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Posts Tagged ‘Mollie Bailey’

A new hero rises!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on June 3, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Mollie Bailey has never met a cameraman she can’t mess with. (John Fisken photos)

   Bailey, being a rock behind the plate for Central Whidbey Little League hurler Melody Wilkie.

She is the chosen one.

Equally at ease in the heat of athletic battle and goofing off for the camera, Coupeville 8th grader Mollie Bailey is the last in a long family line of Wolf athletic legends.

From great-grandfather Robert “Fat” Engle, who tore up the CHS gridiron in the ’20s, to big sisters McKayla and McKenzie in recent years, her relatives are kind of a big deal on the prairie.

Not that the ever easy-going Mollie is going to be ruffled by pressure.

“Oh you know me, just too cool for school,” is her go-to motto, followed by a huge grin as she saunters away, giggling that you might have believed she was being serious.

She is very dedicated to her craft, however, whether it be playing basketball and softball (she’s adding soccer when she hits high school) or making a run at McKayla and McKenzie’s title of Photo Bomb Queen.

Bailey wants to make the duo proud.

“My big sisters had a lot to do with who I am as a player. They have always shown me the way,” she said. “I want to show my sisters that the little sister can kick as much butt as they did – maybe more!”

Following in their footsteps helped prepare her for her own athletic exploits, as well.

“I have been drug to so many of my sister’s games that I learned a lot just from watching,” Bailey said.

Like her sisters, she plays positions which require leadership skills and a knowledge of the game.

“I think one of my strengths is my awareness of the game, both on the field and the court,” Bailey said.

She claims no favorites, saying she enjoys all of her sports and gets something positive out of each.

“Can’t wait for seasons to start and then I’m ready for a break by the end of the season and excited to start the next one!,” Bailey said. “I enjoy the competition and playing/working with my teammates and friends.”

As she moves forward, she wants to “work on my speed and overall power,” with an eye on “making varsity before junior year.”

When she jumps to high school, she’ll retain fond memories of “Coach Ryan (King’s) technical and the bus rides to far, far away places.”

Away from the athletic stage, Bailey is a fan of movies like How to Train Your Dragon and the Harry Potter series and loves spending time outside.

“I like reading, hunting, building things with wood, hanging out with my friends and long walks on the beach,” she said.

Along with her sisters, and the 237 family members (give or take one or two) who show up to support her at games, Bailey gets strong support from her fervent fan club.

“Coach Bob Martin has always seen my potential,” Bailey said. “Also, (I appreciate) my friend Genna (Wright), who pushes me to be better and my mom and dad for always supporting me.”

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Drop the hammer!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged , , , , on May 17, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Thora Iverson was a wizard with the glove Wednesday, sparking Central Whidbey to an 11-1 win over its Island rivals. (John Fisken photos)

   Marenna Rebischke-Smith, dropping a bunt here, also smacked a two-run single to straightaway center.

Using her long reach, first-baseman Kylie Van Velkinburgh pulls in a throw.

Mollie Bailey, master of messin’ with the cameraman.

   Mollie’s grandma, Cheryl Engle (left) and mom, Donna Bailey, go with a more conventional response.

Stella Johnson beats the snot out of the ball.

In a game of big hits and a fair amount of runs, it was a web gem that brought the house down.

The Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad scorched nine hits and waxed visiting North Whidbey Gold 11-1 Wednesday, but it was a slick defensive play which would lead off the highlight reel.

The play in question came in the top of the third, with the visitors making their one sustained rally against CWLL hurler Melody Wilkie.

North Whidbey had a run in and was threatening again with second and third occupied.

Enter the unassuming but deadly effective Thora Iverson.

Patrolling second base for the first time in her career, she stamped out every last hope and dream the Northenders might have possessed.

The play in question started with a liner back through the pitcher’s circle.

Sharply angled and moving with a fair amount of speed, it smacked off of Wilkie’s out-flung glove and took a nasty hop towards the hole between second and first.

Iverson, moving like a seasoned pro, snagged the hot shot, then had the presence of mind to immediately pivot and lay the ball into the waiting glove of Kylie Van Velkinburgh at first for an inning-ending out.

It deflated North Whidbey’s entire bench, earned a roar from Central Whidbey’s players and made a scattered group of dogs in attendance howl in unison.

As she was being pummeled by her Adrenaline teammates and praised by coach Connie Lippo, Iverson smiled the smile of a stone-cold killer disguised as a mild-mannered middle school student.

Sparked by the slick glove work, and a whole lot of hits, Central Whidbey improved to 5-2 on the season.

The Adrenaline jumped on North Whidbey quickly, putting up four runs in both the first and second inning.

