Bailey’s dominance earns him Player of the Year honors

You wouldn’t think that Jim Bailey could really sneak up on anyone.

At 6 foot, 3 inches and 210 pounds he’s not exactly going to hide behind a wispy dogwood or tip-toe through the tulips. So you can call him “Big Jim” if you want.

But like some sort of self-imposed paradox, Bailey’s lumbering physique on the baseball field is masked by his laid-back demeanor. “Cool Jim” may be a more appropriate moniker.

You won’t see Bailey sprinting out to his position, waving to the fans like Sammy Sosa. You won’t see him bark at umpires or teammates when he’s on the field. In fact, you almost feel as if you should give him a nudge just to make sure he’s awake. And there’s a good chance that’s exactly what he wants – to lure you in and make you feel comfortable, so he can pounce like an awakened tiger.

“He seems nonchalant,” said Wadley’s first-year head coach Jim Bob Striplin, “But that’s just another weapon. He’s just setting you up for the kill.”

What that nonchalance hides is what every hitter who tries to hit against him and every pitcher who tries to get him out realizes, usually within one pitch.

His performance on the mound and at the plate made him an obvious choice for the Leader’s 2005 Player of the Year.

“He really deserves it this year,” said Striplin, “He’s really relished the role of being the go-to guy, either on the mound or at the plate. He really maximized his talent this year.”

Bailey’s 85-mph fastball and knee-buckling bender made him one of the most effective and imposing pitchers in the county this year. Bailey went 5-1 for the upstart Bulldogs and posted a 1.57 ERA while striking out 100 hitters in 49 innings of work.

But those numbers seem average when compared with what he did as a hitter. He won the county’s triple crown, batting a mind-boggling .678 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in just 16 games.

“I just get up there and watch the ball and try to get base hits,” said Bailey on his hitting strategy. “I try to get on base any way I can.”

Mission accomplished. In 66 plate appearances this season Bailey was sent back to the dugout a total of just 14 times, an on-base percentage of .818.

“It was just automatic, basically,” said Striplin. “If we needed a strikeout, he was going to get it. If we needed a big hit, he was going to get it. He’s guaranteed to do what you need him to do, just about every time.”

Bailey’s dominance helped lead his Bulldogs to a season-opening win over a Beulah team that was ranked No. 3 in class 2A. That win helped propel the Bulldogs into the ASWA top ten in class 1A, where they remained virtually the entire season.

Now with his senior season in the books and graduation coming within the next couple of weeks, Bailey is setting his sights on continuing his baseball career. He has already tried out at several area community colleges, and Southern Union has offered him a partial scholarship. But don’t bank on Bailey accepting that offer.

“I’m trying to get out of town,” said the 18-year-old.

Wherever he goes, they can expect some pleasant surprises out of big, cool Jim.