Taylor Fabing had no inclination to play softball again. Fabing, a 2013 San Benito High graduate who played two years at Pima Community College in Arizona, didn’t receive any offers after the 2015 season ended in early May. That was OK, though, because Fabing had a terrific season, as she ranked among the team’s leaders in several offensive categories.
“I was content because I finished the season well, and it didn’t bother me that I didn’t have any offers to play,” she said. “If I had a terrible sophomore season, I would have wanted to keep on playing of course, because no one wants to end their season on a bad note. But I didn’t have any options, so I kind of put softball out of my mind.”
However, softball was brought back to the forefront after Fabing received a call on Aug. 5 from Arizona Christian coach Trisha Thurston, who saw Fabing play firsthand this past season as the former coach of Glendale Community College, which plays in the same conference as Pima.
“When coach first contacted me, I didn’t know it would get this far to be honest,” Fabing said. “But she was serious about having me on her team.”
From there, it was a mad scramble for Fabing and her parents to get all of her paperwork and transcripts to Arizona Christian, a NAIA program in Phoenix. Another tough part of the equation was on the mental side, as Fabing had all but acknowledged that her softball career was over. Now, on a moment’s notice, it had been resurrected.
“I put softball away and didn’t think about it anymore,” Fabing said. “This all happened pretty quick, and I’m pretty excited to go out there and get things started again. But it’s been a pretty stressful week of having to make quick decisions of deciding to go or not to go. I still have to get classes by Monday (Aug. 17) and take care of some other things, but I’m going.”
Fabing said the team starts conditioning workouts next week before fall-ball practice starts in the end of September. It’s not a surprise Thurston wanted Fabing on her team. In four games against Glendale, Fabing went 2 for 7 with a home run and two RBIs.
The first baseman finished the season with a team-high 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 36 walks, 58 RBIs and .702 slugging percentage. Prior to receiving the call from Thurston, Fabing was planning on taking a couple of classes at Gavilan College and working.
Now she’s got two more years of softball to play, and the possibilities in Phoenix are endless. Fabing realizes she might find another passion at Arizona Christian, and is thankful she has another opportunity to play college softball.
“Everything worked out for the better,” she said. “I’m excited to start the next part of my life.”
