Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Feb. 21, 2018, edition 1 / Page 14
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Junior infielder Ryan Ogren swings and misses at a pitch during Elon University’s 10-3 ioss against the University of North Carolina at Greenshoro May 2,2017. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAMf Baseball hopes changes will prevent fourth- straight losing season Erik Webb Sports Director 1 @ErikWebbElo[i After finishing last season with a 24-32 (12-12 in conference) re cord, the Elon University base ball team looks to make some desperate changes to its process to prevent capturing the fourth consecutive losing season under the leadership of head coach Mike Kennedy. Kennedy, who graduated from Elon in 1991, enters his 22nd sea son as the head coach at his alma mater. With a career record of 678-524-3 (.564), Kennedy has won the most games in program history as head coach, but he will have to make some changes to halt the skid. Notable losses The most obvious changes un dergone by the team are those to the roster. This past weekend, the freshmen played their first game in the maroon and gold. But with gains come losses. The Phoenix saw nine of its players graduate last year, including outfielder Kyle Jackson and pitcher Jordan Bar rett. “We lost Jackson at the plate who drove some runs in for us and Jordan Barrett on the bump had a good year for us last year,” Kenne dy said. “Those are some areas that you’re trying to make up and fix a little bit.” Jackson led the team in home runs and runs batted in, and placed second among the Phoenix players in hits, runs scored and slugging percentage. Barrett ranked second on the team in earned run aver age (EKA), batters struck out and games started. Kennedy was quick to call out the players he believes will fill the gaps left by the graduating faces. “Were hoping that players step up and can be a run producer like Jackson was. Maybe [Hayden] Platt has a more consistent year and a full year when last year he really got going late in the year. He had a couple good at bats [Friday] and that helps us in the middle of the order.” To help make up for the loss, Elon’s newest recruiting class could mean the appearance of seven new faces on the field. They include pitcher Daniel Albrittain, pitcher Shayne Clowar, outfielder Andrew Flint, pitcher Jeremiah Foster, catcher Matt Oldham, in fielder Jack Roberts and pitcher Jared Wetherbee. Finding the strike zene Pitching will lead the Elon de fense this season. Impressive per formances from the starters kept the Phoenix within striking dis tance of Pennsylvania State Univer sity during the series this weekend. “[George] Kirbys the dude - he’s got good stuff. We’re expecting those kind of outings from him,” said Kennedy after the sopho more pitcher struck out 11 of the 20 batters he faced during the 2-1 loss against Penn State on Feb. 16. “That doesn’t surprise me that he did what he did tonight. If [Bran don] Justice throws like that, he’ll be a huge help for us. He threw ex- ELON BASEBALL: BY THE NUMBERS 279 runs scored last year, compared to the 325 runs posted by opponents. 24 wins in 56 games last season (.429), marking the third-straight losing season for the Phoenix. seniors who graduated after last season, replaced by seven fresh- II PRESEASON ...AND FALL WE WERE HITING THE BALL HARD. WE JUST GOTTO GET INTO OUR GROOVE. TY ADCOCK SOPHOMORE CATCHER tremely well ... but he ain’t been that good. That’s good to get him going, confidence wise, and give us another option down in the bullpen.” When it came to hitting in that strike zone, the Elon offense strug gled to keep up during its opening weekend of play. That came as a frustration to players like sopho more catcher Ty Adcock. ‘We need to get our pitch early. Be smart. Don’t chase out of the zone, Adcock said. “We’re a much better hitting team than that. Pre- season we were hitting the ball and fall we were hitting the ball hard. We just got to get into our groove.” Preseason prospects After the Phoenix capped off its third-straight losing season, Elon enters this year selected to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Co lonial Athletic Association (CAA). The team is tied with the College of William & Mary, just behind Northeastern University and the College of Charleston. Though conference play for the Phoenix will not begin until March 23, a couple of players on the Elon team received recognition from the league. Junior shortstop Ryne Ogren and sophomore starting pitcher Kyle Brnovich were both named to the Preseason All-CAA Base ball team after impressive seasons last year. Ogren was named the team captain and team MVP of the 2017 season. He was the only Elon player to start all 56 games, led the team and ranked second in the league with a .350 average as league-best 78 hits and 21 doubles. Brnovich, who was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 201J finished the season with a 3.U ERA and held opponent battersH a .204 average. He struck out IClj batters in 90.0 innings, rankini second in the league in strikeout and third in number of inninf pitched. The league selected seni catcher Hayden Platt as a hou’ orable mention for the A11-CAjJ Schedule ahead Having fallen in all three gams to Penn State this past weekenil the Phoenix (0-3) looks to fin some better mojo on its homefi® at Latham Park. The 56-gaineshK this spring will include 37 gamesst home, including meetings with 1 teams that made the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Phoenix will remain *' home for the next five games,» ing off against Big South mem Radford University Feb. 20, pi ing a three-game series agai# Marshall University F^l’- T^'. ’ and taking on Liberty Universf Feb. 28. The first road trip for the PW- nix won’t take place until first weekend in March when team travels to Georgia Sou® University for a three matchup. The Phoenix will ll*** return home for six straight gam® against North Carolina teams. i eluding the University of Carolina at Greensboro, ^PP* Chian State University and Baste Carolina University. March will also see the open® of conference play as the mar and gold travels to CAA foe Madison University for ® March 23-25.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 21, 2018, edition 1
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