MAY 2 — Taylor Named MCC Player Of The Year
Junior pitcher undefeated in league starts; Hisner joins him on All-MCC team

Indianapolis, IN — It can be argued that junior Ben Taylor played better this season than any pitcher in Goshen College Baseball history.

Sunday evening in Indianapolis, the Mid-Central Conference coaches agreed with that sentiment.

Taylor was named the 2005 MCC Player of the Year by the league’s head coaches, becoming the first Goshen College player to claim such an honor in the program’s 49-year history. It was a fitting tribute to the right-hander from Elkhart, as Taylor compiled wins against every conference opponent in games that he started. The only squad fortunate enough to avoid Taylor starting on the mound was his namesake, Taylor University, and even the Trojans couldn’t avoid Taylor’s wrath entirely: Taylor entered that game in relief, striking out six batters in the final two innings, picking up the save in Goshen’s 4-3 win on Mar. 21 (see game recap here).

“This award caps what has been an incredible individual season for Ben Taylor,” said Jayson Best, Goshen head coach. “He has done nearly everything that could possibly be asked of him on the mound this season. Ben recorded a win against every conference opponent with the exception of Taylor, against whom Ben recorded a save by recording all six outs via a strikeout. This is a testimony to all of the hard work Ben has put in this off-season and season. Hopefully this is just a beginning of even greater things to come down the road.”

For the season, Taylor (7-1) has posted an ERA of 1.82 while striking out 61 batters in 59.1 innings pitched. He has given up just two homeruns, and walked just 17 batters. Taylor’s only loss of the season came against Milligan College on Mar. 3 by a 2-1 score, where a botched throw to first with two outs scored the game-ending run, unearned, in the bottom of the seventh inning.

As a byproduct of his incredible performances, Taylor was named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week on Apr. 20, coming after his near perfect game against Spring Arbor University on Apr. 16 (see story here). Taylor was able to toss his second career no-hitter against the Cougars in a 3-0 win, and came just one hit batter away from what would have been the first perfect game in Goshen College history. Taylor grazed the Cougars’ lead off hitter in the top of the seventh inning to just miss out on another piece of history (see game recap here).

As impressive as Taylor’s season has been for Goshen, senior Erik Hisner’s career in a Maple Leaf uniform is equally, if not more, incredible. Hisner — an outfielder from Bellmont — was also named to the All-MCC team after hitting .441 and cranking out five homers this season, leading the Leafs in the former and coming second best in the latter. In conference play, Hisner upped his hitting percentage to .500. Over his career, Hisner has been one of the best offensive performers in school history, already claiming the program career records in hits (204), runs batted in (156) and home runs (30). He’s currently second in doubles (38) and third in runs scored (117), while Goshen may very well have several games left to play. The award was the third consecutive honor for Hisner. He is the only player in Goshen history to win an all-conference award three times.

“Erik has been one of the most feared hitters in the conference each year he’s worn the Goshen uniform,” Best said. “What he’s done over the last two years is especially impressive, considering that he rarely sees more than two or three decent pitches to swing at per game. He will finish his career at or among the top of the list in nearly every offensive category in Goshen’s history. He has had a remarkable career.”

First-year head coach Best was also noted, coming just one vote away from taking the MCC Coach of the Year award. Depending on the outcome of the Spring Arbor University-Taylor game Monday afternoon, Goshen still could win the MCC’s North Division Championship (click here for complete story).

“I am extremely proud of both of these young men and I want to express what a pleasure it has been for me to be able to have coached them over the past few years,” Best said. “I can't think of two more deserving men. They have dedicated themselves to the game and strive to be the best they can possibly be. They have helped propel this program to the upper levels of the conference and in the direction it needs to go.”

Goshen will now wait to see who and where it will play next. Post-season schedule information will be posted on this website as it becomes known. For a complete look at the 2005 All-MCC Team, click here.