Airport graduate Bailey Martin hits .353, shows versatility in the field

SOUTH ROCKWOOD – When Bailey Martin joined the Madonna University Crusader softball team, there was something she was missing.

A mitt.

After being a catcher basically her entire life, Martin needed a different kind of glove.

Four years later, the new glove is fitting just fine and Martin is part of championship softball program.

Change at the top: John Ray retires as longtime Monroe High athletic director, and this alum will replace him

“In high school, I only caught,” said Martin. “I didn’t even have a fielding glove. When I came up here, I had to get a new glove just to play catch.”

After spending her first couple of seasons behind the plate for the Crusaders, Martin switched to third base midway through her junior season. This season she moved to first base.

“Our third baseman got hurt and coach asked me if I could play there,” Martin said. “This year, they moved me to first. We had another catcher and the coach wanted to keep both of us in the lineup. It’s different. Catching is all I have known my whole life, but first base is not that bad. I’m learning to like it.”

The move has paid off for both Martin and the Crusaders.

This season, Martin has started 49 games for the Crusaders, who went 22-0 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and are 47-3 overall heading into the NAIA national tournament.

Martin is hitting .353 with 48 hits in 135 at-bats. She has scored 23 runs, driven in 32 and drawn 18 walks. She’s 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts and has struck out only 11 times.

She’s a career .335 hitter with 20 doubles and 83 RBIs in 149 games.

Vote now: Polls open for Monroe County Region Athlete of the Week

“This year has been my favorite so far,” she said. “The team is so close. It feels like a family.”

Madonna is a high-quality program. The Crusaders went to the College World Series in Martin’s freshman season and have won back-to-back WHAC conference tournaments.

“Getting to the World Series is our goal,” Martin said. “That was such an awesome experience. We knew this year was going to be a good year. We told the younger players on the team about going to the World Series and how we thought we could get back there this year, with this team. I’m really excited for the tournament.”

When Martin, an Airport graduate, first came to campus in Livonia, she said it was a tough transition from high school.

“I was very shy,” she said. “I didn’t say two words all year.”

A lot has changed.

“I do feel like I’m a leader now,” she said. “I’m not the most vocal on the team, but I’ll show by example and say things when I need to. I’m not shy now. Four years ago I was a different person. In high school I was one of the key players and when I came here, I was trying to figure out where I fit in. It was kind of intimidating. I was out of my comfort zone.”

Now the South Rockwood native is a leader on one of the best teams in the nation.

“We feel like we can play with anybody,” she said. “We had some tough early season games and I think that gave us confidence.”

The daughter of Jim Martin and Jennifer Brown is not the first in her family to go undefeated in the WHAC. Her mother did the same thing at Siena Heights University – the last time a WHAC softball team went through the season unbeaten.

“We are a big sports family,” she said. “My dad is an umpire and my mom played softball. Our vacations were going to the softball field. I just grew up around it.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport graduate Bailey Martin hits .353, shows versatility in the field