Overlooked Bailey finds spotlight with Elite

By Dave Dyer
Staff Writer

July 18, 2008 12:40 am

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Londonderry High softball coach Wayne MacDougall is not pleased with the New Hampshire system for picking an All-State team.

The NHIAA allows each team to nominate three, and only three players, for All-State. Thus, if one of the better teams — like Londonderry — happens to have four standouts, someone gets left out.

With star pitchers Brooke Beaudet and Andrea Ouellette and standout shortstop Molly Rooney on the squad, MacDougall was unable to nominate his fine third baseman, Cristina Bailey, who batted .344 and has no equal defensively.

"She has always been overlooked because of the other three," said MacDougall. "I was particularly aggravated this year that I couldn't nominate her for All-State because of our rule of only three per team. She's a great defensive third baseman, as good as anyone, and would have been on many other team's All-State ballots if they had her."

Bailey's skills are being showcased this summer, however, for the powerful New Hampshire Elite U18 team, which has already won two tournaments and boasts standout players like Salem's Katie Bettencourt and Alex Gallant, Central Catholic's Monique Gosselin, and Beaudet. Elite coaches Harold Sachs and Greg Paris, the head and assistant coach respectively, for powerful Salem High in the spring, have been more than a little impressed by Bailey's talent.

"Her defense could go unnoticed since she is so steady and consistent," said Sachs. "She routinely makes great plays, allowing her to be taken for granted."

Paris is even more effusive in his praise of Bailey, who had several key hits two weekends ago when the Elite finished first at the NSA Massachusetts State Tournament and blasted a huge bases-loaded triple last weekend when the team finished third at the ASA New England Regional.

"The teams we have played are primarily from New England, but we have also played good teams from New York and Pennsylvania and, in my opinion, Cristina is one of the top three defensive third basemen in summer tournament ball, and maybe the best.

"She has great reaction time and the most consistent, strong throw to first you could want. She has made several diving plays.

"Offensively, she was a threat for Londonderry and has shown signs of breaking out this summer. If New Hampshire had to put a true all-star team together where positions mattered, Cristina would be the third baseman. ... (Because) she is not a pitcher ... she has not had her fair share of public recognition."

For her part, Bailey has never lamented being in the background while her more touted teammates got more of the credit.

"It didn't bother me at all," said Bailey, who has been playing third since she was 8 years old and has also played some at first base this summer. "They (Ouellette, Beaudet and Rooney) are awesome and I loved playing with them."

At any rate, Bailey's talent has not gone unnoticed by Division 3 power Rhode Island College, which captured the New England regional the last two years and recruited her to play the infield. With a key infielder graduating, there is a very good chance she could start there right away.

"I'm really excited about it." said Bailey, who plans on majoring in criminal justice. "I like the school, being right in Providence, and the softball is really good there."

Moreover, playing with the Elite this summer should be excellent preparation.

"Everyone on this (Elite) team is so fantastic, I love playing on it," said Bailey.

N.H. Elite among the elite

The New Hampshire Elite U18 team, which will play in the ASA nationals in Moline, Ill., starting July 27, is enjoying an outstanding summer. Thus far, it has:

— Finished third at the NH ASA State Tournament

— Placed first at the Fort Devens/Polar Crush Tournament

— Placed first at the NSA Massachusetts State Tournament

— Placed third at the ASA New England Regional Tournament

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