And it was his constant encouragement from the bench that buoyed his team’s fortunes in every situation.
But to those outside the Sailors’ inner circle, Tauber’s identity was more submerged than the bodies of the starters swimming about in the pool.
“He has been a substitute all season,” Newport Coach Jason Lynch said of the senior driver, who spurned that role to earn a more conspicuous type of credit as a fill-in starter.
With some players sidelined by ejections for misconduct, Tauber started the final two games in the S&R Sport Cup. His play allowed the Tars to claim four wins in two days, and a title they have since forfeited due to the use of ineligible players.
In four games, Tauber had four assists, three steals and one glorious goal — a cross-cage bullet that caromed off the bottom of the crossbar and past the goal line as the shot clock expired in the semifinal against Coronado — that will likely become very familiar to his future grandchildren.
“In the semifinals and final of the tournament, he started and played the whole game,” Lynch said. “He was very unselfish, looking to make a lot of assists and play good defense. He works incredibly hard and he plays incredibly hard. He is maximizing [the ability] he has.”
Tauber’s contribution was so noteworthy, he is the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week.
But Tauber’s tale of perseverance goes beyond the sometimes-cruel reality of the depth chart. His includes a medical chart, as well.
