Marvin Ridge softball’s Ella Tracy makes ‘ESPN-worthy’ catches, is daughter of ex-MLB player
Marvin Ridge High School has had a strong softball program since the school opened in 2007.
This year will be no different, as the Mavericks of coach Linda McGowan have five seniors who have already committed to play college softball next season, including one with a name familiar to Charlotte-area baseball fans.
Former major league baseball player Chad Tracy, a 1999 West Mecklenburg High graduate, has four daughters and has coached girls softball for many years and is currently one of McGowan’s assistant coaches.
His oldest daughter, Ella Tracy, is one of Marvin Ridge’s top players.
“Ella is a scrappy, all-in player,” McGowan said. “In the outfield, she can make some ESPN-worthy catches. She’ll make a play in the gap and you’ll think, ‘Where did she come from?’ So she’s a difference-maker in the outfield.
“And at the plate, she’s a lefty and has a ton of power. She covers both sides of the plate really well.”
In her first three seasons, Ella Tracy has hit .286, .438 and .422 with 17 total home runs and 60 RBIs even as she missed all of last year’s postseason because of a torn knee ligament.
“She was a captain last year as a junior,” McGowan said of Ella Tracy. “She’s just a natural leader, hard worker and coachable. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
An East Carolina signee, Ella Tracy is back in action this season for a Mavericks team eager to pursue top state honors.
“Last year we had a great run but we had one of those games where it just didn’t go our way,” McGowan said of last year’s 17-4 finish after a second-round playoff loss. “We were all disappointed in that and all our seniors are interested in avenging that.
“We should be in the hunt. I think we definitely have the talent. We’ve just got to stay healthy.”
Pitcher Anna Phifer (Lander), third baseman Addison Studney (Queens), shortstop Hannah Ziecik (Harvard) and catcher Lexi Kirby (Campbell) also have already committed to play college softball.
Marvin Ridge has previously been Western N.C. 4A runner-up in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
This season, the Mavericks will pursue another long playoff run with a coaching staff of McGowan, Chad Tracy and Gary Sperduto.
Chad Tracy, who played at East Carolina from 1999 to 2001, had a nine-year major league career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals after being a seventh-round draft pick of the Diamondbacks in 2001.
“Coaching with Chad Tracy and Gary Sperduto has been pure joy,” McGowan said. “We really have a lot of fun out on the field.
“With Chad, we coached travel, rec ball and Marvin Ridge Middle School before coming to Marvin Ridge High School in 2022.”
