Senators' Layman and Taylor Named Week 7 Players of the Week

By Ellie Rand

The last week of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League regular season featured the two final standout performances as teams made their final push before the playoffs begin Thursday.

The Southern Maryland Senators swept the league’s final weekly awards, with infielder James Layman (Xavier) earning Hitter of the Week honors and right-hander Conlan Taylor (Binghamton) being named Pitcher of the Week.

Layman Ignites Senators Offense in Four-Win Week

James Layman capped off his regular season showdown with one of the league’s hottest offensive stretches, powering the Senators into high standing heading into the playoffs.

The Xavier infielder hit .500 (10-for-20) across six games while scoring 11 runs and collecting 14 total bases. Layman posted a .700 slugging percentage and a .645 on-base percentage, adding three extra-base hits, four RBIs, nine walks, and five stolen bases.

Layman was a catalyst in Southern Maryland’s 10-9 victory over the Alexandria Aces on July 13, reaching base three times while scoring four runs. His ability to consistently get on base set the tone for the Senators’ offense throughout the week.

He followed that performance with his best game of the week on July 14 against the Olney Cropdusters. Layman finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, reaching base five times while helping the Senators cruise to an 11-2 win. He collected an RBI single in the seventh inning before getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eight to drive in another run.

The South Carolina native continued to create opportunities on July 16 against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, drawing four walks and scoring the go-ahead run during the Senators’ sixth-inning rally in a 7-6 victory.

He closed out the week on July 19 against the D.C. Grays by going 1-for-3, tallying a triple and two RBIs. Layman opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the first inning before later adding a sacrifice fly as Southern Maryland completed a commanding 10-5 win. Layman has been a powerhouse behind the Senators’ offense and will be an instrumental postseason contributor, providing run production and the ability to steadily reach base.

Taylor Dominates Across Two Starts 

Conlan Taylor delivered two outstanding starts on the week to anchor the Southern Maryland pitching staff.

The Binghamton right-hander posted a 0.90 ERA over 10 innings, allowing just one earned run—his only earned run of the season—while striking out 11 batters. Taylor’s dominant season-long performance shows in his league-leading 0.38 ERA in 12 appearances, establishing himself as one of the CRSCBL’s best pitchers.

This week, Taylor held opponents to just a .194 average, allowing just seven hits and three walks across his two starts.

Taylor opened the week on July 13 against the Aces with five shutout innings. He scattered just two hits, struck out four, and walked two while holding Alexandria scoreless in his outing.

After allowing a leadoff single in the first frame, Taylor settled in quickly, retiring eight of the next nine batters he faced. He worked out of his toughest jam in the third, stranding runners at second and third, forcing a groundout to end the inning.

Taylor solidified his strong start by striking out the side of the Aces’ lineup over his final two frames.

The New York native followed with another stellar performance on July 19 against the Grays. Taylor struck out seven over five innings, allowing just one run on five hits.

The right-hander wasted little time taking control, recording two strikeouts in the first inning before escaping a second-inning threat with yet another punchout. Taylor retired six consecutive hitters between the second and fourth innings and carried a shutout into the fifth before the Grays scored their lone run against him—his only earned run of the week.

During his outing, Taylor filled the strike zone, throwing 39 strikes on just 58 pitches—67 percent of his pitches for strikes—while consistently getting ahead of hitters in the count and generating weak contact.

Taylor’s pair of quality starts gave the Senators the fuel they needed at the top of the rotation, helping close the regular season with momentum.