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COLLEGE BASEBALL: OWEGO’S TAYLOR SIGNS WITH BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY (2025-01-27)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — Owego ace Conlan Taylor signed his National Letter of Intent on Monday to play Division I baseball for Binghamton University.

Being close to home just seemed right for the senior pitcher.

“It's pretty cliche, but it felt like home,” Taylor said. “I grew up going to games, all those games. The coaches are awesome and it's just a really fun environment to be a part of when you see everyone screaming let's go BU. Every time something good happens at those games, it's always a lot of fun to see and it's something I want to be a part of.”

Taylor is hoping to see plenty of action at BU’s $60-million baseball complex, which is still relatively new.

“I went to a couple camps and showcases growing up, so it was awesome getting to be in the facility and on that field,” he said.

Taylor feels his work ethic will be a plus for the Bearcarts.

“I think my hard work — they’ve got guys there now and guys in my class, they’re bigger, they throw harder, but in my mindset — I've always believed I'm the hardest worker I know, so I'm just going to continue with that and let that speak for itself.”

Owego head coach Nick Wegmann agrees.

“I think work ethic translates no matter where you go, whether it’s in the real world, playing baseball, whatever you’re doing, your work ethic can translate,” he said. “I think that’s going to take him a long way.

“Obviously, on the mound the kid’s a bulldog. He doesn’t care who’s up, he doesn’ care what the situation is. He just attacks and I think that mentality is going to take him a long way, especially at Binghamton in the America East (Conference), so carrying that along with him, bringing his work ethic with him, bringing his mentality with him, are going to be huge assets for him.”

The coach was hard-pressed to come up with a weakness for his star pitcher.

“I can’t think of one that jumps right out at me,” he said. “Obviously, there’s growing pains when making the jump from high school to college at any level in any sport, so just working through those and understanding that you’re going to take your lumps sometimes, that’s part of it. Figuring out what went wrong and trying to fix it. I think with Conlan’s mentality that’s not going to be a huge problem for him. He’s just going to roll with it and keep working and doing the right things.”

Taylor believes his baseball IQ is one of his strengths while he needs to work on his emotions.

“I’d say my IQ on the mound. I know what to throw and the right counts,” he said. “I sometimes get a little too hyped up in the situation, just lock it in and get excited in the dugout.”

Taylor’s transfer from Tioga to Owego has clearly been a plus for that program.

“He’s been a huge asset for us, not only on the mound, which he’s going to do at the Division I level, but at the plate he’s been a great hitter for us right at the top of our lineup and then as well as his leadership, leading by example, all the extra hours that he puts in,” Nick Wegmann said. “It’s a lot of work, but he enjoys doing it and does it relentlessly, so the guys see that and follow along with him. He’s been a huge part of our program over the past few years.”

Taylor follows in the footsteps of his coaches, Nick and TJ Wegmann, his brother, Patton, and grandfather, Jim Ross. The Wegmanns played for the Bearcats while Patton Taylor was a pitcher for Penn State and Ross was on the PSU roster as well.

A mainstay on the mound for the River Hawks’ varsity team the past two seasons, he has garnered several accolades, all a result of the extra time he puts into his craft, to include workout at the school’s baseball field and in the weight room, as well as various travel ball outings and some experience at the junior national tournament level.

Taylor was named the Valley Sports Report Rookie of the Year at Tioga as an 8th-grader and the Tioga County Sports Report Newcomer of the Year at Owego as a sophomore. Due to transfer rules, he had to play JV sports at Owego when he enrolled there for his freshman year.

As a junior, he was selected the Tioga County Sports Report Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. He was also a STAC All-Conference pick as the River Hawks won the STAC championship and posted a 20-4 overall record.

Taylor will major in Biology.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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