Another gold ball is the standard Ambree House has set for herself and her team at Stuart High School.
“My personal goal this season is to win another state title,” House said.
That goal is fueled by a tight-knit bond she shares with her teammates. “The girls here are like my sisters, and we would all do anything for each other,” she said. “We work hard for each other and want to win for each other and coach Jeff Parnell.”
Stuart enters the season as a young team, but House believes adversity has only strengthened the group. “The biggest improvement is that we are a very young team that has had girls who stepped up to play, battled with multiple injuries, and are finally going to be healthy as a team this season,” she said. The focus remains clear. “We are working towards another state title. The way we achieve this is by playing bigger schools, working hard every day, and being coached by coach Parnell.”
House points to the team’s athleticism and production at the plate as key strengths. “Our strengths are athleticism and having strong hitters in the lineup,” she said.
A 5-foot-10 junior who hit .466 in the fall, House plays catcher and corner infield, bringing versatility and leadership to the diamond. At the plate, she studies every detail. “I look at the outfield and see how they are shifted,” she said. “If they are covering more in left, I let the ball get in and drive it to right field, and vice versa.”
When game time arrives, her mindset is simple. “My mindset is to go all out and not put too much pressure on myself,” she said. “Also, it’s okay to fail; it’s just part of the game, so you just have to let it go.”
Looking ahead, House hopes her impact will be remembered in more ways than one. “To set the record for most home runs in slow-pitch at Stuart High School,” she said.
Her favorite memories already include championships. “Winning state in the fall, then turning around and winning it in the spring last year,” House said. “Also, all the memories in the bus and hotels.”
House plans to continue her softball and academic career at East Tennessee State University.
