Taylor Koenig is playing in new territory this year, and, so far, it’s working out quite nicely.
Last year, Koenig played third base for the Lady Vols, but she has moved to first base this year. She says the transition is different but exciting.
“Luckily, I played there before when I was younger,” Koenig said. “So, I’ve had some experience, and that really helps.”
Koenig is from Mira Loma — a small town in California that has around 25,000 people. She began playing softball when she was young so she could be like her older brother, James Koenig, who plays baseball. The two would go to the park to practice, the competition between the two pushing both of them.
“The way the park was set up was that there was a field and then a super-far fence,” Koenig said. “Me and my brother would always say, ‘Who can hit it over the fence farther?’ … That was always a fun thing with just me and my brother.”
In high school, Koenig played for the Norco softball team, where she was a two-year captain. As a senior in 2013, she won Cal-Hi Sports All-State third team honors. When it came time to decide where to go to college, Koenig chose Tennessee over Michigan, Washington and SEC rival Missouri.
As a freshman, Koenig’s collegiate career took off. Playing third base, she started 49 of the 54 games she played. She also knocked in 29 runs last year and batted .305. Koenig’s presence was especially felt on defense, where the former Corona Angel only committed 14 errors on the season.
The Lady Vols relied heavily on Koenig in their first tournament of 2015 last week, as she blasted two home runs to match her total from last year. Koenig also batted in a team-leading 10 RBIs — seven of those coming on the final day against Northern Kentucky.
Her weekend performance caught the eye of co-head coach Karen Weekly.
“Taylor has really bought into redefining her swing and doing the things that the coaches need her to do to be that big power hitter for us in the middle of the lineup,” Weekly said. “We’ve seen a real change in Taylor’s approach to the game and understanding what the team needs from her.”
Koenig credited former-Tennessee player Madison Shipman for helping improve her offensive game.
“She gave me a whole new stance,” Koenig said. “Last year, I got really excited when the ball would come at me … Now, it’s just kinda staying calm and knowing that, if I stick to the process, the outcome is going to be good.”
Her family will have the opportunity to watch Koenig showcase her improved offensive skills. With the Lady Vols going to California to play next weekend, Koenig is excited for her family have the chance to see her play. Her mother comes to games whenever possible and will stay for weeks at a time with her daughter.
After the USF President’s Day Weekend Tournament this weekend and the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic next weekend, Koenig and the Lady Vols will have their home opener against Georgia Tech. No one seems quite as excited as Koenig.
“We have a young team and have to focus on the bigger things,” Koenig said. “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.”
