Junior Braelyn Baulsir has reached an athletic milestone a year ahead of many of her peers; she has already made a verbal commitment to play Division I softball for James Madison University (JMU) when she graduates from Deep Run in 2027. When Baulsir found out she would be playing softball at JMU, she was ecstatic.
“I was very relieved and I honestly didn’t know how to express my happiness,” Baulsir said.
Prior to Baulsir’s commitment, she applied herself to combat the competitiveness of the Division I level.
“In order to prepare, I have been playing on a very competitive travel ball team where we play some of the best teams and tournaments in the country who also have lots of highly competitive players,” Baulsir said.
While she hopes to continue playing in the infield, her longtime position, she’s ready to help her collegiate team wherever she’s needed.
“I am hoping to play in the infield because that is where I have always played, but I will be happy anywhere on the field,” Baulsir said.
Balancing academics and athletics hasn’t been easy, especially in the demanding junior year, but Baulsir has learned the importance of time management.
“I balance school and other activities with sports by just using my time wisely. I have gotten really good with time management and scheduling my practices and school things around each other,” Baulsir said.
That said, her commitment to the game has come with personal sacrifices.
“I have made so many sacrifices for softball like missing vacations, school events, birthday parties, my siblings games, being able to get a job,” Baulsir said.
Despite these challenges, Baulsir is excited for the next chapter of her life.
“I am looking forward to meeting new friends and my teammates that I will hopefully be friends with for the rest of my life,” Baulsir said.
