MORGAN HILL – Ever wonder how those few lucky kids get to shag
fly balls during the MLB Home Run Derby? Cory Taylor found out, and
it has nothing to do with luck.
MORGAN HILL – Ever wonder how those few lucky kids get to shag fly balls during the MLB Home Run Derby? Cory Taylor found out, and it has nothing to do with luck.
The Morgan Hill native was invited to do so last week in Angel Stadium as part of the Hit, Pitch and Run Competition National Finals presented by Aquafina. Taylor, 8, made the cut through a series of qualifiers that began in May. Each event tests the participants’ throwing and hitting accuracy and foot speed.
Taylor won a local competition in Gilroy, then took top honors at a regional in San Leandro, earning an invite to compete at the Oakland Coliseum during an A’s game in June. Taylor, a San Francisco Giants fan and one of three finalists from Northern California, placed first in that competition as well and was named the Athletics’ representative for the National Finals in the 7-8 age group.
ESPN’s Gary Thorne, the emcee for the qualifier in Oakland, gave Taylor a comical introduction.
“Cory’s representing the A’s, but he likes the team across the Bay.”
With more than 600,000 participants in his wake, Taylor flew south to compete before the June 12 Home Run Derby and enjoy the All-Star Game festivities with his parents in Anaheim. Rich and Stacey Taylor watched on the big screen as their son became a national champion.
Taylor hit a ball accurately enough from 140 yards out, ran 160 feet in 8.8 seconds and threw well to a target placed 45 feet away.
“That’s when it really all sank in, all the competitions and hard work he’s put into this,” Rich said. “I had to ask myself what the odds are of him making it this far. I can’t tell you how proud I am of him.”
Cory, who played for the Morgan Hill All-Star team that reached the Pinto World Series this month, met with American and National League players after the competition. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees spoke with him about the importance of education and “always trying your best.”
Taylor’s favorite part of the experience, though, was chasing down balls during the derby.
“It was a lot of fun,” Taylor said humbly Thursday.
Taylor developed several new friendships with his competitors, including Riggs Newell of Tallahassee, Fla. Those two rooted for the National League during the All-Star Game, which the NL won, 3-1, for its first victory since 1996.
Still true to the Giants, Taylor now has a soft spot for the A’s.
