Taliaferro return gives DVC baseball a lift

Team Stats

January 28, 2016
The Vikings, who have much better depth this season, welcome back outstanding shortstop Anthony Taliaferro, who has been out since suffering a torn labrum two years ago. 
"He's exceptionally competitive and very athletic," Vikings coach Steve Ward said of Taliaferro, an Alhambra graduate. "He has a terrific arm, a great feel for the game. He hit .325 two years ago as well. He made first team all-Big 8 in 2014. We're glad he's back this year." 
Bolstering the pitching staff are former Freedom star Billy Babb, the MVP of the Bay Valley Athletic League, and former Clayton Valley standout Austin Cannedy, a transfer from Cal State Northridge who was MVP of the Diablo Valley Athletic League. 
The Vikings opened the season impressively with a 14-1 rout of visiting Lassen on Thursday. They will be back in action at home against Mendocino on Feb. 4. 
The Big 8 is exceptionally strong every year, and the Vikings, who finished 9-27 overall last season, will try to get back to where they were two years ago. 
Last year was a disaster from an injury standpoint as the player who was replacing Taliaferro suffered a torn ACL in the first inning of the first game of the season. Thus, Ward had to move someone out of position into the shortstop position, and it didn't work out too well.