ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball coach Mike Kennedy has announced that five players will serve as team captains for the 2017 season – senior Jordan Barrett, Danny Crowe and Will Nance along with sophomore Ryne Ogren and red-shirt freshman Cam Devanney.
“I am excited to announce these young men as captains for the 2017 season,” said Kennedy. “They have shown, and continue to show, great leadership abilities. These players have tireless work ethic, passion for the game of baseball and a true commitment to Elon baseball. Each of these players are committed to our goals both on the field and in the classroom. This is a well deserved honor for each of these young men.”
Barrett, a native of Margate, Fla., led the Phoenix pitching staff with 64 strikeouts in 75.2 innings last season. In 18 games, including 14 starts, Barrett went 3-6. In an outing at Northeastern, Barrett posted a season-high eight strikeouts and allowed one earned run in 6.0 innings. Over the year, the lefty notched six outings with five or more strikeouts.
Crowe, who hails from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., was tied for the team lead with four victories as he went 4-0 with a 4.43 ERA in 22 appearances out of the bullpen. The righty struck out 24 hitters in 20.1 innings and held opponents to a .208 batting average. The converted outfielder picked up the first win of his career after fanning one in a scoreless inning against La Salle last February.
Nance, an Eden, N.C., resident, started 33 of the 40 games in which he appeared in 2016. The outfielder scored 23 runs and drove in 16 while notching five doubles, one triple and two home runs. Nance made his Elon debut in 2016 by going 2-for-3 with one run scored and a pair of RBI against Wright State.
Ogren, a native of Devon, Pa., was a third-team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Team honoree in 2016 after hitting .292 with 37 runs scored, 33 RBI, six doubles, two triples and four home runs. A two-time CAA Rookie of the Week, Ogren was honored with the team’s Freshman of the Year Award. The infielder’s rookie numbers ranked him among Elon’s NCAA Division I freshman top-10 in on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, triples, home runs, total bases, walks, hit-by-pitch and sacrifice bunts. He reached base safely in Elon’s final 22 games of 2016 and had a season-long 10-game hitting streak.
Devanney, who is from Amherst, N.H., red-shirted in 2016, but is expected to see action in the infield this year. As a prep, Devanney was a 2015 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-Region 1 selection and a second-team all-state pick by ESPNBoston.com. The two-time league all-star also collected second-team USA Today 2015 All-USA Massachusetts honors.
The Phoenix will open up its 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 17, with a 4 p.m. game against Longwood. Season tickets are currently available for as little as $50 for adults and can be purchased by calling 336-278-6750.