ELON, N.C. – Due to the storm that disrupted much of the Southeast earlier this week, Elon baseball has adjusted its schedule for the opening weekend.
As of the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 14, the Phoenix will host Cincinnati on Sunday and Monday. The hope is to play two games on Sunday and a single game on Monday at Elon’s Latham Park. Game times have not been set at this time.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1:
Elon – RH Lucas Bakker (0-0)
Cincinnati – RH Matt Ring (0-0)
Game 2:
Elon – LH Jake Stalzer (0-0)
Cincinnati – RH Mitch Patishall (0-0)
Game 3:
Elon – TBA
Cincinnati – TBA
Inside the Series
Elon is 1-0 all-time against Cincinnati with the only other meeting coming on March 23, 1964. Elon claimed a 6-3 victory at home in that contest.
Preseason Picks
As the 2014 season approached, Southern Conference coaches and media both released their preseason picks for the league standings. Both groups tabbed the Phoenix to finish fourth in this, its final year as a SoCon member. In its first 10 seasons in the league, Elon finished lower than tied for third just once – its first year in the SoCon. That year (2004), Elon finished fourth out of 11 teams.
The coaches also selected a preseason all-league team which included first-team selection Sebastian Gomez from Elon.
New-Look Phoenix
The 2014 edition of the Phoenix will look much different from the 2013 squad which won the Southern Conference Tournament. This year’s team features 17 new faces.
On the mound, the maroon and gold lost 28 victories, 413.1 innings pitched (72.1 percent of last year’s innings) and 52 of the teams 64 starts.
Offensively, the Phoenix lost 26 home runs, 196 RBI and 193 runs scored.
Home Life
Elon is scheduled to play 33 home games during the 2014 season. Barring cancellations, that number would be the most that the maroon and gold has played at home during its tenure as an NCAA Division I program. In 2007, Elon played 32 home games. In three other years the Phoenix has played at least 30 home contests – 2008 (31), 2002 (30) and 2000 (30).
Season Openers
In its 110 baseball seasons, Elon has gone 63-46 (with one unknown result) in season-openers. Under Mike Kennedy Elon has gone 10-7 in its first game of the year.
Home Openers
Entering 2014, Elon has won four consecutive home openers. In that span, the maroon and gold has posted victories over Marist (11-3 in 2013), Akron (7-1 in 2012), North Carolina State (12-2 in 2011) and Towson (8-2 in 2010). Under skipper Mike Kennedy, Elon has posted a mark of 13-4 in its home openers.
We Are Family
The 2014 Elon roster sports two pairs of brothers. Junior outfielders Quinn Bower and Blaine Bower are twins from New Cumberland, Pa. The other set of brothers are junior outfielder/first baseman Sam Paone and freshman outfielder D.J. Paone who hail from Jupiter, Fla.
Elon or the Pros?
Elon’s 2014 roster sports two players who chose to don the maroon and gold and forgo a professional career.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Tyler Manez was picked by the Houston Astros in the 32nd round, number 969 overall, in the 2012 MLB Draft while freshman infielder Nick Zammarelli was a 28th round selection, number 833 overall, of the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 draft.
Junior college transfer Jose Lazaro was also drafted out of high school, but opted to head to college. The right-handed pitcher was a 28th round selection, number 869 overall, by the New York Yankees in the 2011 MLB draft.