ELON, N.C. — Returning home to Latham Park to host the Elon Invitational, the Phoenix baseball team will play three games against three different opponent over the weekend. Visiting Latham Park will be Saint Joseph’s (Friday at 4 p.m.), High Point (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.) and Gardner-Webb (Sunday at 4 p.m.).
Full Tournament Schedule
February 28
12 p.m. – Gardner-Webb vs. High Point
4 p.m. – Elon vs. Saint Joseph’s
March 1
12:30 p.m. – Elon vs. High Point
4:30 p.m. – Saint Joseph’s vs. Gardner-Webb
March 2
12 p.m. – High Point vs. Saint Joseph’s
4 p.m. – Elon vs. Gardner-Webb
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday
Elon – RH Michael Elefante (2-0, 1.12 ERA)
Saint Joseph’s – TBA
Saturday
Elon – RH Lucas Bakker (1-0, 1.38 ERA)
High Point – LH Mike Krumm (1-1, 4.15 ERA)
Sunday
Elon – LH Jake Stalzer (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
Gardner-Webb – RH Hunter Smith (1-0, 2.25 ERA) OR LH Erik Heiligenstadt (0-1, 7.30 ERA)
Inside the Series
Elon has faced off with Saint Joseph’s four times before, all since 2007. The maroon and gold is 4-0 in those games.
In a series that dates to 1926, Elon has faced High Point more than any other opponent. The two have met 203 times on the diamond with Elon claiming 122 victories and the Panthers 81.
Gardner-Webb has not appeared on Elon’s schedule since 1997. The two schools first played in 1970. Elon holds a 37-19 advantage in the all-time series with the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Countdown to 600: 583
Already Elon’s all-time winningest coach, skipperMike Kennedy is closing in on career victory number 600. Kennedy currently has 583 wins to his credit, all in the maroon and gold.
Hot Start
Through its first seven games of the 2014 season, Elon posted a 6-1 record. It marked the best start to a year for the maroon and gold since 2008 when the Phoenix won its first 10 games of the season.
Stalzer Earns SoCon Honor
After two starts in which he did not allow an earned run in 14.0 innings, Jake Stalzer was named the SoCon Pitcher of the Week for games played between Feb. 17-23.
Stalzer made two starts during the week and went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. In his debut in the maroon and gold, Stalzer tossed seven innings and allowed just one unearned run on six hits in a victory over Cincinnati. He followed that up with another seven-inning start in a win over Wagner. Against Wagner, Stalzer gave up just three hits and struck out three while keeping the Seahawks scoreless. Sunday’s outing began with him allowing a single to the leadoff hitter. Wagner would not record another hit until there were two outs in the seventh.
No. 500
With it’s 14-2 victory over Wagner on Feb. 21, the Phoenix program achieved a milestone. That win was the 500th for the program since moving to NCAA Division I play for the 2000 season. In that time, only three of the other 17 D-I programs in the state of North Carolina have more victories than the Phoenix – North Carolina, East Carolina and NC State.
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.
Sustained Success
Now in its 11th season in the Southern Conference, Elon has finished with one of the league’s top-three records in all but one year – 2004, its first in the league when it placed fourth. The maroon in gold is one of just nine teams nationally to have placed in the top three of its league in at least nine out of the last 10 years.
• Coastal Carolina (Big South)
• Cal State Fullerton (Big West)
• Illinois Chicago (Horizon)
• Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)
• Wichita State (Missouri Valley)
• Army (Patriot)
• Southern (SWAC)
• Oral Roberts (Summit)
30+
With its 34 wins in 2013, Elon has recorded 14 consecutive seasons with at least 30 wins. Elon has won 33, 30, 34, 34, 31, 32, 45, 32, 44, 41, 38, 36, 33 and 34 games in that span. In this time, the Phoenix has made six NCAA Division I Regional appearances (2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013).
Home Sweet Home
Traditionally, Elon has played well at Latham Park. Under Mike Kennedy, Elon has posted a 320-137-1 (.700) record at its on-campus stadium.