Senior Baylee Heffernan has played on the Westside varsity squad for four years now. She is a huge part of the team, being dominant at 3rd base. Coach Mike Leapley coaches Heffernan during high school and club ball. He talks about how important it is to have her in the infield, and what makes her stand out.
“Baylee is outstanding at third base. The pitchers know they have a great corner and trust 100% from bunts to line drives and let’s not forget about the backdoor picks from Hadley. They have a great connection,” Leapley said.
Heffernan has a strong bond with Leapley, which makes it easier to be coachable and make changes when needed. She talks about how it has been to be coached under Leapley for such a long time.
“Coach Leapley has been coaching me for four years all year around through high school and club ball. He’s helped me tremendously, whether it’s on or off the field. He’s always there to coach you, help you, and always makes you laugh. Having a coach like him makes the game enjoyable no matter what,” Heffernan said.
Over four years, Westside softball has taught Heffernan many lessons. She talks about what she has learned from her experience on the team.
“My time at Westside has taught me to play for each one of the girls and that it is a team sport. We’re a family at Westside and we play every game for each other,” Heffernan said.
As well as learning herself, Heffernan helps others learn too. She is a leader on the team and shows the younger girls the way to do things. Coach Leapley talks about how Heffernan has helped impact the younger girls.
“Baylee really started coming into her own a few years ago. Everyone knows the hot corner is a baller’s stats spot. Baylee has been so great to the underclassmen. They all must respect her. The way Baylee carries herself. They know B is a competitor and wants to win for her team,” Leapley said.
Heffernan is known by her peers as a rockstar teammate, and player. She talks about how playing on the Westside softball team has improved her skills.
“The girls have had a huge impact on my self improvement, they have pushed me to be a better version of myself as a player, but also how to stay focused and dialed in, during the tough situations of games,” Heffernan said.
Coach Leapley also explains how Heffernan has grown as a person and player since her first year playing on the Westside Softball team.
“It all started last year. Just her maturity level has grown so much. I’m really proud of her. She is her harshest critic. She has worked on not being so hard on herself. She knows it’s a team game but wants to win for her teammates and doesn’t want to let them down,” Leapley said.
After high school, Heffernan has big plans academically and athletically.
“I will be attending Briar Cliff University and I will be studying radiology while playing softball for the chargers,” Heffernan said.
Coach Leapley also coaches at Briar Cliff where Baylee will be attending in the fall, he talks about how excited he is for her to play with him at the next level in college.
“Hey, Baylee Family, on three. Inside joke with the team. The team knows I’m an emotional coach that wants the best for the team on and off the softball field. Baylee began discussing this over the spring/summer: small talks and hints cough cough. I think she thought I was joking. I’ve seen Baylee play for the last 4-5 years and knew what type of person/players she was. I was talking to the BCU coaching staff one day, and I said What about Baylee? All looked at me like Really, Mike? In a good way. I said she plays great third hits for average and power, that’s your type of player, head coach BCU TJ Eadus said. I asked Baylee what she wants to do at the level, and she told me rad tech or the medical field. ding ding BCU has them both. Baylee and the staff had a serious talk a couple of weeks ago, and both sides agree it was perfect. So happy for Baylee,” Leapley said.
Baylee has made many memories throughout Westside softball, and high school in general. But she talks about her favorite one being this season on senior night.
“My favorite memory was hitting the walk off double against Norfolk on our senior night,” Baylee said.
Catch her on the field next week during districts on Oct 8. & 9.
