Elon spring sports teams gear up for first SoCon seasons
Mike Vivenzio / Reporter Baseball
America’s pastime returns to Elon University, as the
baseball teams kicks off the season. The look of the
team is totally different than last year’s team, which
finished 34-23-2. This year’s team has 18
newcomers joining the roster. But head coach Mike Kennedy
said the key to the season is still the same: Pitching
and defense.
However, with this new group of players, chemistry is a big
factor.
“How successful we are will be determined by how our
team plays together,” Kennedy said. “We
will get better as the year goes on,” Kennedy said the
senior laden pitching staff was the strongest aspect of
this team.
“Matt Garner and Brian Hensen are the anchors of that
staff, and both are hard workers,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also singled out a few key returning players, such as
senior outfielder Evan Tartaglia, junior third baseman Evan
Erickson, junior catcher Matt Stocco and junior second
baseman Gary Morris.
Kennedy stressed how important it was to get off to a good
start, and said that key games were the first few games, but
after that “you take it one game at a
time.” Kennedy did mention that the game against
Appalachian State Feb. 27 would be a big one because it would
be the team’s first Southern Conference weekend, as
well as the game against Miami March 5. Miami enters the
season with a No. 3 national ranking from Baseball America.
Softball
Although the weather outside is still frigid and ice is
still on the ground, the softball team is getting ready for
action. The core of a team that graduated just one
senior last year is still intact, leaving head coach Patti
Raduenz very optimistic about the leadership coming
back. Raduenz said leadership is the greatest aspect of
this team.
“The heart and dedication that this team has to get
done what needs to get done in order to be successful is
incredible,” she said.
With the season opener looming, Raduenz said,
“We need to come out and be a very consistent
team. Do what it takes to get the job done and not
worry about other things.”
Raduenz said she does not like to look ahead and stresses
that her players “take it one day at a
time.”
“Each game is important,” she said. “On
any given day anything can happen. Our biggest
competition is ourselves. We don’t play the
scoreboard. We give everything we have, and leave
everything we have on that field, and at the end of the day
even if we loose, as long as we have left it all out there
and gave it our best, then it was a success.”
Raduenz said she hopes that the team’s success against
Southern Conference opponents last year, will help to ease
the transition into the conference this year.
Men's Tennis
There is not much room for improvement when you finish 15-4,
but head men’s tennis coach Tom Parham is always
looking to improve. The team graduated three starters
off of last year’s team, but Parham still believes this
team can be better.
“The experience might be down,” Parham said,
“but the biggest issue is that we are in a new league
and this team has been on the same level competitively [as
other teams in the Southern Conference] for a couple of
years.”
The mid-year additions of freshman Austin Fenn, Eric Haase
and Sebastian Bredbreg will help ease the loss of the
seniors, as will the continued strong play of two time
all-conference player in singles and doubles, junior Pramote
“Ter” Malasitt.
“I don’t think we will miss too much from last
years team,” Parham said, “I will be disappointed
if we don’t wind up in the upper third of the
SoCon.”
This year’s schedule will be rough; the team would
like to avenge last year’s loss to Furman and also has
to play College of Charleston—which won the league last
year—and Wofford in the same weekend.
“We don’t have any easy matches on our
schedule,” Parham said. Parham is trying to work
the new players into the mix as quickly as possible, but
understands the need for patience.
“Our kids enjoy playing the game; they are good kids,
and very enthusiastic.”
Women's Tennis
Experience is a valuable commodity in any sport.
Last year’s women’s tennis team started five
freshmen. Now those players have gained valuable match
experience and are ready to take this year’s team to
the next level.
“The girl’s team will be better this
year,” said Tom Parham, women’s tennis coach.
“They are a year wiser, with a year of experience. They
will be better.”
Parham said he believes that with sophomore Kelly Fleck
coming back from wrist surgery, and the addition of freshman
Evin Prelec, this team will be very competitive.
“This team is a unique team,” Parham said.
“They are All-American players, so there is a lot of
camaraderie. They are a close knit group of kids,
willing to sacrifice.”
The team’s schedule affords it no room for error, as
there are no easy matches. After an early loss two
weeks ago to No. 9 North Carolina, the team has to turn
around this weekend to play College of Charleston and Wofford
on back-to-back days. The first home game will be at
1:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 against Presbyterian.
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