Legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis once said, “Speed kills. You can’t teach speed. Everything else in the game can be taught, but speed is a gift from God.”
For Reeths-Puffer junior softball standout Kaylee Jones, that couldn’t be more true, and she uses her speed to do a great deal for her team, particularly when she's running the bases.
Jones currently has a scorching .622 batting average with four doubles, three triples and two inside-the-park home runs for the undefeated R-P softball team.
“It’s awesome,” said R-P head coach Sarah Bayle about having Jones’ speed in the lineup. “I know that if she hits the ball anywhere in the outfield, she’s looking at two, three or even four. Not only is that good to push runs across and produce, but it provides energy.”
R-P softball standout Kaylee Jones
Jones admits that once she makes contact with the ball, she’s thinking extra bases.
“Pretty much all I think about is that I have to keep running,” she said. “I see our first base coach point to second and I just keep going. I think once I hit the ball, depending on the play, I feel like I can get there pretty fast. It kind of puts a little pressure on the defense and I think it can be a pretty big threat.”
Jones also brings energy to her team with her personality. She’s not only a great player but a pretty awesome teammate, according to her coach.
“She’s goofy and fun-spirited,” Bayle said. “I think she’s really just a great person, friend and teammate. She puts others before herself while also making sure she hits her own goals.”
Jones at the plate. Photo/Jeremy Clark
One of Jones’ goals this spring is to earn All-State honors after being named All-Conference, All-District and All-Region in both her freshmen and sophomore years.
“That’s been my goal since freshman year,” Jones said. “This year, I want to be All-State and I’ve been working as hard as I can for it.”
That’s something her coach has noticed, as well.
“She’s matured a lot as a player,” Bayle said. “I’ve noticed that this year she comes in and does exactly what I ask. She doesn’t complain about where she’s at or what she’s doing. She’s matured a lot.
Jones with Coach Bayle after hitting a triple. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“Some girls hit a bump in the road and don’t get much better. But she’s continuing to work on her game, and it shows because she’s gotten even better.”
Jones doesn’t have a set defensive position. She helps her team by bouncing back and forth between the outfield and second base.
“I’d say I prefer second base,” said Jones, who played second as a freshman and mostly outfield last season. “That’s where I normally play during travel ball, but it just depends on the team. I love tracking balls in the outfield, too.”
While individual success is always nice, Jones is elated that her team has gotten off to a hot 11-0 start, and is hoping the Rockets can keep winning and capture an O-K Green conference championship.
Jones is a valuable defender at second base and in the outfield. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“It’s been really fun,” she said. “We get out there and we know that we can count on each other. It would feel amazing (to win a conference title). I think if we got that, the bond that we have would be even stronger.”
Bayle believes the special things that Jones and her teammates have been accomplishing are starting to get noticed.
“It’s been a blast,” the coach said. “This is my ninth year coaching and fourth as the varsity coach here. I’ve seen a lot, but never a team like this. The energy is unreal, and the community is starting to see that the girls are there for each other and are picking each other up.
“We’re going to continue playing clean softball and whatever happens is fine for us. This team has a lot of talent and potential. It’s a really special group of girls.”
