ELON, N.C. – Following a 2-1 weekend to open the 2017 season, the Elon University baseball team will wrap up a brief four-game homestand with a 4 p.m. game against the Radford Highlanders on Tuesday,
Tickets
Tickets are available for $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at elonphoenix.com or at the ticket windows at Latham Park beginning one hour prior to first pitch.
Parking
Free parking for baseball games at Latham Park is available in the Ingold Parking Lot adjacent to the stadium. Parking is also available across the stree in the Hunt Softball Parking Lot.
Latham Park Regulations
• Elon reserves the right to remove from Latham Park anyone who is intoxicated, using foul or abusive language or behaving inappropriately.
• In accordance with Elon University policies, alcohol and tobacco products are prohitbited in Latham Park.
• Per league policy, artificial noisemakers of any kind are prohibited in Latham Park.
• In accordance with Elon University policy, pets are not premitted within the gates of Latham Park. Only service animals may be brought into the facility.
• Umbrellas are prohibited inside Latham Park.
• Only student-athletes, officials and authorized personnel are permitted onto the field.
• Gates open 60 minutes prior to first pitch.
Pitching Matchup
Tuesday – Elon: Sr. LH Jordan Barrett (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. Radford: So. LH Andrew Nardi (0-0, 6.00 ERA in ’16)
Series History
Elon leads the all-tme series 10-7. The two first met in 1996 with the Highlanders claiming a 12-4 victory. The most recent matchup was a 7-6 Phoenix victory on March 7, 2010. Elon has won each of the last six games, and nine of the last 10, against Radford.
Preseason Prognostications
In its third season in the CAA, the league’s coaches selected the Phoenix to finish fifth in the preseason poll. Senior CJ Young was honored as a preseason all-CAA selection.
1. UNCW (8)
2. William & Mary (1)
3. College of Charleston
4. Delaware
5. Elon
6. James Madison
7. Northeastern
8. Towson
9. Hofstra
Oh Captain, My Captain
Head coach Mike Kennedy announced prior to the 2017 season that five players will serve as team captains this year. Seniors Jordan Barrett, Danny Crowe and Will Nance will be joined by sophomore Ryne Ogren and red-shirt freshman Cam Devanney as the Phoenix captains in 2017.
Welhaf Tosses No-No, Earns National Honor
Junior righty Robbie Welhaf threw the first no-hitter of the 2017 NCAA baseball season, and the first for Elon at the Division I level, when he blanked Longwood 7-0 on Feb. 18. Welhaf walked one and hit one batter, but faced just one over the minimum and fanned a career-high eight hitters in what was just his third career start.
The performance earned Welhaf a spot on Collegiate Baseball’s Players of the Week list on Feb. 20.
Quick Feet
After stealing just 37 bases over the course of the 2016 season, the Phoenix showed off some speed during its opening weekend against Longwood. The maroon and gold was successful on 10 of its 13 steal attempts against the Lancers.
Young Opening Day Starter
For just the third time during Elon’s NCAA Division I tenure, a sophomore made the opening day start. Ryan Conroy earned the nod against Longwood this year. The other two sophomores to make opening day starts were Jimmy Reyes (2009) and Scott Light (2000).
Conroy struck out seven to match the most by an Elon pitcher on opening day at the Division I level. He earned the win after going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs.
I Choose Elon
Freshman right-handed pitcher George Kirby had a chance to begin a professional career out of high school after being a 32nd round selection of the New York Mets in the 2016 MLB Draft, but elected to come to Elon. Kirby is the fourth player since the 2010 draft to choose to join the Phoenix instead of turning pro. The others were pitcher David Whitehead (36th round in 2010), pitcher Tyler Manez (32nd round in 2012) and infielder Nick Zammarelli (28th round in 2013).
Tough Slate
Elon’s 2017 schedule features 14 games against teams that participated in NCAA Tournament action a year ago. Of the Phoenix’s 14 non-conference opponents, seven were selected to finish in the top three of their league (or division). Among them were league (or division) preseason favorites in East Carolina (1st AAC), UNCG (1st SoCon), High Point (1st Big South) and North Carolina (1st ACC Coastal Division).