Message from Assistant Director of Sports Information Trevor Wenners: Learn about LaGrange College athletics through the wisdom of our experienced student-athletes. Our alumni recount the joys, challenges and benefits of wearing the Panther uniform during their collegiate days.
Taylor Long was a competitor in every sense of the word.
Long was only at LaGrange College during her junior and senior campaigns, but she accomplished more on the softball field during those two seasons than most student-athletes do in their entire four years.
|
The Gray, Georgia, native was a superb leadoff hitter, elite base runner and an outstanding shortstop. Long was named to the USA South West Division First Team in 2019 and she earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from LaGrange in May 2020.
"Taylor has always been the player to make the diving play, steal the next base or get on base in clutch moments," said rising senior softball player Hailey Jones, who played two seasons alongside Long. "We never heard a prideful work come out of her mouth."
Long's 2019 season will go down as one of the best and most complete in program history. She led the team in batting average (.482), on-base percentage (.508), slugging percentage (.643), hits (54), runs (35) and stolen bases (25). The young woman ranked third in the USA South in batting average, third in stolen bases, eighth in on-base percentage, tied for ninth in hits and 10th in runs.
The incredible student-athlete started all 32 games, tallying at least one hit in 28 contests. She finished with 17 multi-hit efforts, a trio of three-hit performances and three four-hit games. Defensively, she recorded the second-most assists (62) on the team.
"Taylor was an outstanding player, one of the best shortstops that I have been able to see play the game and had a huge impact on the team," said Olivia Wolfe '16 '18, who was a star LaGrange softball player in 2014 and 2015. "She was a leader on and off the field and we all could see the passion that she had for the game."
On March 23, 2019, Long finished 4-for-4 in the batter's box, with four stolen bases and two runs, in a 9-3 victory at Covenant. The four stolen bases are tied for the most in a single game in the program's record book.
|
During her senior campaign, she was perfect at the shortstop position, finishing with 34 assists, 19 putouts and no errors. Long went 3-for-4, with three RBIs, three runs, a triple and a stolen base, during an 18-1, five-inning win over Mississippi University for Women on Feb. 23.
"Taylor is an overall great person and easily coachable," said Wolfe. "She always wanted to make herself better. If ever in a tough position, Taylor was always the one that we wanted to be up to get the game-winning hit or get the last out in the inning on defense because we knew she was going to give it 100-percent effort. She did whatever she had to do to help the team win."
The Panthers compiled a 23-22 overall record and an 11-7 mark in the USA South during Long's two-year career. She ranks second in program history in career batting average (.428), second in on-base percentage (.458), fifth in slugging percentage (.560) and 11th in stolen bases (29).
Long ranks first in school history in single-season steals (25), second in batting average (.482), fifth in on-base percentage (.508) and seventh in slugging percentage (.643). All four of those records took place during the 2019 season.
"Taylor was extremely quick at shortstop and always knew where my throws were going when I was behind the plate," said catcher Sydney Hodorff '19, who played alongside Long during the 2019 season. "She was also clutch at the plate when we needed it."
Long took some time to reflect on her playing days and what she will remember the most 10 years down the line.
|
Q: What did you learn as a LaGrange Panther?
A: I learned that being a Panther, we are a part of a big family that guides us toward success. My coaches pushed me as a ball player but made sure that I stayed on track in school. The education came first and that is what I loved about being a Panther. It was not just about softball. It was about education, health and then the amazing game.
Q: What advice would you give an incoming freshman on the LaGrange softball team?
A: I would encourage them to give 110 percent all the time. We never know when our last day on a field will be. Unfortunately, my collegiate career got cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I know that I put everything that I had into my last four years playing. Most importantly, we need to have fun and respect our coach, teammates and fans.
Q: Ten years from now, what do you think you will remember from your time as a LaGrange student-athlete?
A: The support that I had during my playing career, along with the family and memories that I created. I know for sure that I will always remember COVID-19 taking my last season and my last semester in college. At the same time, I know that I had the best time playing for LaGrange as a Panther. I will miss it every day.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
-
For continuing coverage of Panther athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
