“If you put everything into perspective,” Falcons Coach Dan Berry says, “in terms of hitting, defense and leadership, it’s all become a complete package.”
The complete package known as Baillie Kirker earned a laundry list of postseason accolades — including this, her second All-Area Player of the Year award in three seasons — after stringing together a season-long hit parade that resulted in unprecedented statistical dominance.
The 18 home runs boosted her career total to 37, which is, likewise, tops in the Southern Section record book. But her 66 runs batted in were just about as impressive, as they were a mark that was, according to cifss.org, the section’s second-best season total ever and put her career numbers up to 143 — just 10 away from the career record.
Those numbers led to her being named the Division III co-Most Valuable Player. Kirker was also named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State First Team and voted the Pacific League Player of the Year.
“For us, it was just amazing to see Baillie perform,” says senior Caitlyn Cox, an All-Area outfielder.
With the 18 home runs and 66 RBIs came a .632 average, a 1.389 slugging percentage, 60 hits, 47 runs, 12 doubles, 12 walks and three triples.
“I just wanted to help the team, whatever came along with it was a plus,” Kirker maintains.
Kirker certainly did more than just help. Two of her most clutch efforts came against Pacific League-rival Burbank, the No. 2 team in the CIF Southern Section Division III rankings behind Crescenta Valley for much of the season.
