CATAWBA – It’s always a bittersweet moment when an athlete plays his or her respective sport for the final time.
When one gets his or her way on how it ends, it’s emotional but rewarding. Nevertheless, when the rug gets pulled out from under a student-athlete and one’s not allowed to control the ‘last ride,’ it’s a heartbreaking experience; especially, since most of these athletes have played his or her respective sport since he or she was little.
This is the case for Bandys High senior softball player Bailey Burton. Burton – like most of the senior athletes during the spring sports season this year – doesn’t get to have a graceful bow-out due to the ongoing pandemic storming the world.
Unbeknownst to her, she played her final high school softball game with the Lady Trojans (3-2 overall, 1-1 South Fork 2A Conference) in a home victory over Lake Norman Charter, 8-0, on March 10. In this final appearance on the field, Burton went 1-for-2 at-bat, while scoring two runs.
Burton – a second baseman and shortstop for Bandys – also finished that contest with a 100 percent fielding percentage as she earned one putout and two assists in three total chances.
Burton finished her playing career competing in 69 total games with the Lady Trojans. In 210 at-bats, she obtained 78 hits (12 doubles and six triples), 45 runs scored (three home runs), five stolen bases and 32 RBIs. In terms of fielding, she garnered 144 putouts, 105 assists and four double-plays in 292 total chances (85.3 fielding percentage).
“I’ve genuinely enjoyed every single moment I’ve spent at Bandys,” said Burton. “It’s as simple as that. I’m thankful for every moment I’ve gotten to spend as a Trojan and for all the friendships I made.”
Burton said her playing days began when she was in the first-grade with Balls Creek Optimist.
“I tried dance and cheer when I was younger, but I just didn’t enjoy them like I did softball,” she said. “I played basketball through the Optimist and continued in middle school and my freshman year, and I also played tennis during my freshman and sophomore years. Those sports just didn’t fulfill me like softball did.
“Softball is truly a team sport. You have to work together and build on each other’s strengths. You have to back each other up no matter what position you play.”
She said that when she looks back on all of her softball memories, a smile comes to her face:
“The best times come from being with my teammates on and off of the field, riding the bus to games, having to ride the bus back if we lost, long practices, and travel ball weekends being on the field from early morning to late at night.”
Burton was an All-Conference and All-District player in 2019 alongside former Lady Trojan Ashtyn Hopson and in 2020 she was the lone senior and captain for a hungry team. When she wasn’t on the field, Burton was involved with the Beta Club as the organization’s secretary, as well as an editor for the yearbook staff at Bandys.
Unlike some student-athletes, she decided not to continue the sport she loves at the collegiate level and instead focus on another passion of hers which is nursing. Nursing requires something she has been very familiar with during her playing career with that being a team-first attitude and the willingness to help those around oneself. Burton will be attending East Carolina University.
“In 2017, I went with my church on a mission trip to Haiti,” she said of her pursuing the nursing field. “The mission team that we stayed with hosted medical teams, and I was intrigued by the work they were doing and how they could go out into the villages and help others. That trip opened my eyes to the possibilities and opportunities I could have to help others if I had a nursing degree.”
During her time with Bandys, Burton said she has learned some invaluable lessons including never giving up when something seems difficult because one has to try every way possible to work on improving, and if nothing seems to help, keep trying.
She said that she also learned that it never hurts to ask for help because there is someone out there who would love to help. Burton has also had a positive light from her mother – whom she depicts to be her role model.
“She’s taught me everything I know and continuously supported me in everything I do,” said Burton. “She always encourages me to be the best person I can be and to do my absolute best in everything.”
As far as on the softball field, she has a great appreciation for head coach Todd Smith, whom she has been coached by all four years. Burton was also a part of Hickory Post 48’s senior squad in the North Carolina American Lady Legion Fastpitch league – a summer league that has only been sanctioned since 2018. Smith has been Burton’s head coach during her time with Post 48, as well.
“Coach Smith has worked with me tremendously over the last four years in bettering myself as an athlete and a person,” she said. “The very first time I threw a ball on the field at Bandys, Coach Smith told me to get my elbow up, and I may still not throw with my elbow up, (but) we both sure tried in the process.”
Smith shared his sentiments about Burton, as well:
“Bailey (Burton) is a prime example of what hard work and dedication to the sport will do for you. Whether it was off season conditioning, or before or after practice getting the extra reps, Bailey was always willing to put in that extra work to improve on her game,” he said. “Numerous times she would ask if she could come early or stay late to get some extra hitting or defense reps. I really hate that she didn’t get to finish out her senior year because she was having another great year.
“Also, her leadership the last couple of years has been outstanding and we are really going to miss having her around. Not only was Bailey a vocal leader, she led by example on and off the field. Bailey always came to practice and left from practice with a smile on her face. Bailey has a very bright future in life, because with her work ethic and attitude she is always going to come out a winner.”
Her athletic career may be over, but as Smith stated, her future is indeed bright. Burton also left some parting words of advice for the underclassmen:
“Be there for each other,” she said. “Listen, and be present in the moment. These days go by so quickly, and you really never know when a moment might be your last. I never would have imagined my senior softball season would be like this one. Remember the fun times, and learn from the difficult times.”
(Story will be published in the Saturday, May 9 edition of the Observer News Enterprise.)
