McKenzie Bailey, right, is joined at a CHS football game by big sis McKayla (left) and cousin Chelsea Huff. (Shelli Trumbull photo)
McKenzie Bailey plays two sports, not three, because her older sister tried to kill her.
Well, maybe not really, but it seemed that way at the time. One look at the fury unleashed by McKayla Bailey, now a dynamic sophomore softball hurler for Coupeville High School and McKenzie was off to play volleyball and basketball.
“I don’t play softball because of McKayla. I used to play when I was little and we were on the same team,” Bailey said. “When she was learning to pitch, my dad told me to stand in the batter’s box so she could have a visual. I told him that I didn’t want to because she would hit me. He made me do it anyway and guess what? First pitch, she hit me!
“I ended my career in softball right then and there.”
While Bailey, a freshman, won’t join her big sis on the diamond, it’s about the only place the close twosome don’t spend time together.
“McKayla and I mostly work together and help each other out. We definitely root for each other,” Bailey said. “McKayla is a great motivator for me. She always pushes me to do better and stay strong. I am a stalwart softball fan of hers and go to all of her select and high school games to motivate and cheer her on. It’s a win-win.
“I love watching (and re-watching) movies with my sister,” she added. “We drive my whole family crazy with movie quotes and re-enactments.”
While she picks volleyball as her favorite sport (“I really enjoy the pace of the game and the constant play”), she has come to embrace basketball as she has gotten older. Having reignited her love for the game in middle school (“Sarah Stuurmans was the main influence that got me to continue my basketball career. She is a great coach”), she is excited to make the plunge into high school hoops.
“I decided to give it another shot and found out that I really enjoyed it,” Bailey said. “I think the thing I enjoy the most about basketball is when you make that perfect shot with nothin’ but net, it just feels good!”
She’s played the wing in the past, but has been asked to diversify by her coaches this season and may take on new positions.
Bailey considers her elbow shot to be her primary strength, while wanting to improve her speed and ability to talk to her teammates while on defense. Wherever she plays, she intends to step up and have an immediate impact.
“My goal for basketball this year is to have a winning season,” Bailey said. “We have a lot of strong players this year and I think we can pull together as a team and make it happen.
“My personal goal is to take the open shots and score,” she added.
A big fan of Taylor Swift and her Yearbook class, Bailey is thankful for the many people in her life who have helped shape her into the successful young woman she has become. It’s a list that starts with her sister/mentor and goes from there.
“I have so many positive influences in my life, it’s hard to choose,” Bailey said. “My parents are always there for me and push me to always do my best. I know that they will support me no matter what.
“I have had a couple teachers that have really influenced me as well,” she added. “Ms. (Patsi) Waller taught me to always do my best and never give up and Mr. (Ken) Stange truly believes in his students and is such a great teacher.”
And neither one has ever thrown a softball at her head, which is nice, too.
