Former WNCC baseball player had a neat honor bestowed on him late November when Issac Taylor was inducted into the Cheyenne Post 6 baseball hall of fame.

                Taylor played for the Cougars from 2015-17 and then went on to McPherson College to play baseball.

                Taylor said it was an honor to be recognized by his American Legion baseball team in Cheyenne.

                It's a great honor and privilege to be put into the Hall of Fame with other Sixer legends," Taylor said. "During my playing career, it was something I strive to be and to receive that honor one day. Being able to get that means the world to me."

                Taylor baseball knowledge led him to four years of playing for the nationally-recognized summer baseball team. He also coached with the program for two years.

                Taylor said he learned a lot about baseball and life in the Sixer program.

                "It was hard, demanding, gritty but it teaches you invaluable life lessons that continue in my life," he said. "It's a regional powerhouse known as being one of the top programs in the country."

                Taylor came to Cheyenne from Montana when he was in the eighth grade and he succeeded in the Sixer organization, winning three state championships, being a first team all-state selection two times, and finishing in the top three at regionals twice as well as the countless trips and cities that we played in and visited."

                What made Taylor successful was his work ethic. He succeeded because of that and became an excellent baseball player and role model and that showed on and off the court during his two years at WNCC. His coaches made him the player that he is.

                "I'm short and I thanked all my previous coaches from Sixers coaches, specifically coaches Tag and Ty Lane," he said. "I talked a lot about what the program did to shape me into the baseball player worthy of that award."

                At Cheyenne Post 6, Taylor had a career batting average of .379 with 210 RBIs, 81 doubles, and an on-base percentage of .493. Taylor was a mainstay behind the plate with 633 2/3 innings logged behind the dish.

                He continued that catching and hitting mastery at WNCC where he played in 78 games over two years with a .265 batting average with 10 doubles, six home runs, 47 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. The difference between legion ball and JUCO ball at WNCC was the Cougars played in a wood-bat league conference.

                "I loved my two years at WNCC," Taylor said. "I made lifelong friends and I was able to embrace the grind and get better."

                Taylor was more than baseball at WNCC, he was involved in other aspects of the college. His wife was in the music program at WNCC where he met his wife, Kassidy.

                "I was involved with baseball, I was an RA in Pioneer Hall," he said. "I was president and founder of the math and science club. (Mu alpha sigma Kai) as well as the president of PTK."

                After WNCC, Taylor played one year at McPherson, Kansas, before an injury ended his career. He left the school in Kansas and got his bachelors and masters from Black Hills State in South Dakota.

                Taylor now lives in a small town outside of Des Moines, Iowa, where he teaches PE, health, and weight training as well as coach multiple sports, including the defensive coordinator for football as well as the head baseball and wrestling coach.               

                Isaac is married to Kassidy and has two sons, a 5-year-old and an 8-month-year old.

                From what Taylor has done in the past, the one trait about Taylor is giving back and staying busy and he definitely did that at WNCC with baseball and the two organizations he was a part of and it shows to day with all the sports he coaches at his Iowa high school.

                His advice to the WNCC baseball players is to work hard and don't waste their time at WNCC.

                "Do not waste a single rep. There's so many distractions right now that sometimes you can get lost in the big picture," he said. "So, just focus on what's next. Next pitch, next at bat, next rep. Keep climbing towards that ultimate goal. "
                During his time at WNCC, he said the hardest part was the schedule. And, it was because he was involved in so many things at the college.

                "Hardest part of college baseball is the rigorous schedule while also trying to make sure you're keeping your spot," he said. "Everyone on the team is there to work hard so no spot is safe."

                Taylor said he started playing baseball when he was three and never took a break. He was a 2-year caption, all-state selection, and was a state champion football player. Oh, he also wrestled in high school at Cheyenne East High School.

                He didn't start catching until he got to Post 6. Before that, he was a shortstop.

                Taylor said he and Kassidy talk about WNCC all the time.

                "It (WNCC) was awesome. We talk fondly of it," he said. "It was fun to have Kass watch me and it was fun to watch the music department. WNCC will always hold a special place in our hearts."

                As for being selected, he becomes the second Post 6 player that played for the Cougars to be inducted into the Cheyenne American Legion Hall of Fame. The first inductee was Pat Cheever, who played for the Cougars in 2003 as a pitcher.

                "It was an honor to be a part of the post 6 program. It was an honor to be inducted. It was an honor to be a Cougar. I often talk about how someday that I want to come back and coach the Cougars!" he said. "            It was always a goal of mine, and I always hoped I would. But at the end of the day, you just never know."