ROCKINGHAM – Brianna Baysek, a senior centerfielder on the Richmond Senior High School softball team, has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by McNair Auto Sales.
Baysek has earned herself the cleanup spot in a powerful Lady Raiders’ lineup that’s batting .341 through 14 games this season. Aside from her help at the dish, Baysek is a staple in Richmond’s outfield, boasting a .909 fielding percentage and making 10 putouts this season. Her impressive play in the week leading up to, and at, the Beach Diamond Invitational at West Brunswick High School over spring break has earned her this week’s recognition.
Athletic Profile
Name: Brianna Baysek
Age: 18
Year: Senior
Spring Sport: Softball
Position: Centerfielder
Years on Varsity: 3 Years
Height & Weight: 5’-11”, 160 pounds
Experience: 12 Years
RSHS Academics: Set to graduate high school in two months, Baysek is enrolled in the Richmond Community College cluster at Richmond. Currently, she is taking Spanish 112 online at RichmondCC, as well as Math 172 on the college’s campus. At the high school, Baysek visits assistant softball coach Shellie Wimpey for Weight Training, and rounds off her schedule with an internship block where she helps with Richmond’s “new Raiders.”
A straight-A student who has a 4.72 GPA, and is ranked No. 25 in her class, Baysek says she chose the RichmondCC cluster to help her get ahead in college.
“By taking all of these RichmondCC classes in high school, I’ll basically enter college as a sophomore instead of a freshman,” Baysek explained. “The motivation behind that is to get a head start and save some money.”
What she enjoys most, however, is getting to help out around Richmond with the exceptional children students, otherwise known as the new Raiders. During her internship period, Baysek does a plethora activities to help these students during their school day. She notes that she “stays in class to help with schoolwork” and finds it “really interesting and a lot of fun” to help with other activities like a recent Easter egg hunt that was held.
RSHS Sports: During her three years at Richmond, Baysek has maintained not only superior grades and school involvement, but also the status of a three-sport athlete. As a freshman, she was the center on the varsity basketball team. She played basketball for the Lady Raiders until the end of her sophomore season, and switched to the swim team during her senior year.
Her two most dominant sports, however, have been volleyball and softball. Also a member of the varsity volleyball team since her sophomore year as a middle hitter, Baysek noted that volleyball takes the spot as her favorite sport to play because of the “fast pace” of play. She played a primary role in the Lady Raiders’ run of 25 straight wins during her senior season.
RSHS Extracurriculars: When she’s not involved with athletics, Baysek can also be found lending a helping hand around Richmond’s campus. She’s a member of both the National Beta Club and the National Honor Society. Inducted as a freshman and junior, respectively, Baysek has served as a general member in both organizations and has helped out with several volunteer events, including a Christmas event that she coordinated to help give gifts to the new Raiders.
“I like to utilize my role in Beta Club to help the EC kids with their transition to Richmond,” Baysek said.
When she’s not at school, Baysek works two jobs. She’s a waitress at Highway 55 (Andy’s) in Rockingham, and also serves as a receptionist for Exit Realty. Baysek is also involved with helping out at the Richmond County Humane Society, offering a hand with adoption events and any time the Society needs help caring for animals.
Hobbies: Describing herself as a “pretty chilled out person,” Baysek noted she likes to hang out and have a good time with friends and family when she “gets a break” in her busy schedule. She also said she enjoys working out with her teammates and spending time at her family’s place at Holden Beach, N.C.
Interesting Fact: For her interesting fact, Baysek discussed her involvement with the North Carolina Senate Page Program during the spring of 2017. As a junior, Baysek was still trying to “get a feel” for what she wanted to do after high school, and saw the program as an opportunity to explore possible career paths.
In the program, she worked alongside N.C. Senator Tom McInnis, and shadowed the Senator while attending Senate Chamber meetings, answering phone calls and running messages at the Senate House in Raleigh, N.C.
College Aspirations: In the fall, Baysek will attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and major in Exercise Science. Because of her expedited process in taking RichmondCC classes, Baysek hopes to earn her undergraduate degree as quickly as possible and then go to graduate school for either occupational therapy or physical therapy. While a Seahawk, she’d like to get involved in shadow programs at local hospitals to gain experience.
“I tried volunteering to see what I wanted to do as a career,” Baysek explained. “I’m interested most in helping people with disabilities, and helping them rehabilitate. I’d liked to specialize with special needs children.
“I chose UNCW because the pre-med program is really good,” Baysek continued. “And the location is beautiful – I love the beach. And Altman (Griffin), who’s my best friend, is going there, too, which will be really cool.”
Mentors: For her mentors, Baysek family friend Brandy Alfredson, of Alfredson Import and Repair, and familiar Richmond coach Wimpey.
“Brandy is my mom’s good friend, and she’s been like a second mom to me,” Baysek said. “She’s on the Humane Society Board, and she’s helped me get my foot in the door with a lot of things. She’s a really good female role model – she’s independent, a leader and gives me a lot of good advice.”
Wimpey, who has coached Baysek in volleyball and softball, has served as more of a personal mentor.
“I can talk to her about everything, no matter what it is,” Baysek noted. “She pushes me to do my best, and makes me a better person and pushes me in the right direction in school, my social life and athletics.”
Athlete of the Week Stats: Leading up to spring break, Baysek had a big week at the dish against Hoke County. In a 22-2 win, Baysek had a double, a single, three RBIs and scored two runs. A couple nights later in another big win over the Lady Bucks, she raked a solo bomb, picked up a base hit and plated two more RBIs.
At the Beach Diamond Invitational over spring break, Baysek was explosive at the plate in the opening two games. In the tournament opener against Whiteville High School, a 4-2 come-from-behind win, Baysek delivered with a two-out RBI double to score Kenzie Webb from second base for the go-ahead, game-winning run. The next night, a 13-0 mercy-rule romping of Forbush High School, she went 3-for-3 with a two-run bomb in the top of the first inning and added two doubles.
On the season, Baysek is batting an impressive .367, with 18 hits, a team second-best seven doubles, 13 RBIs and three homers.
Describe what’s been working well for you at the plate over the last two weeks.
“Lately, I’ve been seeing the ball really well,” Baysek said. “I’ve been working really hard on bringing my hands straight to the ball. Obviously, I’ve hit some homers, which is nice, but I’m naturally not really a home run hitter.
“In practice, I’m trying to be more focused,” she continued. “If I can lay off rise balls, and stay in control in the box, I’ll do a decent job.”
The Lady Raiders have a legitimate shot at a state title this year. What’s the mentality in the dugout?
“We’re definitely thinking and talking about it,” Baysek said cooly. “The team’s whole mentality is that we’re going to win it all this year. We made it to the final four last year, and it was devastating to lose. There was all this build up and we didn’t get it.
“But we’ve got a really good team this year,” she added. “We can do it. We need to win the little games to get ready to win the big games. I think this is Richmond’s best chance ever (to win a state title), and if the stars align, we’ll get it.”
Coach’s Corner: Richmond head coach Wendy Wallace noted that Baysek not only has the on-field talent, but serves the Lady Raiders well in a leadership role.
“Bri has so much natural athletic ability,” Wallace commented. “And she keeps our dugout light and relaxed because she’s the team’s social butterfly. She has grown so much athletically over the past two seasons.
“At school,” Wallace continued, “she has really impressed me with the relationships she’s built with our new students from Cordova.”
