Two years with NEO in softball.
Two years named the Dudley Division I Player of the Year.
It was announced Tuesday that Rylee Bayless received the national honor for the second consecutive year.
Rylee Bayless. Photo courtesy NEO Athletics.
Her offensive numbers are impressive. Bayless was No. 1 in the country in batting average (.621), hits (118), runs scored (111), on-base percentage (.703) and slugging percentage (1.163). She was also fourth in home runs (26) and eighth in RBI (90).
The Golden Norse made it to the NJCAA Division I softball championship in 2016 and finished with a record of 54-8. Bayless was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. In the five national tournament games in which she played, she hit for a .692 average with two home runs and six RBIs.
Along with back-to-back honors as the National Player of the Year, Bayless was also as:
First-Team NJCAA All American (2015, 2016)
NJCAA Region II player of the Year (2015, 2016)
NJCAA First Team Region II Team (2015, 2016)
NJCAA National Tournament Team (2015, 2016)
NJCAA National Tournament Top Offensive Player Award (2016)
Marucci Elite Hitter Award District B (2015, 2016)
In 2015, she led the country and broke NEO school records in hits, runs, total bases and batting average. This season, she broke her own school records for runs and batting average, while setting new records in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Bayless will continue her career at Oklahoma State next year.