Rising Star: Is Bailey Dowling The Best Shortstop In Illinois?

Gatorade Illinois Softball Player of the Year Bailey Dowling is making a strong case for best shortstop in Illinois.

Jul 11, 2018 by Chez Sievers

Rising Star: Is Bailey Dowling The Best Shortstop In Illinois?

Rising high school junior Bailey Dowling is one of the top shortstops in her home state of Illinois, but being social wasn’t something she was very interested in as a child.

Well before Dowling became a prized verbal commitment for Alabama's softball program, her mom signed her up for soccer and eventually her future sport of choice, much to the chagrin of Dowling at the time.

“I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to meet new people because I didn’t like change. But she made me go," she said.

After hitting off the tee and playing catch, Dowling couldn’t get enough.

“I loved it. Three or four years later we put together a team out of the players in my community,” she explained.

As Dowling’s talent grew, she found herself always playing on older teams. Unfortunately, some of the older players on the 16U team she joined preyed on Dowling’s reserved and soft-spoken nature, muddling inside jokes under their breath and making her feel very uncomfortable. The older click left Dowling feeling mistreated and somewhat bullied. After talking with her parents and coaches, they decided to change teams.

They felt that the Bandits would be the right team.

“I’ve always been nervous about changes,” Dowling said. “Our first practice was in this dome. [Ramsey Harkness] said jump right in. He would hit them and they would be really hard plays.” Much to everyone’s surprise, she made every play.

Nerves nearly got the best of her when she was being recruited.

“It’s always been really nerve-racking,” said Dowling, who committed to the Crimson Tide in 2016. “Even when [Alabama coach Patrick Murphy] would come to my games, I would strike out and be like, ‘No, this isn’t what I want to do.'”

But over time, she learned that there was nothing for her to be nervous about.

“I just told myself just go out there and play because it’s fun,” she said.