BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School seniors Takeirra Bakken and Masey Padgett not only didn’t want their days of playing softball to end at BHS. They didn’t want their days of playing together to end.
They’ll continue to take the diamond together as teammates as both signed letters of intent to play at Florida State College at Jacksonville during an April 28 ceremony in the BHS media center.
“I’m really excited and look forward to it, especially playing with my best friend, Takeirra,” said Padgett, who plays catcher. She added, “It’s crazy to think that we’re actually going to go to college together.”
Bakken, who plays first base, said, the opportunity is a dream come true.
“We’ve always talked about it since sixth-grade school ball — that we wanted to play together (in college),” she said. “We finally get to do it.”
Head Coach Kaylan Taylor, who has now seen two players sign to play at the next level in each of her two years at BHS, said, “We know how badly they wanted to continue playing softball, so to see them accomplish this goal is just an incredible experience.”
Bakken said FSCJ felt like the right fit for her after she and Padgett went to a workout there.
“I just fell in love with the facilities and the girls there and just how they run things,” Bakken said.
Padgett said, “When we went over there, they were just really accepting (of us) and had a real warm nature. Everything was just really nice. We just enjoyed it.”
Bakken has been one of the Tornadoes’ best hitters the past three years, ranking in the top three on the team in batting average and RBI. As a sophomore, she batted .421 (second on the team) with a team-high 23 RBI. She also led the team in doubles (6), triples (2) and home runs (3).
During her junior year, Bakken batted .456 (second on the team) and led the team in RBI (29), triples (4) and home runs (3). She also hit five doubles.
Bakken batted .460 this season, which was third best on the team. Her 25 RBI ranked second, while she led the team in doubles (8) and home runs (5).
“Watching her swing and watching the ball come off her bat and the power she has — it’s amazing to see how strong she is,” Taylor said.
Taylor said what’ll help Bakken at the in college is her ability to work through struggles at the plate and never let them affect her mentally.
“She’s that kind of athlete who knows that she’s still good enough,” Taylor said. “She’s going to keep working. Her work ethic is very good. I think that will help her moving on to the next level.”
Bakken indicated how important that work ethic is when it comes to adjusting to playing collegiately. She said her goal will be to do what it takes to get better every day.
“Put in extra work — that’s my main focus,” she said.
She doesn’t know what position she’ll wind up playing defensively, but Bakken isn’t hesitant to play wherever FSCJ coaches need her.
“I’ve always been a good learner, so I can take advice and knowledge from coaches to play anywhere on the field,” Bakken said.
Taylor said the Blue Wave are getting a player who’s proven to be a leader.
“When teammates are down, she keeps them up, even when she’s having a bad game,” Taylor said. “She’s just an all-around great teammate.”
Padgett, like Bakken, has been one of Bradford’s better offensive players the last three seasons. As a sophomore, she batted .377, which was fourth on the team. She had seven RBI, four doubles and one homer.
As a junior, Padgett batted .444 (third on the team) with 28 RBI (second on the team). She led the team in doubles with seven and was second in home runs with three. She also hit two triples.
Padgett batted .406 this season, which was fourth on the team. She was second on the team in doubles (4) and third in RBI (24). Padgett also hit one homer and one triple.
“She’s been a big part of our offense,” Taylor said, adding, “If there are runners on, she’s going to move them around or score them and then put herself in position to be scored by the next batter.”
As for her play behind the plate, Taylor said Padgett is good at controlling base runners as well as being able to handle her pitchers, even if they’re much younger, as was the case with a couple of pitchers this season.
“She’s been a very good encourager and a very good team player, motivating (the pitchers) and calling time on her own if they’re struggling,” Taylor said. “She goes and talks to them and tries to settle them down and give them the confidence they need.”
Catching may not be the easiest position to play, but Padgett realizes it’s something she’s good at, saying she’s proven that she knows how to perform under pressure.
“I took forward to taking that to college,” she said.
Padgett said to succeed in college, she needs to have confidence and a belief in her abilities.
“I think I’m definitely going to get better mentally and definitely go into every game thinking no one’s better than me,” she said.
Both players would love to have an opportunity to play at a bigger school following two years at FSCJ.
“That’s top tier for me,” Bakken said. “I’ve always wanted to play at a university with a bunch of students. It would literally be a dream come true.”
Padgett said, “It would be amazing. I’ve always dreamed of playing D-I. There are just a couple of stops before that.”
For now, though, the players’ thoughts are on playing for the FSCJ Blue Wave. Padgett said stepping onto the field for the first time at FSCJ will be a surreal experience, while Bakken expects to be nervous.
Nervousness aside, Bakken will enjoy the moment. She’s been waiting for it.
“I’m just very emotional and excited to finally open a new door to my new beginning,” Bakken said. “That’s what life is after high school.”
Taylor believes the players will have no trouble adjusting to college.
“I think they’re going to do really well at the next level,” she said. “They’ve played since they were really little, and they’ve played together, so getting to go together, I think, is going to really help them settle in.”
