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Extra Inning Softball is proud to announce that we’ve partnered with College Bound Jocks, a “Marketing Company for Athletes” that, for over 15 years, has succeeded in its mission to help those looking to play at the college level how to “understand, plan and succeed in the college recruiting process.”
We will use our editorial platform to promote these talented athletes as part of our CBJ Athlete of the Month program and today we spotlight a catcher we featured lost when she was bloodied but refused to come out and also was selected this year as a Top 50 player in the 2023 Extra Elite 100.
Here’s more on our October 2021 CBJ Athlete of the Month…
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Player Name: TAYLOR DAVISON
Grad Year: 2023
Position(s) Played: Catcher/3rd Base/Utility
High School: Richmond-Burton Community (Richmond, Illinois)
Club Team: Wasco Diamonds 18U (Illinois)
What are your team’s top accomplishments?
This is my third season playing for Coach Shawn Geary and our Wasco Diamonds team played at the first year 16U level last season. This summer we tied for 1st and were named Co-Champs at the Colorado Fireworks, and then followed it up with a great showing at the Kansas City World Fastpitch National Championship placing 2nd in a great championship game losing 3-2 to the Ohio Hawks – Lenos team. What made this extremely special was that we were able to come together as a team that was missing 4 players due to season ending injuries. I am so proud of this team, and how well we played together.
What are your top individual accomplishments?
Three recent accomplishments come to mind:
#1 is Academics: I’m proud of my grades. I have four Advanced AP Classes, and one Honors class. I have made the Honor Roll since grade school. I work really hard in school, I love my school, and I love my teachers. I have a 3.8/4.0GPA.
#2 is 2021 High School Varsity Softball: This past spring our high school softball team finished with a 83% win ratio and we were named Co-Conference Champs and Regional Champs which included beating a rival that was eliminated after they had won the previous 13 years Regionals title. I was happy to finally get to play high school softball following the shutdown due to COVID-19. My very first Plate Appearance of the year was also my first high school Plate Appearance, where I hit a leadoff solo home run to the opposite field. It was such a great feeling. We had such a good hitting team that dominated in and out of conference losing only one out of conference game to a much larger school. We had 80 runs accumulated over the first five games! It was incredible. A lot of credit goes out to our two players that pitched for the high school team…they weren’t even pitchers, but they had pitched in 10u and 12u, and they were able to throw strikes. We made a great team. In our final conference game against neighboring rival Johnsburg High School I went 3-3 at the plate with an RBI triple, and a 3 run home run to help us win 6-3. I was All-Conference Honorable Mention, and I was selected for the Hustle Award by my teammates.
#3 is 2021 Summer Travel Ball – Most recently I would have to say being the only catcher this summer catching all 42 games. Unfortunately, our other catcher was injured coming into summer from overuse in the high school season this spring. Typically, there is another catcher to carry some innings or games especially while playing several games per day. All the extra reps at the plate only battingnine9 most games really paid off. For instance, in the two tournaments (Colorado & Kansas City) I had a combined 57 at-bats and had 29 hits including seven doubles and seven home runs (including a multiple home run quarterfinal game in Colorado where I went 3-for-3, and a grand slam in Kansas City where I went 3-4 with seven RBIs). I also collected eight walks. It makes me really proud to have contributed to our team this summer.
What are your strengths in softball?
Here is what I believe I do well:
- I feel I am a great teammate, and I love when my teammates succeed. When they win…I win.
- I am very coachable, and I have a strong work ethic.
- I am a very athletic player. I work hard to keep improving my strength and conditioning. This really helps me at catching, and playing infield especially over long days and tournaments
- My measurables are very good: 71mph Overhand throw, 1.66sec Pop-time, 2.7sec Home-to-First and a 75 mph Exit Velocity
- I love to catch the most! At catcher I am proud of my abilities to block, and frame. These help our pitchers stay confident in just throwing their pitches. I also love throwing to the bases gunning down runners or just keeping them on base.
- Hitting is a close second to catching. I love coming to the plate and either starting something up for the team or clearing the bases depending on the situation.
- Finally, I love to play 3rd base also. I practice third base regularly, but spend most of my time catching so it feels really good to get some action and make some plays there.
What is your favorite softball memory?
I have so many memories that are great, and I’m very lucky to be able to say that. Going back one of my favorites was in 12U playing Northern Ice. Our team was very, very good, and we dropped our first bracket game in the Memorial Day Wasco tournament so we had to play six games on Sunday through the loser’s bracket to win the championship. We were a very good team, but it was extremely hot out and we were playing some good competition. The odds were certainly not in our favor that day. Everyone was out of water at the end of the day including the concession stands, players were near heat exhaustion, and we battled on to win six straight games including the championship. After catching 5 games in a row that day I told myself I can pretty much do anything. What a great feeling, and memory!
Do you have any softball superstitions?
Yes, I have three:
- I definitely don’t step on the chalk during warmups or when taking the field!
- I absolutely have to have Dunkin or Starbucks coffee the morning of the game, a venti iced latte with no added flavor or sweetener,
- I have to be super early for games. An hour ahead of warmups is not too early for me, because it gives me time to relax knowing I’m there. It helps me get in the zone.
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen happen on a softball field?
At one of our high school games this past spring there was a coach from the opponent team set up behind the outfield fence coaching his outfield and signaling into the dugout. I remember seeing two big dads from my team walk over and tell that coach he couldn’t be coaching from the outfield and he made his way back to the dugout. Our fans went crazy after that. That was really funny!
If you could meet anyone in the softball world, who would it be?
Amanda Chidester… “Chiddy,” she is one of my role models. She’s an incredible person, and athlete. I love hearing stories about her journey, seeing her play in the Summer Olympics and recently at Athlete’s Unlimited in Chicago which, at 30 years old, is so inspiring.
What is one thing you have learned from your coaches that will always stay with you?
We tend to set our own limits, and to reach your potential you have to aim high. That way you at least have a chance to do your best, play your best, hit your best, and reach your highest heights. Just breathe and relax, and just go for it whatever it is.
What is something unique about you?
I have to stay busy. One second I will say I just need to relax, and chill out at home, and then I’m saying “I’m bored!” I might relax for a couple hours, but you will not find me sitting around very long. That’s one reason I love catching so much…you are in on every pitch and are constantly strategizing your next play or move. I try to get the most out of my entire day.
Who is your hero or heroes and why?
Definitely my Mom and Dad. They both are very friendly, and it’s nice to see them around all of my friends’ parents, and then to hear people say nice things about them. I’m very lucky to have parents that do so much for me and our family. I know that I am lucky to be able to do all of the things I do, and that they set aside so much to give me opportunities.
What other activities/hobbies do you enjoy outside of softball?
I love anything sports related from baseball to basketball, hiking scenic areas, or just relaxing in a pool. I love going to watch our high school sports. It’s very exciting to cheer for my friends and represent our school whether it is watching our football team, basketball, or volleyball. I enjoy going to the gym and working out weightlifting, and you will find me there five days each week doing something.
If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
There are so many answers to this one ranging from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Derek Jeter, but if I had a real opportunity with anyone I would like to meet and have dinner with my grandparents who are no longer alive. I just know that they would be so proud of me, and I would love to just have them around.
What is your favorite quote or motto?
“If you aren’t willing to work for it… don’t complain about not having it!”