee Ball League. From there, she continued to love the sport and grow with it.

She talked about what made her want to play softball. “Growing up, I can always remember being at the softball field and watching my sister [Ashlynn Phillips] play. I knew I wanted to play softball because that was all we ever really talked about. But I really started caring about the game because I wanted to be like my sister and make them proud of me.”

In her last year of middle school softball, Phillips helped her team win the Upper Cumberland District Regular Season and Championship.

Phillips made her first appearance her sophomore year, playing in 17 games.In her junior year, she showed off the hard work she put in the offseason, and Phillips made her presence known in the lineup. She had a batting average of .325 with 26 hits and 26 RBIs for the season. 

Entering her senior season, Phillips was made captain and is continuing to dominate at the plate. She is already averaging a batting average of .300 and has three RBIs in three games.

Phillips talked about her favorite moment so far throughout her high school career. “One of my favorite memories came from my junior year: the first home game we played against Clay County.”

“It showed me that I was capable of pushing through the fear of losing a game, and I got a hit that brought runners to win the game. I made my sister and my dad cry, and I will never forget that,” she added.

All throughout her high school career, Phillips has been coached by her father Jeremy Phillips and her sister Ashlynn Phillips. Both have had impact on her determination in the sport.

Phillips said, “Having my sister and father coach me has definitely been an adventure. I’ve been told since I was little that because my dad was the coach it makes it harder on me than everyone else. 

“I was told that if I wanted to be on the field or hit, I had to show everyone that I deserved it with no question about it. I love having my dad and sister coach me in no way is it easy,” she continued.

When she is not on the dirt, Phillips is a member of the White County High School Beta Club. She has been a member since her sophomore year. Phillips was also named Magna Cum Laude in her graduating class.

After she graduates, Phillips plans to attend Tennessee Tech University to study in Early Childhood Education to be a math teacher.

At Tennessee Tech, Phillips will continue to show off her hard work and determination that she has shown off on the dirt, but this time it will be in the classroom.