Madison (Maddie) Bailey '21 Recruiting Profile

My freshman year of high school softball was the year I learned the most about myself as a softball player and a student-athlete. In Missouri, softball is a fall sport and practices/tryouts started before I attended my first class. I had no idea how I would compare to the older girls who had already been a part of the program, but after two weeks I learned that I had made the Varsity team--the only freshman to do so. But making the Varsity team meant playing a full Varsity schedule while learning the rigors of high school. I was truly put in the deep part of pool and force to learn to swim.

That season taught me how to prioritize school, softball and the rest of my life. We played games almost every day and practiced on the days we didn't play. By the end of the season, I finished 2nd Team All-Conference, but more importantly I finished my first semester of high school with a weighted GPA over 3.5. During that first high school softball experience, I learned the commitment and leadership skills that will make me an asset to whatever team I play for, and I believe I have demonstrated those skills on both my high school team and my club team. I believe that I not only have the physical talent to compete for a college softball team, but I believe I have the intangible factors that will make me an asset to whatever program gives me that opportunity.