Player Profile: Taylor Borchers
Original photo credit: Tracy Henwood
The Fox Valley Association is known for churning out some of the top talent in Wisconsin on a yearly basis. Schools like Kimberly, Appleton North, and Oshkosh North have become baseball factories and provided an influx of gifted players in recent times. Appleton North infielder Taylor Borchers will headline the newest crop of FVA players moving into bigger roles when the season gets underway in the spring.
Borchers, a Gonzaga University recruit, burst onto the scene during his sophomore year. He earned regular playing time as an underclassman and was named 2nd Team All-FVA at second base. He built on that performance last year and earned 1st Team All-FVA honors as a junior.
The Lightning lost some of their best players to graduation last year, but that is nothing new for the program. They seemingly lose top-tier talent every season, only to be replaced by a new group of equally gifted ballplayers the next spring. Borchers and his returning teammates will try to do the same this season.
“This year Appleton North is expected to have plenty of talent all across the field. We have about six returning players, about four everyday starters,” he said. “Overall as a team our expectations have not changed [this year], all of us are ready for the exciting run to state.”
While the school’s first trip to the state tournament since 2012 is the goal this year, the Lightning have been knocked out of the playoffs in the sectional semifinals two years in a row. If they get back this season, Borchers says that they’ll give it their all in an effort to finally get over the hump.
“The past two years have been hard not only for the players, but also the coaches. When we get back to the sectional semifinals, not only me, but the rest of the team will play their hearts out the way they have for the past two years. Nothing will change, but our work ethic and passion for the game will remain the same,” he said.
Playing in the FVA is typically a very difficult affair. The competition for a conference title is tough and the champion often ends up being one of the best teams in the state. Teams from the top of the standings to the bottom have talent that would be key players for the majority of schools statewide.
“The FVA is tough conference to play in. It has produced many college athletes in its history. I truly do believe that it makes me a better player and a person, and even the others on the team better overall players,” Borchers said. “There’s just something about competing against others around the North-Eastern part of Wisconsin that changes you overall.”
In a conference filled with NCAA Division 1 commits, Borchers stands out as one of the best. He’ll play at Gonzaga next year. His decision to commit to the Bulldogs was an easy one, he said.
“The main factor that led me to choose Gonzaga was the coaches. They are such a great group of guys that truly care about their players on and off the field. One big difference I saw when I was there was that all of the players stay together all the time, they all care about each other. They don’t just have a team, they have a family,” he explained. “Another big factor that led me to choose Gonzaga was the academics. Gonzaga is such an astounding school to study at. All of these reasons made it a no-brainer to make the decision to head over to the West Coast.”
As is becoming the norm for the top players in the state, Borchers spent most of the summer traveling around the country playing in showcase tournaments. His season with his team, the GRB Rays, helped him gain experience playing against elite talent in front of scouts and coaches.
“Summer ball was an unforgettable experience, our team had all the talent imaginable. Even though we were only home for three days in a matter of two months, traveling the entire Midwest all summer was something I will look back on and be glad I got the opportunity to play for the GRB Rays. They truly have very determined coaches that know what they are doing. Not sure where I would be or what I would be doing if it was for the guys there, they made my dream come true and I thank them for that,” he said.
If history is any indication, the FVA title race will be tightly contested again this year. With not much separating the top teams, the championship can be decided by the slimmest of margins. Appleton North figures to be in the mix, but it will be up to Borchers and his teammates to achieve their goals in the conference and beyond.
