Outlook

Taryn Burkhardt was a crucial part of JCCC softball team in 2023 and 2024 ... Had a lot of success as the lead-off hitter both seasons ... Was looked upon to set the tone for JCCC's offensive success ... An outstanding outfielder ...  Can cover a lot of ground and will be effective defensively in either left or right field … Left-handed slapper who can spark the offense at any time … Exudes confidence ... Signed a letter-of-intent with Emporia State University.

Career

Batted .411 (123-for-299) with 25 doubles, 10 triples, a home run, 36 extra base hits, 74 walks, 117 runs scored, 43 RBI, 33 multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games …Ranks among the career all-time leaders in several categories … Set a program record for walks … Ranks tied for 29^th in batting average, 17^th in multiple-hit games,  tied for 21^st in doubles, tied for seventh in triples and fourth in runs scored … Her 74 walks rank as the second-most in KJCCC softball history.

Sophomore Year 2024

Earned Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference second-team … Played in and started 58 games … Batted .352 (64-for-182) with 18 doubles, seven triples, 66 runs scored, 31 stolen bases and 25 runs driven in … Collected 19 multiple-hit games and five multiple-RBI games … Her seven triples led the team, tied for first in the conference, tied for ninth in the NJCAA and rank sixth on JCCC’s season chart … Went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in a 15-7 setback against Vernon (2-9-24) … Followed with a double, a triple, a run and RBI in an 11-7 win against Western Oklahoma State (2-10-24) … Had two hits, including a double, walked, scored twice and drove in two runs in a 5-1 win over Barton (2-21-24) … In the following game against the Cougars, doubled home a run and scored in a 9-2 victory … Belted another two-run doble, walked twice and scored three times in a 21-0 pounding of Moberly Area (3-1-24) … Started a season long 10-game hitting streak with a pair of doubles and two runs scored in a 20-4 victory over State Fair (3-2-24) … Collected a single and a double, scored twice and drove in a run in a 13-4 win over Southeast (3-5-24) … Ripped two doubles, drove in a run and scored twice in a 14-4 victory over North Iowa Area (3-13-24) … The next day in a 12-11 win over the Trojans, hit two singles and scored two runs (3-14-24) … Capped the streak with a 3-for-4 effort and a run scored in a 13-5 loss to Iowa Western (3-14-24) …  Batted .559 (19-for-34) with six doubles, 14 runs scored and four RBI over the streak … Also collected multiple hits in eight of the 10 games … Drove in a season high three run in an 8-1 win over Kirkwood (3-16-14) … Walked three times, stole four bases and scored three runs in an 14-2 win over Independence (4-13-24) … Went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two stolen bases, four runs scored and one RBI in an 18-0 victory at Hesston (4-23-24) … Singled twice, walked three times, drove in a run and scored three in a 15-7 win at Cowley (4-29-24) … Had a two-run triple in the first inning and scored two runs in a 15-5 win over Coffeyville which secured a conference title for the Lady Cavaliers (5-4-24) … Had an RBI single and scored a run in a 10-6 win over Highland in the first round of the Region 6 playoffs (5-8-24) … Hit .385 (5-for-13) in the NJCAA World Series, with a triple, three base-on-balls and three runs scored … Her three walks tie for fifth most in a national tournament by a JCCC player.

