Monterey senior succeeds in school and in athletics

Published 12:39 am Sunday, May 22, 2016

MONTEREY — Bailey Lynn Book stood on the graduation stage last week with her classmates, but her thoughts were far from Monterey High School’s commencement.

“I really didn’t want to graduate at all,” Book said. “My high school years have been really good, and they’ve been fun, and I don’t really like change.”

Book departs from Monterey after a memorable athletic career, which included guiding the Lady Wolves to playoff appearances in girls’ basketball and softball in her senior campaign.

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The Monterey girls’ basketball team finished with an 18-11 record, while the softball team boasted an 11-7 mark and a 11-4 playoff win over Choudrant High School.

“(Playing basketball and softball) has probably been the most fun times of my life,” Book said. “Softball has always been my favorite since I was a baby, and playing my last game this year was really sad.”

While balancing life as a dual-sport athlete, Book always put academics first. She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school tenure named the school’s valedictorian. Book also served as a singer in the Concordia Gifted and Talented program, president of the Beta Club and secretary for the 4-H Club.

“Academics were the most important to me when I was in high school,” she said. “I would (study) first, then I would go to sports. It was kind of hard getting it all done, but I managed it.”

Book, however, didn’t just enjoy success in the high school realm, as she was a standout player for the Ferriday Gators on the summer softball circuit.

Book and the Gators advanced last summer to the Dixie Youth World Series in Monroe, La., after defeating arch-rival Alexandria 6-1 in the state ournament — a contest Book said she won’t soon forget.

“That was the most fun game I’ve played in,” Book said. “We were all screaming and jumping up and down, and it was really fun. We beat them pretty good.”

Book plans to enroll at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she plans to major in pharmacy in hopes of returning to Concordia Parish to work with her father at Book’s Pharmacy in Vidalia.

“I’ve always wanted to come back and do what my dad does,” Book said. “He’s a pharmacist, and he helps people in any way that he can.”

As for her new challenge of entering the college ranks, Book said she doesn’t plan on it being a major adjustment.

“All of my friends are going to ULM, so it’s kind of like just moving high schools,” she said.

Yet, wherever Book’s talents may take her, the former Monterey High star said her high school will always maintain a special place in her heart.