A former King’s Fork High School softball standout was able to get on the field early through her versatility.

Lauryn Bailey is a couple of months removed from wrapping up her freshman season at Bluefield College. Bailey signed on to play there in 2017 and was ecstatic about the opportunity she had to be able to go and play college softball.

Bluefield finished 16-21, and Bailey started every game as a freshman.

She started at second base, which was new to her. Being versatile opened up new opportunities for Bailey, and it also showed how much of a team player she is.

“My freshman season was quite the season,” she said. “I wasn’t used to starting at second, because I had played the left side of the infield, so that was an adjustment I had to make. There were little things here and there I had to adjust to with sides of the field I was playing and things like that.”

Bailey came into the season with one expectation, and that was just to be the best she can be. She finished her freshman season with loads of experience and learned valuable things that will help her next season. She had 23 hits, 11 runs and 12 RBIs this season to go with her .247 batting average.

“I just wanted to come in and help out with the team any way that I could, and I felt like I did that,” Bailey said. “I just wanted to be a great teammate. I wanted to have some good hitting, and I felt like I was able to do that as well. It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Starting wasn’t necessarily something Bailey had expected as a freshman, but she had hoped for it.

“I knew I just had to be the best I could be when the time was right,” she said. “Starting was a very cool experience.”

It also helped that Bailey enjoyed the atmosphere in Bluefield. Every minute that she was there was amazing to her. Not only does she love her team but also she loves everything that comes with the school.

In her time at King’s Fork, Bailey was an All-Conference performer. She was also a standout for the Virginia Fastpitch Sting travel ball team.