MSUB SPORTS – Montana State University Billings catcher Taylor Anderson has found success at every level of softball so far but her real super power is a steadfast determination to conquer any obstacle that stands in her way. Right now, she is simultaneously managing type 1 diabetes, played a collegiate sport, and working toward a degree in health and human performance.
 
"Even though I've never actually played softball with another athlete with type 1 diabetes that I am aware of, I never considered that it was something that would keep me from doing," Anderson said.
 
Playing Division II softball doubleheaders while managing her blood sugar levels is no small feat, but her passion for the game is what fans see on the field. Some might consider diabetes to be a disability, but Anderson refuses to believe it and continues to compete at a high level. She posted the fourth best batting average on the team in her first season with the Yellowjackets in the spring.
 
Anderson's softball career began at a very young age. With the support and encouragement of her parents Debby and Jeff, her younger brother Parker, and her grandparents Judy and Jerry, she started out in t-ball.

When she turned eight years old, her coach suggested trying on the catching equipment for the first time. After that, she was completely hooked on the sport.
 
Anderson grew up in Maple Valley, Washington and attended Tacoma High School, where she collected numerous accolades for her hitting and fielding prowess. In 2015, she helped her team to the 4A State Championship. In 2017, she was named team and league most valuable player as well as a Seattle Times all-star. Anderson played in tournaments around the western United States, including Colorado and California. It was at these tournaments that she began to draw interest from college coaches.
 
"I met a college coach in Colorado that started asking me about the possibility of playing beyond high school," said Anderson. "After that, I knew I wanted to keep playing."
 
A strong student, Anderson set her sights toward college. She posted a blistering .625 batting average as a senior at Tacoma and subsequently chose North Idaho College to continue her athletic career. Anderson hit .418 in her first season with nine doubles, three triples, and just one error in 163 total innings. She also led the Cardinals to the NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference) championship and the team rattled off 23 straight victories to take the crown over Lower Columbia College. The following year, she marked another strong effort and with six home runs and 36 runs batted, helped North Idaho College to another NWAC Championship over Yakima Valley Community College.
 
With a desire to keep moving up the ladder of success on and off the field, Anderson transferred to MSUB to pursue her degree in health and human performance and quickly proved she belonged. She appeared in 15 games with 13 starts at a mixture of catcher and designated hitter and connected for three multi-hit games with a .308 batting average. She also finished fourth on the team with 10 runs batted in and recorded five putouts on January 31 against Academy of Art. Her positive momentum came to a swift halt on March 16, when the global health crisis related to COVID-19 shuttered collegiate sports across the country. The softball team had just completed a four-game series at Western Oregon University and faced a 14-day recommended quarantine upon landing in Billings as a precautionary measure.
 
"It was heartbreaking to have the first year with my new team cut short," Anderson said. "I felt we had a lot of potential and I was really happy with our team chemistry." Despite the setback, Anderson says she will be ready when the Yellowjackets return to play. She attributes her positivity and love for the game to early support she received from her parents. "My mom and dad always encouraged me not to feel pressure when I am out there and to just have fun. I took their advice."
 
Due to her type 1 diabetes, Anderson's game day routine includes a lot more checklist items than the average student-athlete. According to Mayo Clinic, type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. The exact cause is unknown but possible causes include genetics and exposure to viruses and other environmental factors. Anderson was diagnosed at the age of four and thanks to her mother's quick action; she avoided some of the most severe symptoms and was eventually released from the hospital. She now understands how her body responds to her daily activities.
 
"Typically, I wear an insulin pump but I am not allowed to have it during a game, which can be hard during long doubleheaders," Anderson said. "Luckily, I have a good idea of how my body is feeling at any point, so if I prepare and do a good job of regulating during games, I am able to keep the focus completely on softball."
 
Anderson has to keep track of everything she eats and drinks, requiring her to have an impressive amount of attention to detail. When the team is on the road, she is busy monitoring carbohydrates at every stop. She does not shy away from talking about the disease and enjoys using the opportunity to educate people and bring awareness to the cause. Though Anderson is not aware of any other college athletes with type 1 diabetes in the softball sphere, she hopes one day that will change.
 
"I think it's important to have role models out there who have your experience and see what is possible," Anderson said.
"I love when my teammates ask me questions about it because sharing my story is something I am really passionate about," Anderson said. "There are times where I have to take breaks during conditioning and other drills and it can be hard because I never want to let my teammates down. I'm thankful that everyone on my team has been supportive and so it has never been an issue. Those who know me best can even tell sometimes when my blood sugars get off and they always let me know and are there to help."
 

Anderson has been educating people about her condition for many years. Her mother Debby helped her learn to live with diabetes as a child and the two of them even teamed up for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to give speeches around the Pacific Northwest. Their aim was to raise awareness and funding to find a cure. Anderson has even been behind a microphone at T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field), home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team talking about her story.
 
Her vast experience dealing with her own personal health helped inspire her career choice to become a dietician.  "I wasn't sure what I wanted to be in high school but I know I want to help people like me," Anderson said. "When I was younger, I didn't necessarily like having a dietician telling me what to do and putting restrictions on me. Now my understanding of what it feels like to go through it I believe will really help me empathize with kids once I am in the profession."
 
Anderson is currently working on her undergraduate degree at MSU Billings, then plans to chase her master's degree at Montana State University in Bozeman after her collegiate athletic career ends. The program typically takes two years to complete. She intends to work in endocrinology and help kids first diagnosed with diabetes to develop meal plans based on how their bodies react to different foods.
 
In the meantime, she wants to get to know her MSUB teammates better and translate her winning experience at North Idaho College over to the Yellowjackets.
 
"Next year I want to come in and play the way I know how and help the team," Anderson said. "I am really excited to get back at it next spring and compete for a spot in the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) championships."
 
Anderson is a well-rounded player and uses her mental acuity as a catcher to help her approach in the batter's box as well. In the spring, Anderson held a .325 on base percentage and recorded three hits in a game against Simon Fraser on March 7, including one double. "The catching portion is so helpful in my approach at the plate," said Anderson. "I understand the ins and outs of what pitchers might be trying to do, especially when it comes to facing left-handed hitters."
 
Even in a shortened season, Anderson helped the Yellowjackets improve their win percentage to finish 8-15 overall, though they only completed six conference games. The team will have to finish among the top-6 in the GNAC standings to qualify for the post-season.
 
"Taylor is an exceptional teammate and a very positive person to have on our team," commented MSUB head softball coach Lisa McKinney. "Her perseverance to keep playing softball through all her challenges is really admirable and she is always willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. Regardless of what happens in the future, she has already achieved a lot."