Blackmon signs with CACC-East

Senior New Brockton softball player Bailey Blackmon signed her letter-of-intent to play college softball at Coastal Alabama Community College-East, in Brewton, on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Blackmon has been a centerpiece for the New Brockton softball program since her freshman year but has been playing at the varsity level since she was an eighth grader.

“When I took over at New Brockton in 2017, that was the best season we’ve ever had in the history of the program. Every (senior) in that class had an opportunity to play in college,” New Brockton softball coach Wade Hussey said. “In that class our team batting average was over .390 and as an eighth grader Bailey earned 13 at bats, on a team that had the most homeruns in school history and seven batters that were averaging over .400.

“Her getting at bats on that team, as an eighth grader, was special. In 2018 that was the toughest year I’ve ever had as a coach, after losing all those seniors, and I said then that she’s going to have to do something and she did. When I said she was going to carry us, I meant it.”

Blackmon has been a standout pitcher and hitter for the Lady Gamecocks during her entire career. She’s totaled 43 hits and four homeruns in 117 at bats during her career, for a career batting average of .368. As a pitcher, she’s earned 153 strikeouts in 169 2/3 innings pitched.

As a sophomore in 2019, Blackmon boasted a .322 batting average with two homeruns and also boasted a 3.28 ERA as a pitcher. She mowed down 96 batters in 113 innings pitched and her opponents had just a .270 batting average.

In 2020’s shortened season Blackmon had a .500 batting average with one home run and four RBIs before the season was called off. She also had 17 strikeouts in just 12 innings in the circle.

“She stepped up and she has been everything that a high school coach can ask for, any coach could ask for,” Hussey said. “She’s going to be awesome this year, too.”

Hussey said that Blackmon has also become a leader for the young Lady Gamecocks.

“I was talking to some of those young girls (we have) and telling them to believe in the process and believe in what we’re doing,” Hussey remembered. “Bailey stepped in and said, ‘This is where I was then and this is where I am now because of coachability, the drive to be better than I was yesterday and the want to be best I can be tomorrow.’

“She is the epitome of a high school softball player and she will be a fantastic college player. We’ve all been blessed to be a part of her career.”

Blackmon said that decision to go to Coastal East wasn’t hard after visiting the school.

“Right when I got in town I just loved the atmosphere and thought it was such a beautiful place,” Blackmon said. “I felt so welcomed and that’s where I wanted to go and start my (college) career off. I also like the coaches and I like the way they’re going to do things.”

Blackmon said that she wants to continue to get better at CACC.

“I want to progress as a player there and I think my hitting can get better and, I think with their pitching staff , my pitching can get better, too,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon’s goals for college don’t stop at Coastal East, though. She said that she wants to eventually transfer to a four-year college after CACC. Before she gets there, though, she has some more immediate goals for the remainder of her high school career.

“Our main goal is to get to state, that’s been our main goal for the last four years,” Blackmon said. “That’s what our goal will be this year.”