There’s something that Mason Taylor has with him at all times if you follow his athletic arc. A big personality, a bright smile and a team guy.
Marian University certainly saw those traits in Taylor as he continues his athletic pursuits to Indianapolis after signing his National Letter of Intent to join the Knights.
“They felt like I brought a lot of energy, big team guy, and felt like I could provide a role at first and third being a leader,” Taylor said at his signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor may not have stats that jump off the page, but that’s not the only thing Marian head coach Todd Miller wanted in his 23rd-ranked program. A solid student in the classroom and in the dugout, Taylor has posted 35 hits, 33 RBIs, 16 extra base hits and a .295 OBP at the dish in his four years at West Noble. But he also carries a .977 fielding percentage this season, making just two errors in 86 chances. Taylor has also been a contributor on the pitcher’s mound, making six appearances with 15 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Taylor, a three-sport athlete, was a key figure as a lineman for the Charger football program. His senior class graduates as the winningest class in West Noble football history, and Taylor, despite an injury that disrupted both football and basketball seasons this year, maintained his team-first approach by being the first one off the bench to congratulate teammates, and did make a handful of appearances on the basketball court while dealing with a nagging foot injury.
“It was bumpy in the winter trying to get back with the foot injury, and I had a shoulder injury on top of that, so we’re rolling with the punches trying to make the best we can with it,” Taylor said.
On his mindset navigating this spring’s baseball season, Taylor added, “You have to come back to why did I start playing. You roll with the punches. Baseball is a tough game and you won’t always have things go the way you want them to. But that’s my attitude through all of this.”
Taylor noted that the coaching staff at Marian have eluded to him that his role with the program will likely be first base, and possibly some third, where Taylor doesn’t play much in high school, but does and will with club baseball in the summer.
“You find where you fit in and make the best of it,” Taylor said.
Taylor knows his bigger challenges lie ahead in the classroom, where he is taking on pursuit of a nursing degree at Marian. “I feel like those classes will be tough, but I like it, and the smaller classes at Marian will suit me as I work toward that degree.”