Carmel's Grace Brown, the 2025 News-Sun Softball Player of the Year, returns from torn ACL stronger than ever

Chicago Tribune

a day ago

One of the most painful moments in Grace Brown's life proved to be a turning point.
Brown suffered a torn ACL a few months after her breakout sophomore season for Carmel. Although the injury forced her to miss the next season, she found a silver lining during her rehab process.
'I plan on going into exercise physiology now that I had so many physical therapy sessions,' she said. 'It wasn't even on my mind, but like halfway through PT, I realized I want to help people like the physical therapists helped me.
'I learned how long it takes to come back from an injury and how much work you have to put in. It was a negative that turned into a positive and definitely helped me in the long run.'
Brown, the 2025 News-Sun Softball Player of the Year, was also more impactful upon her return to the field. The St. Joseph's recruit played at an elite level on offense and defense during her senior season as the Corsairs (20-10) reached a sectional championship game for the first time since 2016.
Brown, a 3A all-state first-team pick, hit .589 with 18 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 64 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 15 steals, and she was dynamic at shortstop.
'Grace came into this year stronger and ready to work,' Carmel coach Nicole Parney said. 'She was a huge motivator to the team this year, and everyone fed off her energy and positivity. She was someone we could count on in any type of situation to make a play in the field or get on base when we needed it.'
The Corsairs also could count on Brown to steer the ship.
'Grace was a great leader for us this year,' Parney said. 'She motivated everyone on the team with her goals for the team that we set at the beginning of the year. She picked her teammates up when they needed it and was always holding herself and others on the team accountable, both at practice and in games. She was a positive role model for the team.'
Playing shortstop was a new wrinkle for Brown, who had moved around the field during her freshman and sophomore seasons and is a second baseman for her travel team.
'I felt pretty good on how I played at shortstop,' she said. 'Coming back from my injury, my range was pretty good. I had to adjust to throwing from different arm angles, but I loved being in nearly every play. At shortstop, you get a bunch of balls hit to you. It was fun.'
It was fun to watch Brown put it all together this season.
'Grace is a talented softball player who has a high IQ of the game in all aspects,' Parney said. 'She runs the bases aggressively at all times and is always thinking ahead by taking extra bases. She is someone who keeps the grounders from reaching the outfield with her range and diving ability. At the plate, she has a solid approach and is always working to find any way on base that she can.'
Brown, who hit .440 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs during her sophomore season, was determined to find her way back to the field after her knee injury, according to her mother, Valerie Campbell.
'Her desire to play the game again at a high level helped her come back stronger and better,' Campbell said. 'Her fortitude and work ethic every day propelled her to an amazing season.'
Brown had team success in mind too.
'I knew it was my last season at Carmel, so I wanted to make it special and help my team win,' she said. 'I had no worries about my knee. It was nice to play freely after a year and a half.
'Our team had some very talented players, and we made a great run in the playoffs. It all worked out in the long run.'