Chico State Athletics

Sylvia's future was at a crossroads when Kristian Scott adopted her. The red-eared slider turtle was found swimming in a chlorine pool by Scott's then-girlfriend, ostensibly abandoned. She gave Sylvia to Scott, who took her in. The girlfriend didn't last, but Sylvia has. Now nearly the size of a baseball glove, Sylvia is flourishing in Scott's care.
 
Scott's baseball future was, likewise, at a crossroads when he arrived at Chico State in the fall of 2019. Despite batting .334 over two seasons at Citrus College in Glendora, he was not in the mix for much playing time in the Wildcats' loaded outfield. He had pitched at Citrus as well, but had little confidence in that side of his game.
 
At the end of his junior season, Scott had a batting average of .244 in 41 at-bats. Head Coach Dave Taylor told him his future was on the mound.
 
"I came to Chico as someone who could throw the ball hard. I never considered myself a pitcher. I kind of just pitched at my JC because we needed guys," Scott said. "When Coach T asked me to throw a bullpen I was kind of excited because it's fun. But I didn't think it would take off to where it's at now."
 
Taylor decided he had seen enough in that bullpen session to trot Scott out there in a game. He tossed two shutout innings in a blowout midway through the season and Taylor decided that, with some polish, Scott might just be his future closer.
 
By 2020, after spending a summer of baseball in that role, Scott was Chico State's stopper. He saved five games, allowing just one run on seven hits in 11-plus frames, before the season was shut down due to the pandemic.
 
"I loved that role because of the fact that I got the reputation of being the guy you don't want to face," Scott said. "It felt like everybody on the team would come together when I came into the game because they knew they put a lot of faith in me. It was cool to see everybody excited to see me pitch. In a way, it was like, all right, we're about to win a game."
 
Scott led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in saves and was named a postseason All-Star.
 
Scott also recently closed the deal on his undergraduate degree, matriculating in May of 2020 with his bachelor's in small business management with option in entrepreneurship. He's currently in his second semester of graduate school, on his way to a master's degree in business administration.
 
He loves it.
 
"Working with my classmates and professors, everybody is on the same page," Scott said. "Everybody's trying to get stuff done and make it good. I feel like everyone keeps everyone to a certain standard. If you don't show up, people check in to make sure you're good. It's tough because there's a lot expected of you, but it also gives you confidence because you know those expectations come from a belief that you can succeed."
 
With the 2021 baseball season cancelled by Covid-19, Scott is now focused on pitching professionally. He's thrown for a number of Major League organizations and is planning to attend a Frontier League tryout in late February.
 
In the meantime, Scott wakes up every weekday at 5 a.m. to hit the gym before a day packed with school and at least an hour of catch with a friend, or a wall.
 
"My friend Marc Cazares and I play catch almost every day when I'm home (in Glendora) and (former Sports Information student-assistant) Tomas (Moreno) and I play catch when I'm up in Chico," said Scott. "But sometimes I just take a bucket of balls and throw them into a wall or net."
 
Sometimes, during those long throwing sessions, Scott's mind will drift back to some of his favorite Chico State baseball memories.
 
"There are so many great ones that immediately flood my mind when I think of Chico State baseball," Scott said. "There's something about being on the field for the National Anthem as a team and thinking of everything we've gone through in the fall and our crazy winter schedule and seeing the entire process come together, knowing we are ready to go win a game."
 
As far as a specific moment?
 
"In my first year when Trenton Stowe hit the walkoff against Sonoma and we swept them. That was special," said Scott. "Seeing a senior get the job done and how excited we were and doing our dance thing we do in the locker room. That's a memory that I think of a lot."
 
Scott's Chico State baseball experience is not completely over, however. He still speaks with Coach Taylor, who checks up on him often.
 
"He's been very helpful, reaching out to make sure I'm staying on top of things and letting me know they're there," Scott said.
 
The reports Taylor gets are promising.
 
Scott and Sylvia are flourishing. Sometimes it just takes the right place, the right people, and the right time. It helps to have a strong makeup and/or an electric arm as well.

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