Sarah McGrath of Monroe Township High School has developed into one of the best outfielders and hitters in the Greater Middlesex Conference. ROY DEBOER Considering Sarah McGrath always hit the tar out of a softball ever since she first picked up a bat. It was downright shocking to her when she was a freshman at Monroe Township High School and batted .000.
She only came to bat six times that season, but McGrath knew she had something to prove. She did the following year with dramatically different statistics. She finished with a .440 batting average with 37 hits and 27 RBIs, including four homers, seven doubles and two triples.
She followed that year with a more impressive showing at the plate this past season, hitting .557 without striking out, although her RBI total dipped to 17, which is deceptive because so many of her talented teammates cleared the bases with run-scoring hits before McGrath stepped to the plate.
McGrath not only flourished at bat, but also has developed into one of the top outfielders in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC), which is remarkable considering she played third base exclusively before joining the high school team. Head coach Keith Hudak, who has coached a bunch of quality outfielders, said McGrath is one of the best he’s ever seen.
“Sarah is one of the best, if not the best outfielders in the conference,” Hudak said. “I haven’t seen somebody with a stronger arm. She also has great jump to the ball when it’s hit to her.”
“I had a lot of nerves coming into my sophomore year,” McGrath said about her difficulties her freshman season. “But I worked extremely hard in the offseason and relied on my confidence to push me through. Playing for an extremely talented team at every position was intimidating at first, but I was determined to succeed.”
McGrath’s success has also been the result of staying focused during games.
“I won’t deny I get butterflies before every game, but [I] have developed enough confidence they eventually go away,” she said. “I just try to stay mentally focused at the plate and in the field and say to myself, ‘I can do this.’ ”
McGrath learned success was important at a young age, whether it was playing sports or achieving good grades. She began playing softball as a youngster, learning to hit a softball off the T-ball stand and moving on to represent her travel team age group (12U). She also played rec basketball and made the middle school team but stopped playing because she didn’t enjoy it anymore.
That has never been the case when McGrath steps on the diamond, and she has added volleyball to her high school sports regimen to maintain her athleticism. She also played flute in the middle school band but laid the instrument aside because high school band members cannot play varsity sports.
Her current GPA is 3.7, and she will take three honors classes this fall that will add to her demanding schedule.
“My time management and work ethic is what really helps me balance school and sports,” she said.
McGrath also subscribes to a program called AVID, which stands for advancement via individual attention, something she has been doing since the eighth grade.
“AVID is all about helping students learn the certain skills and techniques to prepare them for college,” she said. “My junior year was extremely hectic and difficult because I was preparing for my SATs. School is very important, and I take pride in all of my work. That’s what helped me become a member of the National Honor Society, and I’m in the top 30 of my class.”
This preparation may land McGrath at a quality school where she also hopes to play softball. She’s been writing to colleges and has received a number of responses from schools that have expressed interest. She plans on working on her Bachelor of Arts degree and eventually earning an MBA with a focus on business health care.
Besides the overwhelming support she has received from her parents, John and Betsy, McGrath has a special place in her heart for her late grandfather, Tom, who died in July.
Having played for a team that has enjoyed major success, McGrath said the highlight so far was her sophomore year when the Falcons captured the GMC Red Division for the third year in a row, won the conference tournament title and finished 26-1. She hopes that success continues next season.
“Our senior class is loaded with great people, and Sarah is certainly one of those,” Hudak said. “She is a great teammate, leader, excellent student and fun person to be around. I’m looking forward to see Sarah develop even more during her senior year.”