PORT ANGELES — If an award were given annually to the best transfer student-athlete, Port Angeles sophomore Taylar Clark would be the runaway winner for the 2014-2015 school year.
After spending her freshman year at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan., Clark fit seamlessly with the Roughriders girls soccer team last fall and the softball team this spring.
She’ll play an important role at third base for Port Angeles in the Class 2A state softball tournament Friday and Saturday in Selah.
Port Angeles soccer coach Scott Moseley was skeptical when he heard he would have a new player trying out for the team.
“When her dad contacted me last spring and said that they were moving to town I thought it was a prank a friend was playing on me,” Moseley said.
“[It’s] rare that a sophomore transfer excels on varsity for two sports.”
Clark also was selected as sophomore class princess for homecoming, which is another testament to how quickly Clark meshed with fellow students as she transitioned from life in Kansas’ equivalent of Bellevue to small-town Port Angeles.
She didn’t play soccer during her freshman year at Blue Valley, but quickly made an impact as the Riders’ primary penalty-kick taker, tallying six goals, four coming on penalty kicks, along with three assists.
“Taylar performed very well in our PK practice rounds and was my choice to take them in games,” soccer coach Scott Moseley said.
“She is very confident with her placement and hits it with pace. She seemed to thrive in that pressure-packed scenario.
“In a normal season you may get one or two as a team, so to get four by one person is a great result. Plus, she was 2 for 2 on PK shootout attempts.”
Clark relished the opportunity.
“I love the pressure, it’s so much fun,” Clark said.
“I love doing stuff like that where I can step up and put the team on my shoulders.
“And having them want me to take the kicks, that was so cool.
“It gave me a little sense of leadership, which I loved.”
Clark has performed just as well, if not better, in her favorite sport: softball.
She’s had to fill a big role, third base is a crucial position in softball and the Riders lost All-Olympic Leaguer Ashlee Reid to graduation.
“That was a big spot to fill with Ashlee Reid’s departure,” Port Angeles coach Randy Steinman said.
“I know she plays shortstop and catcher [for her club team], but seeing her footwork and what she did in tryouts, she’s just done a wonderful job and never complained one bit.
“The way teams bunt and slap, third basemen really need quick reaction times, and that’s another reason we have her there: to field line drives, quick bunts, and she has a really strong arm to go along with it.”
Clark had to relearn the position, a spot she said she hadn’t played since grade school.
“There’s probably more action [at third compared to shortstop] because girls will pull the ball more than they hit it straight up the middle,” Clark said.
“And bunting. That’s been a lot of action for me.”
She relies on her speed to break to the ball and some situational awareness the coaches have instilled in her to make the right play.
“Having the coaches say ‘This is where you break down,’” or “This is what you do in this situation,’ has been helpful,” Clark said.
As was an early season practice where Clark was the focus.
“We had one practice where Coach [Steinman] put everybody out there and said ‘What do you want to work on?’ And they just drilled the ball at me all day,” Clark said with a laugh.
Clark also has grown at the plate this season.
“Another thing she has provided is her bat,” Steinman said.
“At the start of the season, she struggled a little bit in the nonleague games, but once we got into league she really got things going. And off the top of my head I believe she batted .570-something in league games.
“She really came alive at the end of the season, so I’m excited about that.”
And just like with the soccer team, Clark’s presence has been welcomed by coach and player alike.
“We’re really glad she’s come in,” Riders senior captain Carly Gouge said.
“It’s great to have someone as upbeat as she is. She’s always positive. Even if she’s struggling with something in practice, she works through it.
“She’s a great athlete, she’s a great player and we love to have her out on the field.”
Clark has a theory behind Port Angeles’ 20-1 record entering its state-opening matchup with W.F. West at noon Friday.
“We work really well together,” Clark said.
“There’s never been a problem, and there’s no drama, which for girls teams is a big thing.”
And what better way to cap off Clark’s first season then by coming home with the school’s first state softball trophy.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
