When many five-year-old girls were asking for ballet lessons, Taylor ’12 preferred to play tee-ball. A couple of years later, Taylor was joined by her sister, Lindsay ’14, on “Killer Bees,” the first Wilshire softball team, which was started and coached by their father. Even at such a young age, the Phillips sisters said they knew that softball was their passion.
Today, Taylor and Lindsay are proud players on the Varsity softball team. Though the sisters have participated in Marlborough’s softball program since they were seventh graders, this is the first year that the two will play together on the same team. Taylor holds the position of catcher and outfielder while Lindsay has played shortstop and pitcher since her days as a Killer Bee.
“I am very excited for this season because my sister and I have the opportunity to work together,” Taylor said. “I think our connection will bring a lot of value to the team.”
The Phillips sisters vividly recall the moment when they first discovered softball as a hobby.
“I remember one night as a child, my dad came up to Taylor and me and said that he wanted to start a softball program in the neighborhood,” Lindsay said. “He begged us to join and, hesitantly, we said ‘Yes.’ However, participating in this team really opened my eyes to the game.”
In addition to playing for Marlborough’s team, Lindsay participates in USA Athletics, a private softball program that requires her to practice twice a week and attend a tournament every weekend. Last summer Lindsay played for the USA Athletics 14u team which placed 4th out of 76 qualified teams in the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) National Tournament.
“I initially decided to join USA Athletics because I really wanted to pursue softball in a different kind of setting,” Lindsay said. “But playing for USA Athletics has been a great honor, for we are one of the premiere teams in the nation for our age division.”
Similarly, for two years Taylor played for Valley Madness Fastpitch Softball (VMFS), a travel team that teaches girls under 18 the fundamentals of fastpitch softball. In the summer of 2009, Taylor’s VMFS team went to Utah for Nationals and placed second out of 40 teams from around the country.
“I stopped playing with VMFS in September, right before this school year,” Taylor said. “I did this in favor of pursuing and expanding my leadership on Marlborough’s Varsity softball team.”
Varsity teammate Kerry’13 expressed optimism for the sisters’ collaboration this season.
“Both Taylor and Lindsay support the team in unique ways,” Kerry said. “Lindsay brings a lot of energy and excitement while Taylor is determined and focused.”
Practices for Varsity softball began Monday, Feb. 7, and the team is hoping to win the Sunshine League championship this year after placing second during the 2010 season. Last year, the Varsity softball team went to CIF playoffs and made it to the quarterfinals, the furthest a Marlborough softball team has ever gone.
Lindsay shared some of her personal and team aspirations for the rest of the season.
“My individual goal is to be a vocal leader out on the field and to give everyone the confidence that they need,” Lindsay said, “Oh… and beating Marymount would be nice!”
