Post by elon_phan on May 16, 2007 21:14:39 GMT -5
Senior catcher keeps it entertaining around Elon’s dugout
Bob Sutton / Times-News
May 14, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Check the lineup for most Elon University baseball games and you might think Kevin Pratt isn’t in the game.
Think again.
Or, better yet, listen and watch.
If there’s a clamor or commotion coming from the Elon dugout, there’s a good chance that Pratt is responsible for that.
“I don’t play every day,” Pratt said. “I try to keep everybody in the game. It’s a role I can have until I can get in the game.”
Pratt, a fifth-year senior catcher, takes his status seriously. He orchestrates the team’s good-luck maneuvers and antics related to baseball superstitions.
He’ll make the call on what ploy to implement, such as pulling the lasers (cowboy-style) that worked effectively last year but apparently lost their luster.
“It’s a new year and it didn’t work out for us,” he said.
At times it has become so difficult to find that slice of good luck this season that the Phoenix even tried a totally silent dugout during those moments when superstition dictates some sort of action.
“Kind of an oxymoron for us,” Pratt said. “We were trying to take the pressure off the hitter.”
When the scoreboard shows all deuces (two balls, two strikes, two outs), that’s often when Pratt kicks into gear. “That’s my baby,” he said.
Recently, the Phoenix tried the phantom long bill and shake (taking their caps off and shaking them) in front of the dugout. If there’s a foul ball, Pratt sprints in front of the dugout to refill, with teammates presenting their caps like a deacon might hold the collection plate Sunday mornings.
Last week against North Carolina, the Phoenix mixed it up, going with the “roller coaster” of pounding on the dugout overhang. The Phoenix probably got away with that without umpires’ glares because a big crowd made the noise less intrusive.
The Phoenix has come up short of expectations in many regards this year, taking a 27-24 record into the final week of the regular season. Yet teammates and coaches say that Pratt’s attitude is a constant reminder that they should enjoy themselves and the sport.
“He’s the ring leader,” catcher Drew Davis said. “He gets us energized. He might not get the playing time he wants, but he’ll do anything for you.”
Pratt, a team captain, is Davis’ former roommate and he edits Davis’ Web site diary about the team. (“I missed a bad pronoun last time, so I hope he doesn’t find out. I’ll be in trouble,” Pratt said.)
The Phoenix might not have known what it was missing during Pratt’s first year with the team. Taking a redshirt season in 2003, he often sat in the grandstand charting pitches and flirting with co-eds.
Back in front of or in the dugout, his role comes naturally.
“By default,” he said. “It’s not a glamour job.”
There’s crazy stuff uttered in and around college dugouts. With a schedule that includes more than 50 games, something needs to keep things loose, Pratt said.
“We take it up a notch,” he said. “It’s the competitive juices going, trying to get people feeling the same way. … You start picking up ideas.”
Pratt, a 23-year-old from Charlotte, has played in 88 career games, making nine starts.
“He’s the ultimate team player,” coach Mike Kennedy said. “He hasn’t played a ton. He’s a little short on talent. He has got a lot of heart.
“I don’t know what it’d be like without him. It’d be like a morgue in there.”
Pratt, an English major, said he’s uncertain about his future, but he would like to stay involved in baseball. He hopes to work at summer camps and take it from there.
“It’s going to be real hard for me to put the game down,” he said. “Loving the game. That’s my main motivation.”
In the meantime, he’ll keep motivating his teammates and trying to appease the baseball gods.
“He has been here the longest,” right fielder Ryan Addison said. “Every time he gets into the game he does something good for us. … He’s so intense. There should be more Kevin Pratts.”
One might be enough for the Phoenix.
Bob Sutton / Times-News
May 14, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Check the lineup for most Elon University baseball games and you might think Kevin Pratt isn’t in the game.
Think again.
Or, better yet, listen and watch.
If there’s a clamor or commotion coming from the Elon dugout, there’s a good chance that Pratt is responsible for that.
“I don’t play every day,” Pratt said. “I try to keep everybody in the game. It’s a role I can have until I can get in the game.”
Pratt, a fifth-year senior catcher, takes his status seriously. He orchestrates the team’s good-luck maneuvers and antics related to baseball superstitions.
He’ll make the call on what ploy to implement, such as pulling the lasers (cowboy-style) that worked effectively last year but apparently lost their luster.
“It’s a new year and it didn’t work out for us,” he said.
At times it has become so difficult to find that slice of good luck this season that the Phoenix even tried a totally silent dugout during those moments when superstition dictates some sort of action.
“Kind of an oxymoron for us,” Pratt said. “We were trying to take the pressure off the hitter.”
When the scoreboard shows all deuces (two balls, two strikes, two outs), that’s often when Pratt kicks into gear. “That’s my baby,” he said.
Recently, the Phoenix tried the phantom long bill and shake (taking their caps off and shaking them) in front of the dugout. If there’s a foul ball, Pratt sprints in front of the dugout to refill, with teammates presenting their caps like a deacon might hold the collection plate Sunday mornings.
Last week against North Carolina, the Phoenix mixed it up, going with the “roller coaster” of pounding on the dugout overhang. The Phoenix probably got away with that without umpires’ glares because a big crowd made the noise less intrusive.
The Phoenix has come up short of expectations in many regards this year, taking a 27-24 record into the final week of the regular season. Yet teammates and coaches say that Pratt’s attitude is a constant reminder that they should enjoy themselves and the sport.
“He’s the ring leader,” catcher Drew Davis said. “He gets us energized. He might not get the playing time he wants, but he’ll do anything for you.”
Pratt, a team captain, is Davis’ former roommate and he edits Davis’ Web site diary about the team. (“I missed a bad pronoun last time, so I hope he doesn’t find out. I’ll be in trouble,” Pratt said.)
The Phoenix might not have known what it was missing during Pratt’s first year with the team. Taking a redshirt season in 2003, he often sat in the grandstand charting pitches and flirting with co-eds.
Back in front of or in the dugout, his role comes naturally.
“By default,” he said. “It’s not a glamour job.”
There’s crazy stuff uttered in and around college dugouts. With a schedule that includes more than 50 games, something needs to keep things loose, Pratt said.
“We take it up a notch,” he said. “It’s the competitive juices going, trying to get people feeling the same way. … You start picking up ideas.”
Pratt, a 23-year-old from Charlotte, has played in 88 career games, making nine starts.
“He’s the ultimate team player,” coach Mike Kennedy said. “He hasn’t played a ton. He’s a little short on talent. He has got a lot of heart.
“I don’t know what it’d be like without him. It’d be like a morgue in there.”
Pratt, an English major, said he’s uncertain about his future, but he would like to stay involved in baseball. He hopes to work at summer camps and take it from there.
“It’s going to be real hard for me to put the game down,” he said. “Loving the game. That’s my main motivation.”
In the meantime, he’ll keep motivating his teammates and trying to appease the baseball gods.
“He has been here the longest,” right fielder Ryan Addison said. “Every time he gets into the game he does something good for us. … He’s so intense. There should be more Kevin Pratts.”
One might be enough for the Phoenix.