Lead-off hitter Coral Caveness set the tone for the evening, ramming a double down the left field line, then taking third when the throw back in from the outfield took its sweet time finding the cut-off.

Central Whidbey sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, with Wilkie launching a two-run double to deep center and Audrianna Shaw dropping a picture-perfect bunt for a single.

In the second, it was more of the same, with the Adrenaline stepping up and hammering pitches to all fields.

Taylor Fifield stroked a double to left, while Marenna Rebischke-Smith drilled a two-run single to straightaway center, dropping it perfectly between two fielders.

Wilkie, who whiffed 10 batters in five innings, also paced the offensive attack with three hits, including a pair of doubles.

She got plenty of help, as Anya Leavell, Mollie Bailey, Shaw, Caveness, Fifield and Rebischke-Smith all had a base-knock.

Stella Johnson was her usual steady self in the field, while Shianna Baker and Krystal Caudle both saw playing time, as the Adrenaline got something from all 12 players who suited up.

“This was a really good win for them,” said Lippo, who was flying solo with head coach Mimi Johnson missing in action for a game.

 

To see more photos from this game (purchases fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes), pop over to:

http://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/2017-CWLL/20170517-SB-Juniors-vs-North-Whidbey/

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Let the thumping commence!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , , on March 6, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Mollie Bailey (John Fisken photo)

   Mollie Bailey pumped in six points Monday as the Wolf 8th graders rolled to a huge win. (John Fisken photo)

Somebody send the fire department to Port Townsend, cause the joint just got torched.

Well, on the basketball court, at least, where the Coupeville Middle School girls basketball squads went nuclear on Blue Heron.

Rattling home buckets from every angle, while getting 14 girls in the scoring column, the Wolves reached the halfway point of the season Monday with a pair of feel-good routs.

The 7th grade squad clamped down on defense en route to a 45-9 romp, while the CMS 8th graders singed the nets to a 62-14 tune.

The victories lifted the 7th graders to 3-2 on the season, while the 8th graders sit at 1-4.

Both teams return to action next Monday, Mar. 13, when they host Chimacum.

7th grade:

Defense was the name of the game, as Coupeville refused to let its hosts get into double digits.

Up 12-2 after one quarter, the Wolves stretched things out to 26-4 at the half and 39-8 after three.

Audrianna Shaw and Ja’Kenya Hoskins both outscored Blue Heron by themselves, tallying 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Kylie Van Velkinburgh scorched the nets for eight, while Samantha Streitler (4), Anya Leavell (4) and Alanna Mihill (2) rounded out the scoring attack.

Adair DeJesus, Katelin McCormick and McKenna Somes all saw floor time as well for the on-point Wolves.

“We played very hard and as a team!,” said CMS coach Megan Smith. “I’m very proud of each and every one of them.”

8th grade:

With only four 8th graders on their roster, the older squad turned to four 7th graders to balance its roster, and one of those younger players, Izzy Wells, poured in 18 to pace the Wolves.

Genna Wright banged home 16, Chelsea Prescott tickled the twines for 14 and Mollie Bailey knocked down eight.

Meanwhile, Heidi Clinkscales, Katelyn Painter, Abby Mulholland and Isabella Velasco each added a bucket.

With the game out of hand early (14-2 after one and 26-6 at the half), CMS 8th grade coach Ryan King mixed and matched his roster, making sure every Wolf got a bucket.

“So proud of my girls. They have worked hard all year long and today they came out on fire and never looked back,” King said. “Every single one of them played amazing.

“They all stepped up. Our goals for this game were to play shut down defense, attack the basket, win the rebound game and most importantly, I wanted everyone to score,” he added. “We reached all our goals and I was so happy to see all of them score.”

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The dynamic duo arrives!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on July 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Birthday girls Mollie Bailey (top) and Avalon Renninger. (John Fisken and Sherry Roberts photos)

   Birthday girls Mollie Bailey (top) and Avalon Renninger. (John Fisken and Sherry Roberts photos)

They are the sparkling future of Wolf sports.

The duo of Mollie Bailey and Avalon Renninger share a lot in common, starting with having birthdays just a few hours apart.

Bailey’s was Friday (I just found out) while Renninger’s is today.

Both are younger sisters of highly-successful Coupeville athletes (McKayla and McKenzie Bailey, Sage Renninger) who are already on their way to being just as big stars, if not bigger, themselves.

Bailey, who will be an eighth grader at CMS in the fall, is a scrappy point guard on the basketball court and an even scrappier catcher on the softball diamond, a hard-hitting, fast-talking whirlwind.

