Swinging Through Tragedy: Washington's Baylee Parrott using senior season to remember late dad, grandfather
WASHINGTON, Illinois (WMBD) – Baylee Parrott was born to be in a sports-loving family.
Her mom Erin played softball; her father Brad, baseball. They would spend plenty of quality time in the batting cages.
He was the best. We would sit in like the backyard for hours playing catch, and then he would take me up to At Bat, like throughout the night. It could be 10:00 and I'd be like, 'Can we go to At Bat?' And he'd be like 'Yeah.'
Baylee Parrott
Washington softball player supported by friends and family
Baylee's dad along with her grandfather William instilled into her their love of sports from the pros down to the Bradley Braves.
'We are huge Cub fans. We're just big into everything, like Bradley basketball, Tennessee football. I would just go over to his house and we would just like, have, like, good quality time together,' Parrott said.'
Brad always filmed Baylee's at-bats. When she was 14, he captured every ball player's coveted milestone.
I was getting so close, but I never hit a home run. And he was like, 'Today's the day. Like you're hitting a home run. And [the video] gets a little crazy because I think he got excited. I was just really happy. I remember I pumped my fist up in the air when I rounded first base.
Baylee Parrott
In the video, you can hear Bradley seemingly will the ball over the fence, yelling 'Get out of there!'
But fast forward to March 27, 2025, just as Baylee's senior season got underway, her life was forever altered.
Family members of Washington softball player killed in Tennessee crash
Bradley and William Parrott were killed in an early-morning car crash by an alleged drunk driver near Nashville, Tennessee. The pair had traveled down to watch Baylee and the rest of the Panthers compete in a national tournament.
Baylee was warming up with her teammates minutes before the game when she learned the heartbreaking news.
We were just some taking lines for ground balls and my mom and my stepdad came over and they're like, 'It's an emergency.' And I was like, 'Oh, my God. Like, what's going on?' I walked over and then they told me, and I was just like, in shock. I fell to the ground like it was bad.
Baylee Parrott
Jan Smith Field turned into Baylee's safe space away from her new reality.
Parrott said, 'I just feel very comfortable here. It's gotten me, like, through a lot of, sad times. If I'm upset I'm like, 'Well, at least I have softball later.''
Less than a week after the crash, Washington was scheduled for their first home game. There was no question in Baylee's mind. She was going to play.
I know that's what they would have wanted, and I know how excited they would have been for Opening Day. They'd be texting me like, 'Oh, go hit a home run. Go play good.''
Baylee Parrott
With Brad and William's usual seats behind home plate left open, and much of the Washington community gathered, the game started quick, with Baylee recording the first two outs.
'Okay, I'm ready now. …I can take a breath. Like, I was so nervous. This is perfect. Like this was for me,' Baylee said with a laugh.
Then, in her very first at-bat since the crash, Baylee came through with an RBI base hit.
Like once it got past the pitcher. I was like, 'Oh, my God!' It was very scary. But it was great. I was just so proud of myself. And then seeing my teammates, it was really great, like almost made me cry. And then like, I ran over to coach. They were just so proud of me.
Baylee Parrott
Baylee and her dad shared the number 13 on the field; she keeps with her a necklace with a message from him.
'My dad actually got this for Christmas for me. it says 'Never Bunt', and it says 'Love Dad.''
She also ordered a unique keepsake on a necklace to have as a physical reminder.
'His fingerprint. Yes, just like a piece of him.,' Baylee said. 'When I get nervous, I like, grab my necklaces. So it's, like, kind of nice and it reminds me of him.'
After the funeral, Baylee left behind in her father's coffin a special memory that will stay with her dad forever: A softball from a home run she hit on what turned out to be his very last birthday. And Brad Parrott captured it all on video.
He thought it was the best thing ever. I had to write on the ball after, and then I gave it to him. It was really hard, but I know he would have wanted that ball. He loved it so much.
Baylee Parrott
This week, Washington starts what they hope is another deep playoff run; Bailey's last slate of games with the Panthers.
'It could be over next week,' Parrott said. 'It could not be. But I'm very excited, especially since we're hosting regionals. I'm very excited about that. And then I don't know, this team this year is just really special and I think we can go very far.'
With her dad and her PaPa having a front row seat.
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