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(LINSEY TAYLOR | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Former Graham Steer Ryder Taylor represented both Graham and Seminole State University during the Alpine Bank NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series held Saturday, May 23. -
(LINSEY TAYLOR | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Former Graham Steer Ryder Taylor poses with his head coach Mack Chambers at Seminole State College after securing a spot in the NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series.
Although the Seminole State Trojans played a pair of high-scoring thrillers in Colorado this week, their trip to the Alpine Bank NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series ended early with back-to-back losses.
The tournament opened Saturday, May 23, with the Trojans losing 16-15. Facing a 9-3 deficit going into the fifth inning, the Trojans rallied to even the game briefly.
They again trailed going into the ninth inning 15-11 and drew even before losing in a walk-off.
While former Graham Steer Ryder Taylor did not appear in the opening game, he pitched relief in the Trojans’ second game, a 13-11 loss to Harford Community College.
Taylor was the busiest pitcher on the Trojans’ pitching staff, pitching the final 3.2 innings for the team. He gave up three hits and two runs while inheriting a deficit.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience. Not everyone is able to experience playing in a College World Series so to be someone that is able to experience that is awesome,” Taylor wrote. “We had a great team and had all the right tools that gave us an opportunity to play in the tournament.”
Taylor’s road to the JUCO World Series started here at home in Graham. He pitched three years of varsity under Allen McGee. During his time as a Steer, McGee said he saw Taylor’s potential to play at a higher level.
“It is always a pleasure for a coach to see a player go off and pursue his dreams and excel at them,” McGee wrote. “Ryder was always a horse for us on the mound. It was awesome to see him mature throughout his four years with us. This wasn’t by accident because Ryder put in the extra time and effort to become the player he is today. We are just excited to be a small piece in his journey.”
While the season ended a few games shorter than hoped, the drive for a championship continues inside of Taylor with this week’s heartbreak fueling his determination for next season.
“Now that I know how it feels to make it there, I want to know what it feels like to win it,” he wrote. “It pushes me to make it again next year and experience winning it rather than just going to it.”
