A big bat and even bigger ambitions—Kobe Tabor is coming into his junior fall baseball season with fire. “My personal goals for this season is to bat over .450 while doubling the RBIs I have had in the past seasons,” said the Rattan athlete. As a multi-sport competitor, he knows what it takes to produce results, and he’s determined to leave no room for regrets.
The offseason grind looked a little different this year, and Tabor credits his coach and teammates for the growth. “The team was prepared differently this offseason by coach Michael Clay pushing us harder, holding us more accountable, and the team putting more work in with each other on our own,” he said. That added accountability has fueled a deeper sense of belief in the team’s mission.
“The biggest improvement I’ve seen from the team so far is that we all believe in each other and know what we are going to do,” Tabor explained. “Some of our goals this year are to prove to our coaches that we can win and win at a high level.”
One thing that sets this group apart? “The team’s biggest strength right now is believing that we can win,” he said. Confidence is contagious, and at Rattan, it’s turning into culture.
Playing both center field and shortstop, Tabor is a key contributor on both sides of the ball. “How deep the third baseman is playing and how the outfield is shifted,” is what he looks for at the plate. Preparation is personal. “I take lots of swings before games, make sure I stretch properly to be the best I can be, and stay in the weight room.”
When it is game time, Kobe’s mentality is locked in. “There is no one better to go get it done for our team,” he said.
More than stats, Kobe wants to be remembered for who he is. “I want my legacy to be remembered as a well-mannered and respectful kid that was one of the best to play both sports. I want kids to look up to me.”
Go-to hype songs? “Run This Town by Jay-Z and Oceans by Hillsong United.”
Favorite memory? “Freshman fall when we walked off Dale in the regional championship to go to state.”
His future plans include playing college basketball at a high level.
