Holtville’s Bailea Boone Named Class 5A 1st Team All-State Last Two Seasons

By Scott Nickerson

Elmore Autauga News

Holtville Softball’s Bailea Boone already has a lengthy list of accomplishments in her career with the Bulldogs. She still has another year to add to those accomplishments.

Boone has been named the Holtville varsity offensive MVP each season since she was in 8th grade. She currently has 262 hits in her varsity career, and tied a state record once when she got six hits in a single game.

 In the 2024 season, Boone had a .544 batting average with 74 hits, the most hits in Elmore County.  She also scored 70 runs. “There are many factors that make me a successful hitter,” said Boone. “One factor is the hours of hitting in the batting cage preseason. Another factor is being a slap hitter. Slap hitting allows me to have many different kinds of hits rather than just swinging away. When slap hitting, I can choose which hit will best benefit me according to the other team’s defensive set up.”

Boone might be even more deadly on the base paths. She scored 70 runs and was an amazing 58 for 58 on stolen base attempts. “Once again there are many factors to my success on the base path. A major factor is my coach and teammates putting me in the position to be successful. They help me read the situation and make the best decision when to steal. Another factor is Coach Claybrook putting trust in me to get the job done. My teammates also always reminded me that they were behind me even if I did fail, but they 100% believed in me to get the job done.”

Those accomplishments have seen her named Class 5A 1st Team All-State as a sophomore and again as a junior. In November 2023, Boone committed to Faulkner University to continue her softball career in college. “I plan to attend Faulkner University after High School to continue my academic and athletic career. I have toured the campus and after talking to Coach Wynn and Coach Mark I decided that I wanted to play softball for Faulkner University.”

Boone hopes to make a run to the Class 5A State Tournament in her senior season for Holtville. Not reaching the state tournament has served as motivation for Boone and her teammates in the summer, as they attended gym workouts and played travel ball.  “As a team goal we strive to be top in our area, so we can advance to regionals. We also have the goal to make it to the state tournament. My personal goal is to continue to put the bat on the ball, so I can continue to help my team.”

Boone has made the A-Honor roll every year in high school, and is currently participating in Junior Civitan, National Honors Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and is the Class Vice-President. She also received the Izell Brown Award.

Heading into her final season suiting up for the Bulldogs, Boone recognizes the importance of the Holtville coaches and fans. “The Holtville community means the world to me and my fellow teammates. The community as a whole has been our biggest supporter through the good and the bad. We have many community members that have no family members on the team but still continue to show up and support our team. Our school and administrators support us by allowing students to come and watch us during area play while still in school. When we have students and fans in the crowd it makes the game even more fun for us players. Our community also never fails to congratulate us as individuals and as a team.”