Female Athlete of the Week
Bishop Verot has been a growing softball team over the past few years, both on and off the field. Heading into this season, the Vikings already had a lot in place with a deep and talented junior class that improved and bonded together.
They’ve had no problem making room for senior Hailey Baracco and her sister, sophomore Talia Baracco.
Hailey was the unquestioned team leader on the mound for Southwest Florida Christian Academy, which reached the Class 2A Final Four twice in the past three years.
After enrolling at Verot this year, the Daily Breeze Female Athlete of the Week has blended in well with her new teammates.
“She’s fit in like she’s been here the whole time,” said Vikings coach Rick Hendrix. “These girls all get along and in this game that’s half the battle.”
Another key part is pitching, and Baracco has been doing it for 12 years, and quite well.
In a 5-1 victory over Estero last week, Baracco pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out nine.
Baracco, who will attend St. Petersburg College, has posted an 8-2 record this season with 74 strikeouts, and has allowed four earned runs in 59 innings.
The Vikings (10-3) have dropped a pair of one-run games to Naples and North Fort Myers, but appear to be in good shape for District 3A-12, already having beaten Dunbar and Cardinal Mooney by 14-0 and 12-2 margins.
“Hailey does not necessarily have the light shining on her as often as in prior years,” Hendrix said of the difference between schools. “She had to adapt to that concept and she did immediately.”
Baracco, who lives in Fort Myers, said she had some great moments with SW Florida Christian Academy, but has enjoyed her senior year at Verot.
“I’m really thankful to be here,” she said. “I knew a lot of the girls from travel ball. All around everyone wants to be here, and wants to win.”
Honorable mentions:
Courtney Anderson, senior, Mariner track & field: Anderson jumped 5 feet, 6 inches to place first at the Lady Tarpon Invitational.
Jackie Owen, junior, North Fort Myers softball: Pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout and hit an inside-the-park home run in a 1-0 victory over Fort Myers.