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Vindy Spring Athletes: Bailey Byers
West Branch senior catcher Bailey Byers says it’s a special feeling watching a ball leave her bat and sail over the fence for a home run.
“It feels so good,” Byers said. “I’m like, ‘oh my — there it goes.’”
Byers enjoyed that experience a lot this spring as she became the first player in Ohio to hit 19 homers in one season.
“It was crazy,” Byers said. “I started out the season averaging one home run a game. My Dad said it was like one home run for every three at-bats. I was like, ‘whoa — this is crazy.’”
In May, she broke the record of 18 set by New Riegel’s Taylor Kirian in 2013.
Byers finished with 21 homers this season; 31 in her career.
What was the secret to her success? Byers shrugged and laughed.
“I don’t know — I don’t have a clue,” she said.
Byers’ hitting exploits helped West Branch win the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. She was voted conference player of the year.
As the state tournament progressed, Williamsburg’s Carly Wagers surpassed Byers to finish with 24 homers for the new state record.
Next season, she’ll play for Malone University, a Division II school in Canton. She will major in sports management and hopes to someday be an athletic director.
One of her favorite subjects is math.
“It probably sounds kind of weird, but I’m pretty good at math,” Myers said.
Her slugging percentage agrees.