By Robert Wilson
Jackson Prep softball star Taylor Caton won’t be drafted out of high school like her classmate Konnor Griffin did this summer when he was taken in the first round of the Major Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
But Caton, a senior pitcher-shortstop and University of Memphis commitment, has been a dominant player in her sport like Griffin.
Consider what all Caton has accomplished during his fabulous career:
- MAIS Class 6A Player of the Year as a junior and most likely will win the award again this season as a senior.
- Threw a perfect game with 14 strikeouts in five innings and also hit a home run in a conference win over Madison St. Joseph this year. She also threw another perfect game in her career along with six career no hitters.
- Played for Team Canada for the past two summers and helped them win gold medal as a junior and fourth place as a senior.
- Holds school records for batting average, home runs, and strikeouts.
- Recorded her 500th career strikeout on Sept. 17 this year.
- Committed to Division I Memphis after getting multiple Division I offers.
Caton took up soccer before softball as a youngster.
“Taylor actually played soccer before softball since she always had such a high energy,” said Prep coach Cory Caton, Taylor’s mom. “When she started to play softball, she would throw a ball non-stop. In the house, at the grocery store, everywhere we went. She has grown up on the softball field and on every athletic campus at Jackson Prep. Taylor has been very fortunate to be around some really amazing role models at Prep since a very young age.”
“I’ve played multiple sports – track and field, basketball, swim, archery – which I still do all those, and have played soccer and volleyball and did spirit (dance team) all my life,” Caton said. “I loved soccer, but I just knew my heart was really in softball and just being able to grow up on the softball field with my mom has made a huge impact on my life.”
Photo by Robert Smith
Cory Caton – who has won six state championships and two Overall titles in her 21 seasons coaching at Prep – has coached Taylor on Prep’s team since she started playing there in the seventh grade.
“Coaching your own daughter is much more difficult than you would think,” Cory said. “I have taught and coached her and it’s definitely not easy being a coach’s kid. Having a front row seat to her journey has no doubt been priceless but doesn’t come without challenges as well.”
“I absolutely love playing for my mom,” Taylor said. “She pushes me every day to be the best that I can be on and off the field and I couldn’t be more thankful for her for that. She is the best mom/coach/leader/role model I could ever ask for and I don’t know what I would do without her.”
Because Taylor’s parents (Cory and father Matt) are from originally from Canada, she was eligible to play for Team Canada in the Triple Crown International Challenge softball event in Westminster, Colo.
Caton hit a two-out, three-run home run in the fifth inning to help Canada defeat Italy 7-6 in the championship game in 2023.
Cory and Matt have dual citizenship in the Canada and the United States. Cory played softball at Troy (Ala.) University and Matt threw the discus for Mississippi State. They are both from London, Ontario in Canada.
“Playing on Team Canada and representing something so much bigger than yourself has been an amazing opportunity for Taylor,” Cory said. “Girls come together from all over Canada and the United States and have made bonds in a few days like no other. Winning gold for the 18U team as a 16-year-old in 2023 and having played a role in that was definitely something she will never forget.”
“Team Canada is one of the best experiences I”ve had in my life,” Taylor said. “From the top of the line competition from many different countries to the many amazing friendships I’ve made I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to play with Team Canada and represent my family. Playing with all those girls taught me so many lessons and helped me better my game in more ways than I could ever imagine.”
Taylor has continued to improve each year.
“I think Taylor’s confidence and allowing herself to really enjoy playing the game while trying not to put so much pressure on herself has been a huge part of her success this year,” Cory said. “She loves this game, her teammates, coaches, and her school so much. She just loves competing for them.”
“I’m constantly working on the field and in the weight room,” Taylor said. “Countless hours in the cage with my mom and dad and couldn’t be more thankful for all their sacrifices for my future.”
Taylor has multiple Division I offers and chose Memphis. She has been to camps at Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Memphis, and Troy. Caton has played in Texas, Colorado, California, Tennessee, and Indiana. She plays for the Louisiana Bombers travel team, now called Impact Gold National Team.
“I went on a lot of different visits and had a lot of offers, but Memphis just stuck out to me and had everything I wanted with school and softball,” Taylor said. “I love the coaches and I believe it’s going to be a really great fit for me.”
Taylor’s positive attitude shows when she plays.
“Her heart and contagious positive attitude are two of her best characteristics,” Cory said. “She is so happy on and off the field and she loves her people well. Watching her happiness for others and also serving others is something so special to see.”
Former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Prep assistant softball coach Jay Powell knows a great player when he sees one.
“Taylor is a very special player with tremendous athletic ability,” Powell said. “She has the ability to be a legitimate two-way player and play anywhere on the field.”
