For Taylor Cashdan, baseball isn’t just a pastime—it’s a vehicle for connection, community, and creative expression. As the Neuse River Nine team captain, he’s found a way to blend his background in community organizing with his love for the game, building a team that prioritizes good vibes, inclusivity, and showing up for each other. We caught up with Taylor to talk about the origins of the Nine, what it means to lead with heart, and how sandlot baseball continues to evolve—with style, purpose, and plenty of fun.
Q: What inspired you to step into the role of captain for the Neuse River Nine? What does being captain mean to you?
Taylor Cashdan: It was a mixture of a need in the community (we had more players than slots on teams) and a desire to try something different, organizationally. Community organizing and event planning is how I spent the bulk of my 20s, but all in the context of work or professional development. Sandlot has given me a chance to get back onto the baseball field, in a very low-stakes way, and get back to something I enjoyed as a kid. So, naturally, because I can’t control myself, I wanted to get more involved–the Nine sort of came out of that! In this “role,” I get to (help) shape the vision of the team—where we want to go, who we want to collaborate with, teams we want to play, etc—without the pressure of needing to make a profit (as in, it's for FUN and not WORK). It’s an honor to lead in any capacity, and this particular role is all the more special because everyone is a voluntary participant choosing to spend their time with us and the greater CSC.
Q: How do you balance leadership with having fun on the field?
TC: We pride ourselves on the Nine to be a vibes-first team, so if we’re not having fun, then we’re not doing it right! Sometimes, that also means Erik (my co-captain) and I have to put on our captain hats and make decisions, or address issues, but thankfully, we have a really great crew, so we don’t need to do that much!
Q: What stood out to you the most about P.F.’s newest release, The Captain Collection?
TC: The vintage look without sacrificing quality, and the single-tone-toe cover area (I like that it matches with the sole!)
Q: What was it like doing a photoshoot for this newest shoe drop?
TC: It was fun! I get to see the other captains on the field often, but we don’t get the chance to get together just for fun/celebration of the community we’ve built. That photoshoot felt like part celebration, part marketing shoot, part just a chance to hang with friends. It was a great time!
“If it's not about the fun of the game and the joy of being with people, then it's not sandlot.”
—Taylor Cashdan
Q: P.F. Flyers have been part of baseball culture, specifically sandlot baseball, for a long time. What’s it like to carry on that legacy?
TC: Still being relatively “new” to sandlot, having a brand like P.F. Flyers be in our corner is one of the greatest forms of affirmation—to get to help carry the sandlot torch for the next generation of players (while looking fly doing so) is awesome.
Q: P.F. Flyers is built on themes of exploration and adventure. Which idea speaks to you the most and why?
TC: For me, “underneath” speaks most to me—as a captain, so much goes on behind the scenes to make something as simple as a scrimmage go off without a hitch. It's a lot of work, communication, and sometimes late nights, but it's worth it when it all comes together and everyone smiles on the field.
Q: What’s your favorite piece of Nine merch, and what’s the story behind it?
TC: I really like the River Roses graphic. We ran a small fundraising campaign for Food Not Bombs with that graphic on a t-shirt, but we also printed a few backpatches for our captain’s battle jackets. It's been a fun way to push the brand in different directions.
Q: How would you describe the team culture of the Neuse River Nine in three words?
TC: Vibes, sincerity, and supportive
Q: Sandlot baseball is all about passion over perfection. How do you keep that mindset strong in your team?
TC: Honestly, it’s one of the harder parts. By nature, baseball is a competitive sport, so on game days we have to remind ourselves that it's fun-first, THEN performance. The team is good about checking ourselves when we toe the line too closely. If it's not about the fun of the game and the joy of being with people, then it's not sandlot.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or personal superstitions before taking the field?
TC: “Two before twelve.” If you know, you know LOL. Honestly, I have enough trouble remembering to pack all the things AND make it to the field on time—my pregame ritual is making it to the game haha.
Q: What has been your proudest moment as a captain of the Nine so far?
TC: The most rewarding thing is watching the team we’ve built support each other on and off the field. A little over a year ago, these people were all strangers to each other, and now we hang out socially, have an active Slack channel, etc. Watching the idea of “should we start the Nine?” turn into what it has brings me a lot of pride. And, we’re only just getting started.
Q: Where can people watch the Nine play, and how can they support the team?
TC: Come join us in Raleigh nearly every Saturday morning! We help host open sandlot on the weekends where we don’t have games (locations posted to the @carolinasandlotcollective Instagram account). If you’d like to don some Nine merch and support the team monetarily, feel free to snag something cool here.
At P.F. Flyers, we’re proud to celebrate captains like Taylor, who bring creativity, care, and community to every game. Sandlot baseball is more than just a sport—it’s a space to show up, stand out, and build something meaningful together.
To catch the Neuse River Nine in action or grab some of their merch, follow along here and on Instagram.
