Former star Valley Central Taylor Concklin had to be talked into playing for SUNY Orange this season by coach Shana Madura.
Concklin, a two-time Varsity845 first-team outfielder, transferred from Division II Mercy College to Orange for personal reasons and really thought she wouldn’t take the field again.
“I’m glad I chose to play,” Concklin said.
Especially after the performance she put up on Thursday. Concklin went 7-for-8 with 10 RBI, a pair of three-run homers and a no-hitter as Orange swept SUNY Westchester in a Mid-Hudson Conference doubleheader in Middletown by scores of 10-0 and 11-0. She went 4-for-5 with three RBI in the first game.
In the second game, Concklin struck out five in her no-hit effort, and went 3-for-3 at the plate with two three-run homers and seven RBI.
“It’s awesome, playing softball really makes the stresses go away, the papers and all that stuff,” Concklin said. “I can just go out there and play my heart out. It clears my head. It’s a great feeling, but for me, I don’t care if I go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4. As long as we win.”
Concklin said she is studying criminal justice at Orange and will graduate with an associate’s degree in the fall. She plans on pursuing a job in law enforcement.
“It’s been great to go out there and prove myself again,” Concklin said. “I had to get some of the rust off, but I still love the game, and I think I’m better off that I came home. I defintely made the right decision.”