Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Baylee Howley is a lifelong Fallbrook resident, but one of her grandfathers was born in the Philippines. That makes Howley eligible for the Filipino national youth softball team, and the Fallbrook High School junior will be on that team during the Triple Crown International Challenge tournament June 24-30 in Colorado.
"I think it's a big thing for me. I've always wanted to play for something this big," Howley said.
Howley was born at Fallbrook Hospital May 17, 2004. She attended Frazier Elementary School and Potter Junior High School before beginning her Fallbrook High School years.
Lisa Stehle, who is currently Fallbrook's head softball coach, was an assistant coach in 2019 when Howley made the Warriors' varsity as a freshman. "Her work ethic is really what has pushed her to what she is," Stehle said. "It really has been exciting and fun to watch her grow."
Howley is a catcher for the Warriors. "She's got a wicked arm," Stehle said.
She's fast, she's strong," Stehle said. "She's got a great bat. She's a good all-around player."
Howley began her softball career with the Fallbrook Girls Softball organization when she was 8. She then played for Oceanside Fast Pitch before beginning travel ball with The Factory, which is based in Rancho Bernardo. She has played travel ball for five years and is currently on the 18-and-under team of the EC Bullets, which also practice in Rancho Bernardo.
Not only was Howley the Warriors' starting catcher for the 2019 season, but the Valley League coaches placed the then-freshman on the all-league second team. The coronavirus shutdown ended the 2020 season prior to the start of league play, so there were no all-league awards.
The shutdown also curtailed 2020 tournament play. Ten girls who had been selected to the Filipino national youth team were automatically given berths for the 2021 international tournament. Howley learned in March that tryouts for 10 additional berths would be held April 3 in Chino.
"My dad told me that they were going to have a Filipino tryout and he got in touch with the coach," Howley said.
Jennifer Stewart is the coach of the Filipino national youth team.
"They were looking for a catcher at the beginning of tryouts," Howley said.
The tryout session attracted between 50 and 60 girls seeking those 10 additional roster positions. "I had some good hits during the scrimmage," Howley said.
On April 7, Howley was notified that she had been selected for the team.
"I'm just really excited for her," Stehle said. "She's worked really hard over the last several years to improve her game. She's going to have a significant impact and I know that she has what it takes to be successful in that area."
Howley is one of four players from San Diego County who were selected for the team. Kaili Aqui and Kyra Chan play for Torrey Pines High School and JoJo Hebero is a Mount Carmel High School player. "I've never played with them or against them before," Howley said.
"I'm kind of excited just to play with different girls," Howley said. "It's a different opportunity."
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