For most high school athletes, senior day is the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. But for HV Jenkins High School senior softball player Bailey Dubberly, who has played for the Warriors since her ninth-grade year, her final game marked the end of a much more challenging journey, battling a brain tumor.
In the spring of 2024, Bailey began experiencing severe headaches and other symptoms from the headaches that wouldn't go away. After months of pain, 
doctors diagnosed her with a brain tumor in June. While the tumor was removed through emergency surgery and benign, Bailey was told that her senior softball season might be over before it even started.
Bailey's mother, Michelle Dubberly, stated, "She had been playing softball since the sixth grade, and to think that her senior season wouldn't happen was heartbreaking. But we just wanted her to be healthy again."
Despite the odds, Bailey was determined to return to the softball diamond. After months of recovery, she was cleared to play on October 7, 2024. Just in time for the season's last three games, Bailey made her return.
Bailey's mother, Michelle, shared her thoughts on her daughter's journey back. "When they said she couldn't play, it was tough for all of us. But seeing her push through and make it back out there was incredible. It was like nothing could stop her, and softball helped," said Michelle. "Softball pushed her to recover faster. She wanted to get back out there and play. Two weeks before her follow-up with the neurosurgeon, she started practicing again—batting and trying to regain her strength. She hoped to be released to play by October 7 and wanted to be ready.
In her first game on October 8, Bailey returned to the field for the Warriors as a pinch hitter, but she started at catcher in the season's final two games. On Senior Day, she and her teammates defeated Liberty County 11-9, ending the season with a win, and playing again was amazing for Bailey.
"It was amazing to be back on the field," Bailey said. "I was so worried I'd never get to play my senior season, but being out there with my team, it was worth every moment of recovery." However, Jenkins's head softball coach, Seth Gaspin, was slightly worried.
"We, the coaches, we were scared, to be honest. Her mom and Bailey were both adamant about her being ready, but as a coach, I was nervous about putting her in harm's way," stated Gaspin. "During the second game, she was catching and took a foul ball off the tip of her mask. All the coaches looked at each other, but then we saw her give us a thumbs up, and we knew she was good to go."
When asked if Bailey's resilience and determination inspired the rest of the team, both on and off the field? Gaspin stated, "Bailey's resilience and determination to return inspired the whole team. We all wanted to play harder for her. When you have a player who all she wanted to do was help the team be successful, she is special. She will be remembered by Jenkins softball as a player who went the extra mile." Bailey's journey back definitely involved going the extra mile.
Bailey's journey has left a lasting impact on her teammates and her family. Michelle Dubberly reflected on watching her daughter step back onto the field after everything she had been through: "When they told us she wasn't going to play this season, it was hard to hear. But when she started taking steps toward recovery and wanted to return to softball, I was so excited. Even if it was just for the last three games, I was very happy for her. She's been playing since 6th grade, and this was her final year. She loves the game." Bailey was asked how her love for softball helped her stay motivated during her recovery process after brain surgery.
"I knew I had to be patient during the recovery process. I couldn't force myself to get back out there too soon after brain surgery because I didn't want to hurt myself. It was hard, but my love for the game kept me motivated to play again," said Bailey. "My coaches always pushed me to improve, and I'm naturally competitive. That drive helped me push through, especially when my teammates came together like we did on Saturday. Ending the season on a win was really special."
As Bailey prepares for what will happen after high school, she doesn't know about playing softball in college. She's applied to Georgia Southern University and is ready to start a new chapter in her life.
Coach Gaspin summed it up best: "Bailey's journey teaches others never to give up, just like Coach Jim Valvano said, 'Don't ever give up. Don't ever give up.' Bailey was determined not to give up, and she saw it through," said Gaspin. "For other players facing tough situations, whether similar or not, Bailey shows that there's always a chance to recover and fulfill your dreams. Her playing on Senior Day was awesome, and it was a moment none of us will ever forget."
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Prep Sports Report Staff
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