'Quiet, but mighty': Taunton freshman lets her bat doing the talking in comeback win
TAUNTON— Replacing a player like three time Division 1 state champion and 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball Player of the Year Kaysie DeMoura can be a daunting task for a freshman, but it's one Aniyah Bailey is certainly up for.
"It’s big shoes to fill," Bailey said. "I think Kaysie was amazing and it’s kind of hard to live up to that, but I’m going to try my best and be good for the team."
Just a few games into the season, Bailey is certainly looking a worthy successor.
The freshman catcher led the way for Taunton (6-0, 5-0 Hockomock League) Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a pair of triples and a pair of RBIs, one of which she drove in on an eighth inning walk-off single to seal a 4-3 comeback win over Western Mass. powerhouse Westfield (4-1, 2-0 Valley League).
"Aniyah came up huge (today)," Tigers coach Michelle Raposo said. "Coming up and stepping in as the catcher this year and keeping (senior pitcher) Sam (Lincoln) calm throughout the whole game was huge and her bat was really powerful for us throughout the whole game. Her spirit and her determination to never give up was exactly what we needed on this team today."
As for the walk-off single, a blooper into shallow right that saw fellow freshman Bella Bourque come home from third, Bailey knew she had it from the moment the ball left her bat.
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"It was very exhilarating," Bailey said. "I knew that was the game winning hit and I knew that me and my team had fought very hard to stay with them and we pushed enough and we won."
Through the first six games, Bailey is batting .450 with six runs and six RBIs while looking strong defensively behind the plate as well as at third base, alternating positions at times with Bourque.
"She’s quiet, but she’s mighty," Raposo said of Bailey. "She doesn’t give up. She works hard, she hustles but we’re trying to get her to be a little louder, so it’s nice to see that excitement out of her when she got those few hits."
Her bat did all the talking for her against the Bombers, however, as with her team trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, she ripped a line drive into left, legging it out for a triple as junior Brooke Aldrich came home with the tying run.
Westfield struck back in the top of the eighth as freshman Katie Bouchard came home as Bailey threw to first on a dropped third strike. While some young players may've let that discourage them, Bailey stayed strong and kept the faith, a quality which Raposo praised her and her teammates for.
"This team never gave up," Raposo said. "The heart that this team has and the camaraderie that they have on this field is unbeatable. They overcame the challenge, so they know they have the determination to not give up and hopefully we carry that through the season."
In particular, it was the freshmen who helped drive home the win, with Madison Crowley (1-for-2) turning a double into the opening Taunton run and Bourque (1-for-4) driving in sophomore Mia Torres for the tying run in the eighth, continuing strong starts to the season for the members of the Class of 2027.
"The littles are carrying us through the lineup at some points," Raposo said. "It’s amazing to see that they want to be here and they’re doing everything they can to get on base and contribute for the older girls, whether that’s defensively or offensively."
The Tigers will look to continue their winning ways Monday when they host Attleboro (3-1, 3-1 Hockomock).
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton's Bailey is making a name for herself at and behind the plate
