By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Zach Taylor may not be selected in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, which begins June 6.

Taylor is no slouch — he finished with a .339 batting average, two home runs and drove in 36 runs during his senior season in college.

None of those statistics may appeal to teams who could possibly draft the former Coosa Valley Academy baseball standout. The most important number on Taylor’s draft resume is two — the number of championships he owns.

Four years after leading the Rebels to their first Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 1A state championship, Taylor helped the University of West Florida claim its first National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II national championship June 4 at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C.

Taylor became one of the rare student-athletes who capped both a high school and collegiate playing career with a championship.

“It’s kind of nice to set the bar at two different schools,” Taylor said. “It’s a great way to end my career.”

Taylor helped the Argonauts capture the Division II title with four consecutive wins in the World Series.

Taylor went 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs in West Florida’s 12-2 victory over Winona State in the national championship game, which was televised nationally by the CBS College Sports Network.

Taylor’s two-run single to center field in the top half of the first inning helped the Argonauts take a 4-0 lead early in the national championship game.

Taylor drove in his third run of the game with his sacrifice fly ball to right field in the top of the sixth inning.

Taylor finished 2-for-11 at the plate with a double and drove in four runs in four games combined in the World Series. West Florida defeated Southern Connecticut State, Sonoma State and Mount Olive in addition to Winona State on its way to the national championship.

Taylor, who played for former Coosa Valley Academy baseball coach Kevin Oakes at the Harpersville school, said Oakes attended the national championship game to show his support for his former player.

“Coach Oakes was a real big influence on me,” Taylor said. “He was a big help.”

Taylor led Coosa Valley Academy in batting average in all four seasons at the school. He was named the team’s most valuable player as a junior and senior.

Taylor played a big role in leading Coosa Valley Academy to its first baseball championship following a series victory over Shelby Academy in 2007. Taylor finished with three hits, including a two-run double in the fourth inning, and struck out nine batters on the mound in the Rebels’ 13-1 win in the series-clinching game.

Taylor helped lead the Rebels to a 52-24 record during his final two seasons. Taylor said his success at Coosa Valley Academy paved the way for future success in his collegiate career.

“It taught me a lot about what it meant to win,” Taylor said.

Taylor, who played his first two seasons at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, helped the Lions to a 78-26 record in his two years at the school. Taylor finished with a .414 batting average and two home runs, while driving in 32 runs, during his sophomore season at Wallace State, where he was a teammate of current Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel.

Taylor, who was the Rebels’ staff ace during his high school career, pitched in his two seasons at Wallace State and compiled a 3-0 record with a 2.21 earned run average and one save as a sophomore.

Taylor helped West Florida to a 88-29 record in his final two collegiate seasons. Taylor said he was fortunate to end up on a Division II national championship team at West Florida.

“It was a great opportunity,” Taylor said. “Not everybody from a two-year college gets a chance to play at a four-year school. I had two good years at West Florida.”