Tracy Bale Photo
When anyone asks me why I still enjoy “working” at my age, it’s an easy answer. It’s the people I get to meet and share stories about, especially high school athletes who are so full of enthusiasm and passion for their sport.
But what those young athletes probably often don’t realize is how they inspire me or sometimes help rejuvenate me.
Taylor County junior basketball player Grace Bale is someone I started interacting with on social media about 18 months ago as I paid attention to her career and got to meet for the first time last summer.
Her dream has always been to be a college basketball player and she’s had a chance to visit several colleges already and chat with numerous college coaches.
She had a team-high 534 points last season when she averaged 16.2 points , 2.7 rebounds, 2.7n steals and 2.5 assists per game for Taylor which won a school-record 27n games and lost 63-60 in overtime to Bethlehem in the 5th Region title game. She shot 32 percent from 3-point range with a team-high 46 treys and was a 75 percent shooter at the foul line who made 160 of 213 free throws.
She set three school records: Most points by a sophomore, most made free throws (20) in a game and most made free throws in a season at 160.
Bale now has 882 points in two varsity seasons and has made 277 of 359 free throws in two seasons as she had a great knack for drawing contact as she drives inside despite her slight frame.
It has been a rough couple of weeks for various reasons for me but I got to have lunch at Melton’s Deli with her and her parents, Pam and Tracy. Not only did we have lunch, but they also brought me a case of Ski — my favorite drink — and a Ski visor which certainly made me feel brighter.
But what I liked best was just getting to talk to the Taylor junior and seeing that infectious smile she still has despite missing summer AAU basketball because of a knee injury. It’s no surprise she’s ahead of schedule with her rehab based on her work ethic.
Talking with Grace and her parents took my mind off other things and that was a huge relief.
It’s always fun to watch her play because she’s SO competitive. She pushes herself constantly.
But on this day, I was happy Grace and her parents took time just to visit with the old sports guy and make his day a lot brighter.
