Roadrunner Baseball Pays Tribute to Former Manager Tyler Rayburn

It has been a little over a year since Tyler Rayburn passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30. His spirit still fills the diamond at the Angelina College baseball field.

Now, his picture will also be a permanent fixture.

What started as a young Angelina College student with a passion for baseball eventually evolved into a full-time role with the Roadrunner baseball team – and a permanent seat in the program’s hearts.

Tyler Rayburn was sitting outside the press box during an AC baseball game one spring day in 2014, keeping a scorebook the way he’d done since he was a child. An AC official noticed his knowledge of the game and his meticulous stat-keeping, and in no time, Tyler had his reserved seat in the press box as the official statistician.

A few seasons later, AC baseball head coach Jeff Livin brought Tyler into the dugout as a team manager. For the next two seasons, Tyler was an integral part of the team. During one playoff run, the ‘Runners pulled off a big win in late innings. When the players ran to celebrate, many of them ran straight to Tyler.

Tyler would finish his time at Angelina College, eventually transferring to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications.

When Tyler passed away in January of 2023, he left behind his wife Tracy, his loving family – and an empty seat in the press box.

On Saturday, March 23, Livin and the Roadrunner baseball program paid tribute to Tyler, with father Steve Rayburn throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to AC’s doubleheader with TCS Post Grad.

Livin presented the family with a framed photo of Tyler – looking out over the field from the dugout, of course – that will take its permanent place in the AC baseball press box, along with a plaque commemorating Tyler’s time as a Roadrunner.

Tyler Rayburn, shown here during a 2015 baseball game, was the subject of the Angelina College baseball team’s tribute on Saturday. Rayburn, who passed away in 2023, served as the team manager for two full seasons.

Angelina College baseball coaches Jeff Livin (far right) and Dylan Murphy (far left) pose with members of the Rayburn family during Saturday’s pre-game ceremony.