There has been plenty of on-field success for the Bryan County High Lady Redskin softball team this season and even though there is no ‘I’ in team, there are always certain players who make an impact with outstanding performances that lead their team to victory. BCHS junior Bridget Bacon was recognized as one of those players on Tuesday, Oct. 20 after being voted the Bryan County Athlete of the Month for September.

The location and award dinner was provided by The Winter’s Family Café in Pembroke. On hand for the special presentation were her parents Rachel and Glenn Bacon and assistant coach Dan Kaufman.

"Bridget is probably the most coachable player on our team," Kaufman said. "She is a good listener and takes instructions well. She is great at taking what you tell her and then applying it on the field and remembering to do it from then on. It is very easy to coach Bridget."

Bacon has been a consistent performer for BCHS softball this year, but it was her strong hitting that raised some eyebrows during the month of September. Bridget had a .441 batting average for the month, which was forty-points higher than the next closest batter on the team. She had a hot streak where she went 13 for 17 at the plate, with several of those hits for extra bases.

Defensively, Bacon is consistently making plays from her third base position and guns down base runners with her "rifle" of an arm. "Bridget is one of a few third basemen who can take away the bunt hit from a batter because of her strong arm," Kaufman said.

Off the field, Bacon is involved in the BCHS Beta Club, National Honors Society, FFA, Technology Club, Student-Council, and S.A.D.D (Students Against Destructive Decisions) - all while maintaining an A average in the classroom. Her hobbies include writing and hunting while math was stated as her favorite school subject "because it comes easily to me." Though only a junior, Bacon already plans to attend college when she graduates and study to become an architectural engineer.

Bacon is also a standout runner for the track team and feels that her speed is her strongest attribute as an athlete. She began playing softball at the age of four at Hendrix Park and has not let up since.

Bacon has played on several travel teams, and said she likes softball "because of my teammates and the intensity that close games bring. I like our team this year because of the determination of all my teammates."

Bacon, a first time AoM recipient, said "It feels great. It is a complete honor to receive this award."