Several players have starred in the circle, or at the plate. Not many are as dominant at both as much as Layne Bailey. The Dawson County senior pitched – and hit – her way to BLITZ Softball Player of the Year honors for 2023.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 17-9 Record
• 1.80 ERA
• 164 K, 18 BB
• 0.971 WHIP
• 162.2 IP
• .345 AVG (40 Hits, 116 AB)
• 4 HR
• 19 RBI
• 9 2B

Layne Bailey was awesome in the circle – check the numbers. 17-9 record with a 1.80 ERA and 164 strikeouts against just 18 walks in 162.2 innings of work. Her 0.971 WHIP was fantastic. At the plate, she went 40-for-116, good for a .345 average. She put her power on display with 4 homers, drove in 19 runs, and added 9 doubles.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Layne Bailey – 50 pts (5 1st-place votes)
2. Gracie Gladding – 37.75 pts (3)
3. Peyton Gaylor – 32.5 pts (4)
4. Mili Watts – 31.25 pts (3)
5. Logan Fain – 21.5 pts (1)
6. Desiree Trudel – 20 pts (1)
7. Jenna Rapp – 14 pts
8. Laura Mauldin – 5.25 pts

Voting included our 17-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

A couple of years ago, Bailey had a 1st-place vote and finished 5th in the POY voting. Last year, she wasn’t a finalist for it. Now, she took 5 1st-place votes to win it. It didn’t come easily, as the voting panel was split between Bailey and 5 others, as 6 players took 1st-place tallies. Gracie Gladding had a few, Peyton Gaylor had 4, Mili Watts 3, and Logan Fain and Desiree Trudel one apiece.

HISTORY OF SOFTBALL POY

• 2023 – Layne Bailey – Dawson Co SR P
• 2022 – Jacy Ayers – Banks Co SR P/OF
• 2021 – Carson Hobbs – Commerce SR 1B/P
• 2020 – Madi Cronic – Banks Co SR SS
• 2019 – Tybee Denton – Banks Co SR P/DH
• 2018 – Jaycie Bowen – Banks Co SR 1B/P
• 2017 – Jessica Morgan – White Co SR C
• 2016 – Paige Cooke (Habersham SO SS) & Emma Whitfield (Stephens SO P)
• 2015 – Laken Chambers – Union Co JR P/1B
• 2014 – Laken Chambers (Union Co SO P/1B) & Jessica Morgan (White Co FR C)
• 2013 – Georgia Webb – Habersham SR OF/P
• 2012 – Jenna Abbott – Dawson Co SR P
• 2011 – Angie Hughes – Union Co SR P
• 2010 – Stephanie Satterfield – White Co SR P/1B
• 2009 – Stephanie Satterfield – White Co JR P/1B

Layne Bailey is the first Dawson player to win the hardware since the legendary Jenna Abbott in 2012. Bailey is the seventh straight senior to claim it, which continues to make it a rotating award. Each of the past 3, and 13 total have been pitchers.