- April 29, 2024
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FPC shortstop Bailey Holmes with her parents Dana and Randy at her signing ceremony on April 19. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas shortstop Cody Baker, with her parents, signed with Southeastern University on April 18. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bailey Holmes, flanked by her parents Dana and Randy, her brother Bryson (left), and her sisters Autumn Beatty and Cody Warren. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bailey Holmes with her fellow senior teammates at her signing ceremony. From left, Hannah Kurek, Holmes, Kylee Burns and Madison Cercy. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Chloe Baker was batting .319 with 22 runs scored heading into the Pirates' final regular-season game on April 25. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Chloe Baker, seated center, is flanked by her Matanzas teammates and coaches after signing a letter of intent with Southeastern University.
Nineteen is a special number for Flagler Palm Coast softball player Bailey Holmes. It’s always been her jersey number. It was her father’s number when he played softball and her younger brother Bryson’s number on his baseball teams.
So, there was no doubt that her signing ceremony at the school would be on April 19.
The Bulldogs’ shortstop and leadoff hitter will continue her softball career at the College of Central Florida in Ocala.
While Holmes had officially signed earlier, Matanzas shortstop Chloe Baker wanted to officially sign in front of her teammates.
So, Baker signed a softball letter of intent with Southeastern University on the Pirates’ infield after a game on April 18.
“I wanted to keep that a special moment,” she said. “I wanted it to be here, because this program and these girls mean a lot to me.”
Holmes said College of Central Florida coach Mike Lingle emailed her after watching her travel team play in a showcase event. Lingle invited her to work out with the team in January and made Holmes an offer that day.
CCF is one of the top junior college programs in the country. The Patriots are currently ranked eighth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I poll with a 45-11 record.
It's close to home, and it's a very competitive program. I felt like it was the best fit for me." — BAILEY HOLMES, FPC shortstop
“I liked his coaching skills,” Holmes said of Lingard. “The whole coaching staff is nice and the girls are super, super nice. It's close to home, and it's a very competitive program. I felt like it was the best fit for me. I’ll get a lot more one on one attention, and from there I can move on (to a four-year school).”
Holmes started playing softball when she was 4 and was on a travel team at 6. Her older sisters, Cody and Autumn, both played softball, but Bailey is the first person in her family who will play a sport in college.
Holmes is hitting .549 for the Bulldogs with two home runs and a team-leading 27 runs scored. FPC is 13-3 with one regular-season game remaining.
Holmes and Baker are both versatile fielders. Holmes is expected to be a utility player for the Patriots.
I wanted to keep that a special moment. I wanted it to be here, because this program and these girls mean a lot to me. — CHLOE BAKER, Matanzas shortstop
Baker said she will probably play in the outfield for Southeastern, which is an NAIA-affiliated school in Lakeland. Baker began her high school career as a right fielder and has also played second base and third base in addition to shortstop for Matanzas.
The Fire advanced to the NAIA World Series last year and are currently 29-13 and 17-4 in the Sun Conference.
“I love the school,” Baker said. “It’s a beautiful campus. Coach (Kayla) Watkins has a really good heart for her kids and wants to see them succeed, not just as a softball player, but as a whole person. So that attracted me to the school.”
Baker, who is batting .319 with 22 runs scored, was honored along with Alyssa Lugo on senior night April 24.
She said moving on will be bittersweet.
“I'm going to miss it here,” she said. “I'm excited about SEU and my next journey, but i love this place and I love this program and I love these girls. They're a special group. I'm really grateful to coach (Sabrina) Manhart.”
Manhart said Baker is the backbone of the team.
“She has a will to do things the right way, both on the field and in the classroom," Manhart said. "She’s just a great example of what we want our kids to strive for, and we're very, very proud to see her moving on to play at the next level.”