“You could tell from a young age that Taylor was going to be a special player,” said first-year MRA assistant softball coach Tyler Parvin, who also coached at JA for five seasons before going to MRA. “I’ve seen her take over games and beat you almost by herself. She is a very passionate player who you can tell loves to play softball.”
“Taylor has a work ethic and competitive spirit that is rare,” Prep athletic director Will Crosby said. “She has a lot of God given talent and she makes sure that she gets the most out of that talent by the way she trains. Taylor is the kind of teammate and leader you want on your team.”
“When I say this, I know I can speak for the whole team,” Prep junior infielder Indee Moore said. “Taylor is an outstanding athlete and person that Jackson Prep softball has had a privilege to know. She is kind and passionate about her sport and would do anything and everything for anyone that ask of her. Taylor’s attitude on and off the field, and her love for everyone I believe is why she has the ability to do what she does. God has truly gifted Taylor not only with her athletic ability, but leadership, kindness, attitude, and how selfless she is. Taylor has made a huge impact on this softball program. Whoever has the opportunity to fill these shoes for the years to come better be on their game. She is one special player who holds a very special place in her teammates hearts and one we will never forget.”
“The first day I met Taylor I knew she was going to be great,” Prep junior pitcher-first baseman Laila Swanigan said. “From the times we played together on elite, to school ball, and then this summer together on Impact. Taylor has shown me how much it means to be a good person, and player on and off the field. She shows this through her consistent encouragement and wants to be on the field playing with her teammates. Her selflessness, jokes, and motivation are unmatched, bringing joy to all of those around her.”
Caton has a .672 batting average, a 1.448 slugging percentage, with 18 doubles, 9 home runs, 44 runs batted in and 40 runs scored and has led Prep to 18-7-1 overall record and 8-0 in Class 6A and is the No. 1 seed going into this week. A right-handed pitcher, she has a 10-1 record, a 0.54 earned run average and has 140 strikeouts in 64 innings, an average of 2.2 strikeouts per inning, an amazing stat, going into this week.
Caton finished her regular season with a bang, going 3 for 3, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and 3 runs in a 17-0 win over Madison St. Joseph Tuesday.
She hit .650 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs and had a 0.99 ERA and led Prep to a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish last season as a junior. She was named the 6A Player of the Year.
Caton hit .475 with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs and 45 runs batted in and had a 1.00 earned run average and helped Prep to a 21-13 record and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish two years ago as a sophomore. She has named first team all-conference.
Caton is much, much more than a star softball player. She excels in basketball and track and field at Prep.
She averaged 10.3 points (second on the team), 40 steals (third on the team), 3.9 rebounds, 68 deflections (led the team) and made 49 3-pointers and helped Prep to the Class 6A state championship. Caton scored a career-high 33 points against Madison St. Joseph last season.
“Taylor is one of the best female athletes I have coached in my career,” said Prep girls basketball coach Michael McAnally, who is starting his 20th season, 11th at Prep, coaching girls basketball. “She has the ideal build for basketball – long and lanky. That gives her the ability to get deflections and steals defensively, corral long rebounds, and the ability to finish at the rim over defenders. Add in Taylor’s ability to shoot the 3 well and you have a player who is able to score in bunches and be dynamic on both ends of the floor. Her play last season was key to our state championship run, and we are eager to see what her senior basketball season holds. Her future is in softball, but there’s little doubt in my mind that Taylor could play basketball at the next level if she wanted to. We are excited for her future at Memphis.”
Caton is a state champion in track and field. She has won the discus in Class 6A three consecutive years. Caton also finished second in the state in the triple jump as an eighth grader, in the 400 meter relay as a freshman and eighth grader, and in the 800 meter relay as an eighth grader. She finished third in 800 relay as a freshman, 1,600 meter relay as an eighth grader, and 3,200 meter relay as a sophomore. Caton, who ran track for the varsity since the seventh grade, also participated in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, long jump, shot put and high jump during his outstanding track career.
“Not only is Taylor a great softball and basketball player, but she excels in track as well,” Prep track and field coach Rusty Burke said. “That’s the kind of athlete she is. Taylor competes every time she steps on the field, court and track and pool.”
Caton has also participated in soccer, tennis, volleyball, swim, archery, and a spirit dancer during her career at Prep.
Prep gets a first-round bye in Saturday’s Class 6A state tournament and plays the winner of No. 4 seed MRA and No. 5 seed JA at 3 p.m. in the second round at Magee Sports Complex. The best of three championship series is scheduled for Monday in Magee.
You mention the coach at Madison Ridgeland Academy as being Tyler Parvin. He actually is an assistant coach there. I believe the head coach’s name is Mary Odom(?). Just thought you might want to clarify that.