45. ELON

2008 RECORD. Overall: 44-18 (Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 19-8 / 1^st in Southern Conference.

Coach: Mike Kennedy (395-289, 13^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 at No. 50 Auburn .

 

OVERVIEW: Elon won the regular-season and tournament titles in the Southern Conference in 2008, and fell one short of a school-record for wins. From that team, the top four hitters return, including senior OF Cory Harrilchak, who took a regular turn in the Phoenix rotation (7-3, 5.13) but is expected to scale back his pitching duties this season because of the depth of talent on the Elon staff, and power-hitting senior 3B Bannett Davis. The pitching staff suffered a big loss when Steven Hensley (10-2, 3.59) left early via the draft, but three prominent sophomores, notably closer Thomas Girdwood, should turn this into an area of strength.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Dallas Tarleton, Sr. (.361-7-50).

1B: Mike Lobacz, Sr. (.278-3-27).

2B: Chase Austin (3), Jr. (.377-9-51).

3B: Bennett Davis (4), Sr. (.350-*18-*82, 11 SB).

SS: Neil Pritchard, So. (.276-6-42).

LF: Hunter Wessels, Jr. (.343-3-27, 38 SB at Manatee, Fla. , CC).

CF: Cory Harrilchak (1), Sr. (*.410-11-46, 24 SB).

RF: Justin Hilt, Jr. (.402-11-44 at Louisburg, N.C. , JC).

DH: Mike Melillo, Jr. (.308-5-23).

1/Starter: Jimmy Reyes, So. (3-0, 6.25, 40 IP/40 SO).

2/Starter: Kenny Ferrer, So. (5-3, 5.15, 65 IP/62 SO).

3/Starter: Daniel Britt, Jr. (4-3, 6.16, 64 IP/41 SO).

Closer: Thomas Girdwood, So. (5-2, 4.15; *10 SV, 26 IP/31 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Justin Hilt.

Best Overall Hitter: Cory Harrilchak.

Best Power Hitter: Bennett Davis.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Bennett Davis.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Justin Hilt (6.56 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Cory Harrilchak.

Best Defender: Cory Harrilchak.

Best Infield Arm: Neal Pritchard.

Best Outfield Arm: Justin Hilt.

Best Fastball (velocity): Thomas Girdwood (95 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Bobby Kennedy.

Best Changeup: Jimmy Reyes.

Best Command: Cory Harrilchak.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Jordan Darnell, rhp. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Darnell is a projectable righthander whose fastball sits in the 87-91 mph range, yet a nasty split-finger is his out-pitch.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Thomas Girdwood, rhp. A fierce competitor whose makeup makes him suited to close games, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Girdwood earned Southern Conference freshman-of-the-year honors in 2008 by chalking up 10 saves. His fastball hovers in the 92-95 mph range, and is doubly difficult to hit because of the arm-side run he generates from a low three-quarters arm slot. Girdwood also has a tight slider at 82-85, and his superior stuff makes him an early-round candidate in the 2010 draft.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Justin Hilt, of. Hilt, a JC transfer, has a variety of tools, enabling him to play a variety of positions in both the infield and outfield. His arm strength and speed, in particular, are plus tools and he also has bat speed and good pop in his bat.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Cory Harrilchak, of. One of the nation’s top seniors, Harrilchak was mysteriously passed over in the 2008 draft. He has value on a college roster because he can do a little bit of everything—from his ability to reach base from the left side as a leadoff hitter (team-high .492 on-base average), to his 6.65-speed in the 60 that enabled him to steal 24 bases in 25 attempts, to his stellar defensive play in center field, to his work on the mound that resulted in the second-most wins on the Elon pitching staff a year ago.

--JEFF SIMPSON