Dominique Taylor's presence pays off for Utah Bucks

KEARNS — He could have played just about anywhere this summer, but the Utah Bucks are glad Dominique Taylor opted to put his name on their roster for a second season.

With an August birthday, the utility player was just young enough to qualify for another summer with the team. And even though the Bucks are just one game into the second annual Gates Field World Series, Taylor has already made is mark, helping his team to a 3-2 victory over the Danville (Calif.) Hoots on Wednesday afternoon.

"We were lucky to have Dominique stay and play with us another year," Bucks head coach Kellen Carsey said of Taylor's presence on the team. "He's a leader. He's been able to help teach the rest of the guys how to get ready and to compete day in and day out."

After graduating from Northridge High in 2010, Taylor played for Salt Lake Community College this past spring prior to being drafted by the Houston Astros as the 1,000th pick overall.

"I'm glad I'm young enough to be back with this team," Taylor said, "for the main reason of being an example and helping my teammates prepare for next year."

In addition to Taylor, 10 of the Bucks' roster spots are filled with players who have committed to wear a SLCC Bruin uniform in the spring.

"I want them to know what it's going to be like," he added.

Taylor jumped into the current tournament with a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball.

Facing a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning, he scooped up a hit by the Hoots' Andrew Hobson in centerfield and fired it home on a line in time for catcher Nathan Fishel to end the inning with a tag out.

The play lit a fire in the Bucks' dugout.

Cole Butcher reached base when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning and Hayden Nielsen then drove Butcher home for the tying run with an single to right field that hugged the first-base line.

"When we tied it up 2-2, that changed the direction of the game," Carsey said. "Once the score was even, we had a little momentum and anything could happen."

In spite of give up 12 Hoot hits throughout the nine-inning game, the Bucks' defense held the California team scoreless for the final six innings, and allowed the offense to come through in the end.

Nielsen, the Deseret News' 2011 4A MVP, reached base on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning and Fishel pushed him to second base with a sacrifice bunt.

Seth Rhineer ended the game with an RBI-single to left field that snuck past Danville's Brandon Woo.