Typically busy
Haley Bauman covers a lot of ground as the veteran shortstop for the West Valley High School softball team.
Today she will cover a huge section of Eastern Washington.
The West Valley senior starts her Saturday in Pasco, where she plays solo alto saxophone with the school’s jazz band at a music competition at Columbia Basin College.
As soon as she takes her bow after the band’s performance of the jazz standard “My Funny Valentine,” she will race – uh, in case the Washington State Patrol is reading along, make that hurry – back to join her softball teammates during the first of two games with visiting Riverside.
“We’re hoping she will make it back sometime early in the game,” coach Paul Cooley said. “Earlier the better.”
It’s a typical day for Bauman, who juggles music, softball and a myriad of other school activities on a daily basis. Friday she competed in an ensemble competition at CBC.
“I do keep busy,” she laughed. “Band is year-round. We have field shows in the fall, concerts in the winter, and we start parade season Monday. While that’s going on I play indoor soccer, outdoor soccer and softball. I’m involved with a bunch of programs here at school – Washington Drug-Free Youth, National Honor Society and Link Crew. But I still find a little spare time once in a while.
“We do this competition every year and it’s always a lot of fun. This year there’s just a softball game scheduled at the same time.”
To get from Point A, Pasco, to Point B, the Eagles’ home field behind the West Valley School District offices, Bauman will get an assist from a trusted source.
“Because it’s a school event, I have to get my mom to sign me out of one event and drive me to the game,” she said.
Bauman has been a starter for the Eagles since arriving as a freshman. She started at third base her first season, then shifted to shortstop for the past three years.
This year she’s the team’s lone senior.
“There was a lot of pressure coming in as a freshman,” she said. “Especially going against some of the pitchers in the Greater Spokane League. I still remember how nervous I was before my first game. It was against East Valley.”
Bauman said she tries to minimize the shock of playing varsity softball for the first time, sharing the benefit of her own experience.
“I try to help them not be nervous and talk to them before games,” she said. “I remember how I felt and I try to keep them loose.”
This year’s West Valley squad is young. But not that young.
“Our whole infield is back from last year,” Bauman said. “We may be young, but we’ve got experience.”
Bauman is the team’s leading hitter, heading into the weekend series with a batting average that’s pushing .500.
“I have a lot of confidence at the plate,” she said. “Going against pitchers I’ve never seen before, like we do in league, I may be a little more patient at the plate. But when you get your pitch, you have to go with it. You may only see a pitch you can hit once in an at-bat. You can’t afford to just watch it go by. You have to swing.”
Bauman said she’s always had confidence in her defense. This year, however, she working to improve her throws.
“I’m a sidearmer,” she said. “I’ve been working on throwing over the top this year. Thankfully, our third baseman has been keeping an eye on me. She comes over and says ‘Haley, bring it up – bring it up.’ “
The Eagles head into today’s doubleheader with a 6-5 overall record, 2-3 in the Great Northern League. Riverside, winless in four league games, brings a 1-7 overall record.
“They may not have won a (league) game yet, but (the Rams’ games) have been close,” Bauman said. “All of these teams we’re playing are new to us.
Bauman said she’s thinking about walking on to play softball in college. And she wants to keep up her music, but not as a college major.
“Music is something I love,” she said. “I love playing jazz. But it’s not something I want to study in college. If I keep playing, it will be just for my own enjoyment. I want to keep it there.”