Laura Bailes

Laura Bailes nee Laura Whalen

• Bats Left, Throws Left

• School Stetson University
• High School Palm Beach Gardens High School

• Born 1983 in Florida USA

Biographical Information

Laura Bailes played college softball in the US and later moved and played baseball in Britain. In the 2025 European Women's Championship, she played first base and pitched for the British team. She debuted against France, hitting cleanup and singling off Camille Foucher her first time up. She was 0-for-8 with a run, steal and a RBI the rest of the event, handling 15 chances error-free. In her pitching appearance, she relieved Sophie Willis in the 6th with a 10-5 deficit against Czechia. She allowed a hit to Anna Pavlíková and retired Marie Bullen then Nika Peerová hit into an error. Kateřina Marková, Tereza Stejspalová and Silvie Hanzalová all singled in runs and Kateřina Maříková grounded in another. Karolína Blažková hit into a run-scoring error as Bailes' team again let her down defensively. After she walked Miluška Šprdlíková, Jess Vernon relieved and escaped further damage. She was 5th in the event in putouts (15). Britain won their first European Women's Championship (having not yet won a men's European Championship) and got a spot in the 2026-2027 Women's Baseball World Cup.