12-07-2025
Washington softball legends to face off in Seattle for Athletes Unlimited Softball League
When the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's Seattle series begins on Friday, July 11, a pair of Washington Huskies legends will make their return to the field at Husky Softball Stadium when Baylee Klingler and the Blaze battle Sis Bates and the Volts in front of three sold-out crowds.
The two teams have struggled during the first season of the AUSL, with the Volts sitting in third place with a 5-10 record on the season, while the Blaze are sitting in last at 3-12. However, that shouldn't take any luster away from the matchup between the two former Huskies, who have six All-American selections between them.
"With more than a dozen appearances in the College World Series and a national championship, the University of Washington boasts one of the most storied histories in all of college softball," former Miami Marlins general manager and AUSL senior advisor Kim Ng said in a press release when the series was announced.
"We are looking forward to the AUSL adding to the list of historic moments for the sport that have taken place at Husky Softball Stadium, and for the Seattle fans to provide a great homecoming for Baylee and Sis."
Bates, a three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, has struggled at the plate but starred in the field thus far this year. She holds just a .211 batting average with 4 hits in 19 at-bats, 2 runs batted in, a walk, and a .461 OPS, while boasting a .950 fielding percentage on the infield.
Klingler, who was a top-three finalist for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year in 2022, has continued to mash at the plate, just like her Husky career. Her .444 batting average and 1.168 OPS are both among the top five in the league, while she's added 16 hits, 2 home runs, 3 doubles, and 11 RBIs.
