Two-year starter for Malgradi takes her talents to Alabama

Bailey Blake  signed her letter of intent Friday, May 27 to play softball and continue her education at Troy University in the Sun Belt Conference for Head Coach Melanie Davis and the Lady Trojans.

The two-year starter at shortstop for Coach Malgradi's Lady Thunderbirds was a defensive gem for Mesa's infield, and a thorn in the sides of opposing hitters. 

The Gilbert High School graduate will continue her studies in Kinesiology and look to win a spot as the starting shortstop for Coach Davis' Lady Trojans.

"I will have to compete for the position but I know I have a good shot at winning the position.  They are bringing in a good group of recruits to build upon a solid season in 2011," says Blake. 

Troy is a solid NCAA DI school that competed against the likes of Alabama, Kansas, Fresno State, and Cal in 2011, and finished with a 32-27 overall record, falling in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on May 13.  Alabama is headed to the NCAA Women's College World Series. 

"Bailey was part of the '09 recruiting class that helped reset the high expectations of Mesa Softball.  She was an instrumental part in building back-to-back playoff teams," says Malgradi.

In two seasons with Bailey Blake at shortstop, the Lady T'Birds went 74-48 overall.

Bailey was named 1st Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-ACCAC in 2010 for Coach Malgradi and he knows she can get even better.

"Bailey is such a pure athlete.  However, what I enjoyed watching for the two seasons she was here was her maturity at the plate and the way she learned to think about scenarios at the plate and in the field," says Malgradi.

Bailey's numbers speak for themselves.  In 2011, Blake hit .373  (47 of 126) in 51 games, knocking in 19, scoring 29, hitting six doubles, and two triples.  Blake's fielding percentage of .944 was also impressive as she had 66 putouts and 69 assists from the hole at short.

In 2010, the numbers were even more eye-popping.  The youth of the team in 2010 meant Bailey had to do more, and she did that with abundance.  Blake hit .465 with (72 of 155) in 55 games, knocking in 31, scoring 39, hitting eight doubles, and one triple. 

Coach Malgradi says he has two freshman that can step up and fill the void left by Blake's departure to Troy, but it remains to be seen who can put up the numbers Bailey Blake did the for the Mesa Lady Thunderbirds. 

It's been some time since such a pure athlete roamed the infield for Mesa Softball.  Mesa nation enjoyed watching the development in her two years and will now have their eyes on the Sun Belt Conference as Blake hopes to win the starting job at short for the Lady Trojans in 2012.