Two-sport Thurston athlete Bailey Tovey thrives at softball, throwing events
To say Bailey Tovey is a powerhouse is an understatement.
The senior recorded a six-game hitting streak in Thurston softball's 6-5 win over Churchill on Tuesday.
"She's got that, 'I'm going to beat you attitude,'" Thurston head coach Jeff Litle said. "It benefits her too that I don't have her lower in the lineup. I got her in at the three spot, so you got to pitch to her."
The Colts were 9-6 overall and 7-0 in the Midwestern League as of Saturday morning. But that came with one major adjustment midway through the season.
"We came back from that (North Medford) tournament, we sat down one day and had a long conversation about approach at the plate," Litle said. "What you're looking for with your pitches and your counts. Ever since then, we've been hitting the ball well."
The Colts went 1-3 during the North Medford Tournament last month and went 2-6 in nonleague play.
Tovey, a four-year varsity player, produced six home runs in five straight games, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored altogether for the Colts.
Tovey's prowess extends beyond the diamond as she is also a shot put, discus and javelin standout for the Colts. She is committed to Division I Weber State University for track and field in the fall.
Mindset, hitting under pressure and softball IQ
Tovey has approached her final season with a more relaxed and simple mindset.
"Leave it all on the field," she said.
Tovey's carried that same energy in her approach in the batter's box. She said a part of her training included working with hitting coach Heather Holte, a former multi-sport athlete for Thurston and Oregon.
"I worked on my mindset going up to the plate, and what pitch I want exactly until it's deep in the count," Tovey said. "And if it's not there, I don't want it. Unless I have two strikes on me, I don't need to hit it."
Tovey was held hitless in the Colts 11-0 shutout loss against defending 6A state champion Sheldon and 13-1 win against Ashland, and had two walks and three runs scored in the latter.
Tovey said she thrives hitting on 3-0 ball count or 0-2 strike count scenarios.
"I love two strikes," Tovey said.
Tovey prides herself on her softball IQ as a defensive player. She made the switch this year from catcher to the starting third baseman. While the position was new, the transition wasn't foreign to her as she made it a habit of taking reps from all positions on the field.
"Unlike most people, I read scenarios," Tovey said. "I picture everything happening, and I want the ball to come to me. I can read the situation if they are going to bunt, they are either going to lay it down or they are going to pull back."
'Six that can legitimately hit it out'
The Colts outscored opponents a combined 88-19 with April almost in the books.
On any one of those given days Tovey, senior Emily Spain, junior Kendall Miller and sophomores Daphanie Heckel and Syren Ferguson have all had multi-hit games.
"It's hard to pitch to our lineup because we have six that can legitimately hit it out," Litle said.
Even Tovey's younger sister and freshman, Payton, has got in on the action as well.
Litle has his eyes set on the ultimate goal, which is winning a league title. The Colts have yet to win one since the 2013-14 season in 6A.
"I don't think that's out of our reach," Litle said. "They see the goal now, and they see what's in front of us."
Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Noriega_Edith.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Thurston's Bailey Tovey thrives at softball, throwing events