Meanwhile, Renninger, who will be a freshman at CHS, is a ball of energy blazing across the soccer pitch, basketball court and (so far) track oval (though she may swap that for tennis).

Described by CHS hoops coach David King as a bulldog, for her willingness to get down and scrap with foes for every loose ball, every rebound, Avalon has a motor which never stops running.

Both young women share a lot of similar traits, being outgoing and friendly off the field, and then being more than willing to slice you off at the kneecaps in the heat of battle.

Like their sisters before them, the duo also have a love for the camera and are willing to play the PR game.

Bailey, in particular, is gunning for her sister’s Photo Bomb Queen status and she’s got the chops to make it happen.

As they both make the move upwards this year, with bright careers ahead of them, sports-wise and as smart, tough-nosed young women of the prairie, we want to wish them happy birthday.

Your future is wide-open, ladies. Go claim your destiny.

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Venom drop the big beat-down!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged , , , , , , on May 12, 2016| 1 Comment »

Chelsea Prescott waits for a throw at second. (John Fisken photos)

Chelsea Prescott waits for a throw at second. (John Fisken photos)

When she wasn't working behind the plate, Mollie Bailey was thumping the ball Thursday, collecting seven RBI in a 23-12 win.

   When she wasn’t working behind the plate, Mollie Bailey was thumping the ball Thursday, collecting seven RBI in a 23-12 win.

Mollie Bailey must really like pizza.

With the promise of free slices if they could upend Anacortes for the first time in four tries this season, Bailey and her Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball teammates came out swinging hot Thursday night.

By the time the CMS 7th grader was done, she had racked up seven RBI, all on legitimate laser shots, and the Venom had run away with a 23-12 victory.

Now 6-3 overall, Central Whidbey, which has outscored its foes 138-67 this season, had come close all three times against league leader Anacortes, but hadn’t been able to get over the top.

That changed Thursday, as the Venom roared out to a huge lead, gave it almost all back, then went run-crazy a second time.

Down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the first, Central Whidbey launched a hit parade.

By the time they were done, the Venom had used eight hits, including a pair of base knocks each from Bailey and Chelsea Prescott and an explosive triple off the bat of Hannah Davidson, to throw down 13 runs in their first at-bats.

Maya Toomey-Stout, Emma Mathusek and Scout Smith also collected hits as Central went eight batters deep in the order before recording its first out.

Not content to just hold on to its 13-3 lead and coast to a win, the Venom decided to mix things up by letting Anacortes crawl back into the game.

Three runs surrendered in the second and another six in the third sliced the lead all the way down to 13-12.

Then, as quickly as the offense had turned off during a scoreless second, it turned back on for the Venom.

In fits and spurts.

Prescott thumped a lead-off double in the third, Davidson got drilled in the thigh, then both came around to score to stretch the lead back to three runs.

After that, it was all Venom, as Prescott, who had come on in relief, set Anacortes down in order in both the fourth and fifth.

In the fourth, she got a helping hand from Smith, who gunned down a runner who came too far around the bag on a single, then, in the fifth, it was Prescott’s turn for the web gem of the night.

With two outs, the batter ripped the cover off the ball, sending a line shot right back through the pitcher’s circle.

Coming off of the bat, it had the look and sound of extra bases, except it died a swift death, ripped out of the air by Prescott, who speared the liner, a look of surprise on her face that yes, she was just that good.

“I thought it was going to take my glove off!,” she exclaimed as her teammates mobbed her en route to the bench, a huge smile now having replaced the shocked look.

With their pitching and defense clicking, the Venom pushed across three more in the fourth, then ended the game with five more in the fifth, invoking the ten-run mercy rule.

The final assault on Anacortes’ pitcher started with Melia Welling drawing a walk and Cynthia Rachal reaching on an error.

Toomey-Stout spun a single into the air that hit a wind pocket (on a windless night) and dove to the ground, mocking the shortstop’s attempt to corral it.

After that came a two-run single from Smith, a walk to Prescott, a single from Davidson and then the perfect finale.

Striding to the plate, eyes impassive behind tinted sunglasses, long hair braids slapping her back, Bailey dug in and waited for her pitch.

With runners at the corners and two out, she needed to bring home just Prescott from third to end the game, but went one better.

Absolutely crushing the ball, in the same style older sister McKayla used to do for CHS on this same field, the heir to the Bailey softball throne launched a rocket to left center.

In a different game, or at a different time, it might have been a home run, staying low as it flew through the air and then kicking wickedly as it landed in the deepest, darkest part of the outfield.

But here, with both Prescott and Davidson dancing across the plate to end the game, Bailey calmly loped into second and then stood atop the bag, the queen of the night as her team went bonkers around her.

Bring on the pizza.

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