What a softball career Sis Bates has had… and it’s not over yet.

• travel ball national champion with the Firecrackers in 2016… check.
• Three-time All-American at the Univ. of Washington… check.
• member of Team USA and took 1^st place at the 2023 WBSC World Cup & Pan American Games… check
• Director of Player Development at her alma mater, UW… check
• pro career with the AUSL Volts and still playing… check.

More than a decade ago, I was at Student Sports out of Torrance, Calif. and running the company’s softball website.

In 2014, Sis, then still known as Nicole Bates to many – mostly those outside her family as her mother, Michelle Heddon, was also nicknamed “Sis”—was a sophomore at Ceres (Calif.) High and sent me a Recruiting Profile detailing her recent past back then, what she hoped to accomplish in the future and other fun info.

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SIS BATES RECRUITING PROFILE

Originally received Jan. 23, 2014

Name: NICOLE BATES
High School: Ceres High School
City: Ceres
ST:  Calif.
Grad Year: 2016
Club Team: Firecrackers – Tony Rico
Height: 5’4”
Primary Position: SS
Secondary Position: 2B

Have you committed to a college?
University of Washington.

What did you base your commitment on?
I’ve wanted to play for UDUB since they won the championship in 2009. I love Seattle and have family there.

I want to major in Nursing, where UDUB has been ranked #1 since 1984. Coach (Heather) Tarr and the entire coaching staff feel like family.

UDUB has been ranked in the top 25 pre-season rankings for the last 20 years, which I believe means we will have a shot at another title every year. What could be better?!!!

What were your stats from this past year (2013)?
As a freshman I earned All WAC (Western Athletic)conference 1st team & team MVP in softball. The same year I earned All WAC conference first team & team MVP in basketball.

I was invited and participated in two On Deck (Allister) NorCal Jamboree camps and once to their National Camp. I did not attend the national camp because I verbally committed to UDUB just prior to the event.

I played for Nor Cal Firecrackers – Baisdon where we took 5th at Nationals as a U12 and 5th at premier as a younger U14.  I played for Coach Mike Baisdon from the age of 9 until this past fall (2013) when I joined Firecrackers 18 Gold – Rico. I travel 300+ miles every weekend for practice and games.

What is your favorite bat?
Louisville Xeno. I like the feel and the consistency of pop off the bat.

What bat does your team use? What bat do you use?
My entire team uses Louisville bats and gloves.

What is your favorite brand of cleats?
Mizuno.

What is the uniform brand you prefer?
Gluv.