Arizona softball adds Seattle U grad transfer Bailey Thompson, an All-WAC catcher from Tucson

Arizona softball announced Tuesday that it has added Seattle U grad transfer Bailey Thompson for the 2022 season.

The redshirt senior was First-Team All-WAC in 2021 after hitting .327 with nine homers. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because she is from Tucson and starred at Canyon del Oro High School, where she won a state title in 2017.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bailey to our program,” head coach Caitlin Lowe said in a statement. “She brings a ton of experience and a great passion for this game. She will add some depth behind the plate as well as a lot of pop offensively. We are so happy to have her join our wildcat family.”

Arizona already has one of the best catchers in the Pac-12 in Sharlize Palacios, but she has battled injuries throughout her career and has never been a full-time catcher at the collegiate level. She split time with Izzy Pacho as a freshman in 2020 and was Dejah Mulipola’s backup in 2021. Pairing Palacios with Thompson can help keep both of them fresh throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Thompson’s bat is a welcome addition to a lineup that has to replace star seniors like Mulipola, Jessie Harper, Malia Martinez, Reyna Carranco, and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza.