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Show Ted Taylor retired as Uintah High School's baseball coach in 1976, but his retirement from the high school baseball coaching world didn't stop him from being active in sports. Taylor is a basketball referee, a baseball umpire, a football official and a coach for a team in youth baseball league. "Officiating is the big part of my life as far as sports are concerned. con-cerned. Working a state basketball tournament is a big thrill and I refereed the 1-A and the 3-A state tournaments this year. I got to work the University of Utah's Red-White game and Weber State College's Purple-White game. I refereed games in the Rocky Mountain Conference, which consists of such teams as Southern Utah State College in Cedar City and Mesa. My goal is to work major college basketball," said Taylor. Taylor enjoys being a referee, but it can also be dangerous activity. "I had a fight in a game in Rangely and I got between two 6'9" guys, who were swinging fists and caught one in the mouth. It took 28 stitches to sew it up. I'm really cautious now and I try not to let fights get started," stated Taylor. The basketball referee, Taylor, becomes a baseball umpire in the spring and summer. Taylor has gone from the dugout to behind the plate. "You have to learn to control your emotions and you also have to learn the rules of the game. Most coaches spend so much time coaching that they don't find time to learn the rules of the game," said Taylor. "I don't like to work Uintah baseball games because it places me in a very difficult situation. I am on my guard against favoritism to such a fine point that I may not give the home team what they rightfully have coming to them." The top 15 hitters for Ted Taylor's Uintah Utes from 1966 to 1976 are: (batting average-ten or more at bats) Lowell Aycock, .553. 1971; Rick Gurr, .533, 15 at bats, 1976; Greg Watkins, .500, 1971; Ken Edrington, .500, 1968; Mike Hatch, .484, 1971; Duane Han-berg, Han-berg, .484, 1967; Dan Gross, .479, 1975; Terry Hadlock, .474. 1976; Tony Chew, .467, 1972; Gordon Merrell, .467, 1971; Ron Baker, .462, 1975; Gary Wilkins, .455, 1969; Kelly Roll, .455, 11 at bats, 1976. Cliff Harrison, .444. 1972 and Jeff Johnson, .429, 1969. Duane Merrell batted .413 in 1976. Lowell Aycock with 21 hits in 1971 and Tony Chew with 21 hits in 1972 are in first place in the hitting department for one season. Other members of the top 13 are : Cliff Harrison, 20. 1972; Duane Merrell. 19. 1976; Terry Hadlock. 18. 1976; Terel Merkley. 18, 1974; Willard Woodell, 18, 1974; Bill Loos, 17, 1974; Mike Phillips. 17, 1976; Clcgg Stills. 16, 1976; Greg Watkins. 16, 1971; Terry Hadlock. 16, 1975 and Duane Merrell, 16. 1975. Aycock also owns the single season runs-batted-in mark with 24, which was set in 1971. Loos had 23 RBI's in 1974 and Chew had 17 RBI's in 1974. Randy Montgomery. 1973 and Dnryl Colton, 1976 had 15 KRI's Dnrv HntrVi 1071 and Terry Hadlock. 1976, had 14 RBI's. The baseball players with the most hits during a three year period are Tony Chew and Bill Ixws with 44 hits. This record consists of the years of l6 to 1975. The top three year batting average, 1966 -1975, is owned by Jim Johnson at .472 and Jeff Johnson is in second place nt .449 and Craig Monsen is in third place at .439. Bill Ixios is number one in the winning win-ning department in the pitching records with nine wins, which he set in 1974. Ixiwell Aycock won eight games in 1971 and Corbin Bennion won seven games . in 1972. Jim Malone won six games in 1968 and Loos won six games in 1973. Malone won five games in 1967 and Ken Edrington won five in 1969, Dan Gross won five in 1974. Loos also owns the strike out record with 120 in 1974. Malone struck out 114 hatters in 1968 and I,oos struckout 85 in 1975. Aycock whiffed 63 in 1971 and Bennion and Ixios struck out 62 in 1973. Ioos owns the three year RBI mark of 41 in 1973, 1974 and 1975. Chew was second at 36 and Aycock was third at 36. The three year record for mast wins nnd for most strike outs is owned by Bill l,oos at 22 wins and 267 strike outs. Edrington placed second at 13 wins and Bennion nab!ed third at 12 wins. Malone placed fourth at 11. Gross pocketed fifth nt ten. Bennion Is in second place with 135 strike outs. 4- 4- Ted Taylor used to root for the Boston Red Sox, but he doesn't any more. "I have liked the Red Sox, but since the Hcd Sox are in California playing for the Angels, I root for everyone. I am n connoisseur of good baseball. (The Boston Red Sox traded Fred Lynn nnd center fielder Hutch Holson, third Imsrman and Rick Burleson, shortstop, to the California Angels during the off season). My favorite manager is Billy Martin of the Oakland A's. He's got guts enough to say what ho thinks. That 's what caused him to manage five different teams In ten years," said Taylor, Martin has managed tho Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Hangers, New York Yankee and Oakland A's. |