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Name: Tanner Stroup
School: Altoona Area
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
Sport: Baseball
Athlete of the week achievement: Stroup went 3-for-6 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored in Altoona's 14-11 win over State College. He followed that by going 2-for-2 with a double and scored the game's only run in the Mountain Lions' 1-0 win over Chambersburg. He also pitched five shutout innings in that game, struck out eight batters and walked none.
Season update: Stroup is hitting .400 with six RBIs and has pitched 10 innings and allowed just one earned run (0.70 ERA).
Coach Tom Smith's quote: "Tanner had a really big week for us at the plate and on the mound. He has such a bright future. It's always a blessing when your best players are your hardest workers."
Favorite teacher: Mr. Adams
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite movie: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite song: "Up Down" by Morgan Wallen
Outside interests: Fishing, spending time with family and friends
Favorite professional team: Toronto Blue Jays
Favorite college team: Virginia Tech
Pro athlete most admired: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Best athlete I ever competed against: Andrew Costello, a Wake Forest baseball commit
Most influential person on my athletic career: "My mom, because she always pushes me to my limits and beyond what I thought wasn't possible to do at my age and always keeps me on the right track, keeping the same goal in mind of playing professional baseball."
Proudest athletic achievement: Being selected to compete at the Perfect Game Junior National showcase with the best players in the nation from the 2026 class.
How I got my start in baseball: "When I was 6, my dad registered me for T-ball at Altoona Independent League right beside the high school baseball field. For the longest time, I can remember seeing what I called 'the big kids' having their daily practices with Coach Smith leading the way. It was always a goal of mine to be on that team one day and play under Coach Smith."
Future goal: Be a draft pick to the MLB