The Murray State Racers baseball team has had a historic season, finishing with an impressive overall record of 44-15. They captured both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and postseason championships, then continued their remarkable run by defeating Ole Miss in the Regionals and Duke in the Super Regionals to earn a berth in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. This Saturday, they will open play against the UCLA Bruins at 2 PM.
Starting in left field for Murray State is Dan Tauken, a former member of the Rockland Pirates Leo Laders Post 130 Junior team in 2018. Dan’s baseball journey has been nothing short of inspiring. A native of Congers, NY, he began his playing days in Congers Little League and continued at Clarkstown North High School. After high school, he attended Rockland Community College, where he was named Region 15 Player of the Year.
That summer, Dan competed in the Perfect Game Collegiate League with the Boonville Lumberjacks, eventually being recruited by the University at Albany. After one year at Albany, he played in the Coastal Plain League with the Morehead City Marlins, then transferred to Murray State University.
Over the past two years, Dan has been a standout performer for the Racers. Last season, he hit .319 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs. This year, he’s continued to shine with 11 home runs and a team-leading 76 RBIs. In the conference tournament, Dan made a game-saving catch, robbing a home run and helping secure the team’s spot in the Regionals.
During the Oxford Regional against Georgia Tech, Dan led the team with a powerful performance, hitting two home runs, driving in five RBIs—including a clutch two-out, two-run single. In the Super Regional against Duke, he delivered again, hitting a three-run homer in Game 2 and delivering the game-winning RBI with a triple in the eighth inning of Game 3.
His former American Legion Baseball coach, Phil Fratello, said, “I always believed Dan had the potential to be a great hitter—and with all his hard work, it’s become a reality.”
This Murray State team is known for its explosive offense and relentless resilience throughout the season. Rockland Community College Head Baseball Coach John Greeley added, “While at RCC, Dan Tauken worked harder than anyone. He lifted weights every day, and after every practice, he would head to the batting cages for extra hitting. I’m so happy for him and his family—he’s earned every bit of this.”
As we turn our eyes toward Omaha, Nebraska, we celebrate the journey of a former American Legion player, Dan Tauken, now patrolling the outfield on college baseball’s biggest stage.
DanTauken video
