BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Tug Valley standout athlete Bailee Hall will be taking her softball talents to West Virginia State University next year. Hall signed a letter of intent during a ceremony in the school’s auditorium on Friday afternoon, Dec. 5.
Hall is an All-State selection in softball, basketball and volleyball. She will follow in the footsteps of her sister, Autumn Hall, who is in her senior season of softball at the Charleston-area college.
“We are thankful for this young lady, and her family has meant so much to Tug Valley sports,” TVHS athletic director Clyde Farley said. “I coached Bailee when she was a freshman in basketball. I have super fond memories of that.”
Farley said Hall’s legacy is unmatched at Tug Valley.
“She will leave this school as the most decorated female athlete in the history of Tug Valley High School,” he said.
“I think she will become the first boy or girl athlete to make All-State for four straight years in a sport. She already is the first female athlete from this school to be first team All-State in two different sports (softball and basketball).”
Hall will be the all-time leading rebounder at TVHS.
Farley also praised Hall as an honor student and “an even better person.”
Hall was surrounded by her parents Rocky and Christa Hall, sister Autumn, uncle Chad Hall, Farley and assistant principal Tamara Ferris. Several of her teammates were also present at the signing ceremony.
Hall’s father is also her softball coach and her mother is an assistant coach in both basketball and softball. They, along with her sister, shared heartwarming stories of Bailee growing up and playing youth sports.
Rocky Hall praised his daughter for her hard work ethic and the extra practice that both his daughters put in. He said that would help them get to the next level and help pay for their college education.
“I’m blessed for this opportunity to play at West Virginia State,” Bailee said. “I’m excited about my future. I have dreamed about college since I was young. I will get to play the game I love at the next level.”
The talented high school senior said she picked the Yellowjackets program in part because both her dad and her sister played at that school.
“They had a very successful career there, both academically and in sports. Now I get to go up there and I think that is really special.”
She said it was great to play at Tug Valley and to play for her father.
“It was one of my biggest blessings to get to play for him,” added Hall.
Hall is both a pitcher and a position player like her sister. She is an excellent hitter and hopes to help lead the Lady Panthers softball team to their first state tournament appearance in the spring.