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Elon offense ready to burn basepathsElon eagerly laccepts SAC favorite’s roleChristian pitchers main strengths in bid for titleTimes-NewsElon’s Joshua Aldrich and the Fightin’ Christians are aiming to slide into the South Atlantic Conference titles.By RICHARD CRAVER Times-NewsELON COLLEGE - Easy rests the caps of Elon’s 1992 baseball squad.Despite coming off what has been called an underachieving 31-15 campaign, Elon is the preseason favorite for the South Atlantic Conference title.“They’re relishing the role as SAC favorite,” Elon coach Mike Harden said.“You never know what the season may bring, but we know we have good athletes and good chemistry. If we can get some breaks, we’re going to make some noise.”For most coaches, however, the Christians would be considered under construction.After all, Elon had to replace its top two pitchers and five every-day starters. The pitchers — Paul Gibbs and Scott Gully — combined for 48 percent of Elon’s wins and the hitters accounted for 47 percent of its homers and 36 percent of its RBI.Harden opted to fill the offensive holes by returning to his roots — the transfer route. Harden came to Elon as a player from Sand Hills Community College.Harden landed seven junior-college transfers, including three who are expected to start in Elon’s season-opener Monday at North Carolina AT.“We’ve made a commitment to being successful every season,” Harden said candidly.“We basically didn’t want to have a rebuilding year if wecould avoid it.“This way, we’re a conference favorite and a contender for the NAIA World Series.Our underclassmen will also receive more experience so that they can step up next year.”Harden said he will again employ a three-man rotation for the weekend SAC games. Six other pitchers will contend for the weekday starts.Elon will count on another professional pitching prospect — junior right-hander Chris Murphy — to anchor its starting staff.Murphy is aiming to follow in the footsteps of ex-Elon pros like San Diego Padres starter Greg Harris and Gibbs, who is a Cleveland Indians minor-league plauer.Murphy (6-2, 2.72 ERA) brings plenty of heat to the mound and owns 13 career wins.His fastball has been timed in the low-90s and he doesn’t hesitate to throw it inside.“Chris may have the best pro chances of anyone I’ve seen at Elon,” pitching coach Jim Schlossnagle said.“He’s got a great body to go with his baseball smarts. He’s even developing a split-finger fastball to add to his arsenal.”Senior right-hander Mike Laney is set as Elon’s No. 2 starter.Laney will look to return to his sophomore form when he went 7-3. Last season, Laney managed only a 1-2 record.Rod Gorham, a sophomore right-hander, completes Elon’s SAC staff. He went 3-3 last season with a 2.91 ERA.“Mike has been our definition of a hard-luck pitcher,” Schlossnagle said.“He’s a tireless worker, but we’ve got to get him more offensive support “Rod is coming off a strong freshman season. He spots his pitches well and has three out pitches.”The leading candidates to complete Elon’s staff are: freshman right-hander Randy Chase, junior right-hander Brian Rider, sophomore righthander Derek Leviner, sophomore right-hander Todd Bech-told and junior left-hander Rob Hahne.Schlossnagle said four pitchers will share duties in Elon’s bullpen-by-committee.The pitchers vying for the time — junior transfer righthander Doug Ryan, junior RHP George Buckholz, sophomore right-hander Tim Hix and sophomore left-hander Jim Mahoney. Ryan may also make some starts.By RICHARD CRAVER Times-NewsELON COLLEGE - “Mike Ball” will make its true debut at Elon’s Newsome Field this spring.Elon coach Mike Harden is hoping his version of the late Billy Martin’s strategy of building his offense around speed and disciplined gap hitters will lift Elon to the South Atlantic Conference title.“I saw enough strikeouts in key situations last season to last me a lifetime,” said Harden with a slight shrug.“I know one thing. We’d better not see a repeat of that at all.”Harden is looking for a familiar face to serve as Elon’s offense catalyst.Former Eastern Randolph standout Chris York will start at shortstop and bat third.York has been dubbed “Roy Hobbs” of The Natural” fame by his teammates due to his smooth swing. He hit .288 as a freshman with two HRs and 26 RBI.“Chris was trying to figure out the college game last year and still made all-conference,” Harden said.Another pivotal player for Harden’s aggressive style is junior-college transfer Ken Mallory in center field. Mallory became Elon’s leadoff man the day he arrived from Allegheny Junior College.“Ken is a tremendous athlete, someone who can be a real impact player in every game,” Harden said.Batting second will be senior third baseman John Aldrich (2-16-.255), while sophomore catcher Aaron Cannaday (0-13-.280) steps into the cleanup slot.Harden said he wants them to knock in runs via line drives into the gaps.Jim Connor, another junior-college transfer, will serve as Elon’s designated hitter and bat fifth. The 6-2, 220-pound Connor smacked eight homers at Keystone J.C. and could be Elon’s main power hitter.ELON SLATEFEBRUARY24—at N.C. AT. 3; 27-at Belmont Abbey, 3; 29-Bluefieid State (DH). 1MARCH1—Salem-Taikyo Univ. (DH), 1; 2—at Barton, 3; 4-N C AT. 3; 5—Belmont Abbey, 3; 6-Glass-boro State College, 3; 7-at Presbyterian (DH), 1, 8—at Presbyterian, 2; 13—Dowling College (DH), 1:30; 14-Lenoir-Rhyne (DH). 1; 15—Lenoir-Rhyne, 2; 19-Shepherd College, 3; 21-at Carson-Newman (DH), 1, 22—at Carson-Newman, 2; 23—Washington Jefferson, 3; 24—at Limestone, 2; 25—at Newberry, 3;26—at USC-Spartanburg, 3;28-Catawba (DH), 1; 29-Catawba, 2APRIL1—Barton, 3; 2—St. Andrews.3. 4-Wingate (DH), 1, 5-Wingate. 2; 9—USC-Spartanburg, 3;11-at Gardner-Webb (DH). 1;12—at Gardner-Webb, 2;15-Limestone, 3; 16—Newberry, 3; 17-Mars Hill. 3; 18-Mars Hill (DH), 1; 20-vs Ferrum (at Martinsville), 7; 21—at N.C Wesleyan, 3, 23-26-SAC tournament, TBA,29—at St, Andrews, 7:30MAYDistrict 26 Tournament at Burlington Athletic Stadium.Senior left fielder Danny Milwet will bat sixth. He is the Christians' top returning hitter with a .338 average.The bottom third of the Elon order will have junior first baseman John Ulasewich (4-26- 293), senior second baseman Steve Winston (0-1-.207) and junior-college transfer Steve Ujcic in right field.Freshman center fielder Maurice Blakeney, a reserve quarterback for Elon’s football team, is Harden’s most pleasant preseason surprise.Clint Ayers, an ex-Southern Alamance standout, has transferred from UNC-Wilmington. He will play at second and third base.Other expected contributors are: freshman outfielder Jamie Spence, sophomore first baseman Chris Dinoto and sophomore catchers Mike Bracey and Lance Cardelino.
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Burlington Times News
Burlington, North Carolina, US
Sun, Feb 23, 1992
Page 15
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