Kent State University at Tuscarawas is announcing the signing of a 2024 Fairborn High School senior to their softball team.
On Monday, Taylor Shepherd signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.
Shepherd, primarily a catcher, is on track to be a four-year letterwinner for the Skyhawks softball team and is also three-year letter recipient in cross country. She is a two-time Honorable Mention Miami Valley Conference selection---as a freshman and sophomore---and was First Team All-MVC her junior year. As a freshman she batted .500 and hit six homeruns and was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year, hit .526 as a sophomore with seven homers and was voted Team MVP, and her junior year she batted .413 and belted seven dingers to set the career homerun record at Fairborn HS with 20. In 2023, she also entered the OHSAA record book in the "most homeruns in a single game" category with three. Her stellar junior season continued by tying the single season RBI record with 40 and entering her senior year she is just four RBI's shy of breaking the navy, Columbia blue and white career RBI record of 108.
She made the Honor Roll and was on the President's List in her junior year and will pursue a double major in English and American Sign Language at Kent State Tuscarawas.
Her community service activities include, helping paint an indoor practice facility for a softball hitting instructor and teaching American Sign Language to young children in grades K-2.
"Taylor will be an immediate impact player for us behind the plate and will be a dominate offensive force in the batter's box as well," said KSU Tuscarawas Head Softball Coach Larry Schall. "She has worked tirelessly to become the best she can be, is fierce at the plate and always a threat to put one over the fence. A great family support system has contributed significantly to her success. We are excited for Taylor to be part of the KSU Tusc community!"
Taylor Shepherd surrounded by her supportive family, mother Cindy, father Everett and brother Trey.
(Photo courtesy of Fairborn HS Athletic Department)