For The Tribune
Playing softball and volleyball in her younger years, Taylor Reynolds didn’t even give a second thought about competing the past four years at Trinity Lutheran.
“I started volleyball in fifth grade at Immanuel, and softball I started when I was 8 years old and played in the Seymour league and then travel ball with the travel team,” she said. “I’m so glad that at a young age I picked up sports.”
She has been selected a team captain for the softball team and said she feels like her experience will come in handy in that role.
She started at third base her freshman and sophomore years, and is beginning her second season as the starting shortstop.
“I have a lot of experience — I’ve been playing for 10 years — so I know how to handle the girls,” Reynolds said. “I enjoy helping them learn. I love having the new girls out because we’ve got several girls who never played before, and I love teaching them.
“At shortstop there is a lot more ground that I have to cover. As shortstop I’m in charge of backing up third base, covering third base on a bunt, going to second base on a steal, getting the cutoffs from the outfield, so I really enjoy being the captain of the infield. You always have to know your surroundings, know how many outs there are, where the runners are.”
Reynolds, who batted either third or fourth last season, holds the season (five) and career (nine) records for home runs and said she wants to add to those numbers this spring.
“Most of them were out here (at Trinity),” Reynolds said. “Last year I hit one in the sectional against Crothersville at West Washington. Over the years, since I’ve had such good batting numbers, pitchers usually try not to throw me the big meatball because they know I’m going to hit it.
“They’ll throw it outside and try to get me to lunge for it, or they’ll throw it high, so when go up there I focus and try to be patient because if she throws four high balls I’ll get a walk.”
Reynolds said she enjoyed her volleyball career.
“I was a back row player and a defensive specialist,” she said. “I’m pretty athletic so the digging is where I’m good at, but in serve receive sometimes I struggled with getting the ball right on the setters’ head.”
She said she enjoyed helping the Cougars win sectionals the past two years.
“I had a lot of fun with the team this year,” Reynolds said. “It was a really good group of seniors, and all the girls. I made a lot of really close friendships that I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
Reynolds said she had a different approach for best of three matches than best of five matches.
“You really have to come out strong because in the three-out-of-five you kind of had a little slack, you had a little bit of room to catch up,” Reynolds said. “In the tournaments, if you lose the first set then you really had to kick it into gear and come back and win the next two.”
This past winter, Reynolds joined the basketball team.
“I tried to focus on not panicking,” Reynolds said. “They used me for my athleticism to get steals, and sometimes I could go in and guard a really good player to try to get her to stop scoring. Coach (Mike Lang) used my quickness and how I can read players and stuff like that.
“I have been blessed with the coaches that I have. They always push me to be the best that I can be and to work the hardest, and push my teammates especially.”
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Name: Taylor Reynolds
School: Trinity Lutheran
Parents: Eddie and Luann Reynolds
Siblings: Chandler, Bailey
Sports: Volleyball, four years; softball; four years; basketball, one year
Athletics honors: Scholar athletes; Volleyball-sectional champions 2014, 2015, senior award; Softball-home runs for game, season, career, all-county 3 years, all-area top-50 two years
Organizations: Student ambassador, choir, musical
Plans after high school: Attend school of nursing at IUPUI
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Q: Did you have an advantage playing at the Bollinger Athletic Complex?
A: “I loved the atmosphere at home matches. We have a lot of students that come to support the volleyball team, and they’re always loud and cheering, and its’ fun to play. I enjoyed playing on Saturdays because we got to travel and play teams like at Barr Reeve and Providence. We played really good competition.
Q: What are you looking forward to most with softball?
A: “I just want to take advantage of the season because sadly it could be my last season ever. I’m really looking to having fun with the girls, and definitely bring home the first ever sectional championship. That would be great for the team and this school. We’ve worked way too hard not to be rewarded this way.”
Q: Why did you decide to attend Trinity Lutheran?
A: “In eighth grade I began coming to the open houses and I thought, ‘maybe I’ll give this school a shot’ and I’m so glad I did. I love the teachers. They are a really good help. I love the students. I have so many friends here. I’m really blessed that I can talk about my faith with my teachers and my peers. I have bonds with girls from other schools through athletics.”
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