Freshman Year 2023  

Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference D-II and Region 6/Plains District first-team … Played in and started 41 games … Batted .504 (59-fo-117) with seven doubles, three triples, a home run, 51 runs scored and 18 driven in … Also stole a team high 37 bases … Her 51 runs ranked fourth in the conference and was third in stolen bases … Her 37 steals rank as the seventh-best season at JCCC … Collected 14 multiple-hit and two multiple-RBI games … Stole multiple bases in a game 12 times … Drew four free passes, stole two bases and scored three times in a 9-4 win over Iowa Central (3-5-23) … Picked her first hit, along with three others, going 4-for-4 with a run scored in a 3-1 win over Indian Hills (3-15-23) … That started a nine-game hitting streak … Picked up her first RBI with a single in a 4-3 victory over Indian Hills (3-20-23) … Had two singles and RBI in a 12-0 shutout over Iowa Western (3-22-23) … Went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and two RBI in a 9-0 win over nationally ranked Kirkwood (3-28-23) … Batted .552 (16-for-29) over the streak … Had a single and RBI in a 5-0 win in the first game at Allen (3-30-23) … That started a season-long 14-game hitting streak … In the second game at Allen she went 4-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs and one RBI in a 10-3 win at Allen (3-30-23) … Had a single, two walks, three stolen bases, scored twice and drove in a run in an 11-9 setback at St. Louis (4-1-23) … The next day at St. Charles went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run in an 8-3 win in the opener, then followed with a single, three walks and four runs scored in an 11-0 shutout in the second game (4-2-23) … Her four runs scored tie the third-best game in team history … Had two hits, two walks and scored three times in a 13-2 win at Independence (4-15-23) … Hit .590 (23-for-39) over the streak with two doubles, 14 walks, 19 stolen bases, 22 runs scored and four RBI … Followed with another seven-game streak which she batted .500 (13-for-26) with two doubles, two triples, a home run, seven runs and seven RBI … Had a big series at Coffeyville (5-1-23) … Opened with a single, a triple, a walk and three runs in 15-2 win then followed by hitting for a cycle with two runs and a season-high three RBI … Was selected the KJCCC D-II Player of the Week for week 13 following that effort … Went 2-for-3 and scored three runs in an 11-2 win over Labette in the first round of the Region 6/Plains District A Tournament (5-11-23).

High School  

Was a two-year starter and three-time letter winner for coach Nick Hamilton at Silver Lake High School, Silver Lake, Kan. … Did not play her sophomore year due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Graduated 2022 … Rated the 33rd best player in the state of Kansas by MaxPreps.com her senior year … Earned Kansas Class 3A All-State honorable mention after batting .479 with 35 hits, six doubles, a triple, 28 runs scored, 15 RBI and nine stolen bases her senior year … Was a two-time Sports In Kansas All-State second-team selection, and a two-time All-Mid East League first-team pick … Named the Shawnee County Female Athlete of the Year and Northeast Kansas Spring Female Athlete of the Year as a senior … Helped the Eagles to league and region championships and runner-up state finishes in 2019 and 2021 … Had a huge day in a doubleheader sweep over Perry-Lecompton her senior year going 8-for-8 with a two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and three driven in … Earned three varsity letters in volleyball … Earned All-Mid East League first-team and All-Shawnee County second-team as a senior … Helped the team win three consecutive league titles, two straight sub-state championship, a third-place state finish and a state championship her sophomore season … Also earned four letters in dance and was a two-time captain … Was Academic All-League four times … Principal’s Honor Roll all four years.

Personal  

Born Taryn Grace Burkhardt on July 20, 2004, in Topeka, Kan. …. Nicknames are Tara, T3 and T … Daughter of Vince and Nancy Burkhardt … Has two siblings: Torey and Taylor … Her mother played college volleyball and softball at Washburn and her sister Torey, played volleyball and softball at JCCC … Major is undecided … Favorite food is pasta … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chipotle … Favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse … Favorite TV shows are One Tree Hill and The Vampire Diaries … Favorite movie is The Longest Ride … Favorite sports movie is Remember the Titans … Favorite actress is Nina Dobrev … Favorite book is It Ends With Us … Favorite music entertainers are Justin Bieber and Cody Johnson … Favorite cartoon character is SpongeBob SquarePants … Favorite athlete is Sis Bates … Favorite sports team is the Kansas City Chiefs … Greatest sports moment was playing against Frontenac in the 2021 State Championship … Best player she has played against is former Basehor-Linwood standout and Ohio State recruit Taylor Cruse … Notable alumni from her school are former Major League pitcher Jim Golden, former NBA and college men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger, legendary Silver Lake football coach CJ Hamilton and former Stanford All-American and NFL defensive lineman Tony Leiker.