Taylor made the breakthrough this year.

This years group wanted to make history for the program, they didn’t only want to make the playoffs, but they wanted to win and advance, something no Mustangs team had done since 2011.

The Mustangs accomplished their goal and had their sights set even further, but Taylor wasn’t able to keep its season going this week, falling in a one-game area round playoff to Houston Heights 2-0 behind two late runs, as Taylors season came to an end in the area round.
“It’s hard to say anything negative about this season at all,” said Taylor head coach Billie Powell. “I really feel like we didn’t have our best game today, but a lot of that is down to Heights being a really good team that did what they were supposed to do. I talked to them after the game about looking at the big picture and what they did was huge. Getting back here after 12 years is a huge thing and it’s a huge credit to everyone who was a part of it.”

It was a game that was decided in the final inning, with Taylor fighting to stay in a pitchers duel. Neither team could break through until the top of the seventh inning. Heights got two runners on with two outs on a single and a walk and Laila Robins drove both of them in on a double before Taylor got out of the inning. The Mustangs tried to get back into it, but three pop ups ended a game in which the Taylor only managed two hits against a very tough pitcher.

“We had a plan of laying off the rise ball, but when its coming at you it looks like such a fat pitch and it’s hard for them to realize it’s out of the zone,” Powell said. “It’s a credit to Haylie (Jaimie), she did a great job for them of mixing her stuff up, hitting us with a change up and never letting our hitters get in a rhythm. She played a big part in why we couldn’t get going offensively.”

Taylor has continued to get better each of the past three seasons and this years success was due in no small part to the teams five seniors. The five led the way for a young team, setting the right example, helping underclassman by putting them in the right positions and keeping everyone focused and being voices in game and in practice whether the seniors were getting playing time or not.

“I love all five of them, those girls are not defined by softball, they’re better kids off the field than they even are on,” Powell said. “I can’t wait to see what they do because I know those are special kids. I’m going to miss them, their character was the backbone of this team and they did a really good job of holding people accountable and leading by example.”

Taylor will return plenty of talent next season, including a group of seven junior starters. The goal now is to build on the foundation that has been set, grow into leaders themselves and make the next year a special one.

“These girls have gotten better every year and they have a chance to take a step again,” Powell said. “It will be interesting to see who steps up and becomes those leaders that we need because they have seen that from the upperclassman before them and now it’s on them to replicate it. There’s a chance for a special season next year, we’re still hurting right now, but I’m confident these girls will continue to get better.”