Post by elon_phan on May 22, 2007 21:19:29 GMT -5
I was surprised to see that Elon leads the SoCon in team ERA in conference games.
Hensley aims for magic touch at tourney time
By Adam Smith / Times-News
May 22, 2007 3:17 AM
ELON — Recent results have been bothersome to Steven Hensley, but he figures his fortunes can change without major overhauls.
The Elon University pitcher has gone nearly 1½ months without a victory, with a stretch of solid outings going for naught for one reason or another.
“I’ve not pitched particularly bad,” he said Monday. “It has just been some particular events.”
The next event for the Phoenix is the biggest of the season. Hensley goes to the mound Wednesday against Georgia Southern in the Southern Conference Tournament.
Elon coach Mike Kennedy didn’t have to think twice about keeping Hensley at the front of the rotation.
With the exception of an April 27 loss to UNC Greensboro, Kennedy said the right-hander has been plenty good enough to win games the past four starts.
“We either haven’t scored or we haven’t caught the baseball,” Kennedy said. “He has been pretty consistent. His numbers support that. It tells you he has been doing a pretty good job.”
Hensley holds a 7-5 record, making him the team leader in wins, earned run average (3.84), innings (93 2/3) and strikeouts (99). He also has one save.
He needs one strikeout to become the first Elon pitcher with 100 since Ronnie Johnson’s school-record 113 in 1977. The sophomore ranks eighth on Elon’s career strikeout list with 195.
The highlights for Hensley, who has been the lead-off pitcher Fridays for weekend series, are rather basic.
“Just getting the opportunity to pitch,” he said. “I feel like I give my team a chance to win. That’s what you want, as long as we were in the game and in position to win.
“There has just been a little string of bad luck. It’s the job of the Friday night guy to come in and set the tone for the weekend.”
In that role last week against Wofford, a third-strike wild pitch opened the way for what proved to be the decisive runs. It was a fluky development that turned dismal for the Phoenix (29-27).
“Things like that happen,” Hensley said.
He threw 115 pitches in that outing, but he said he should be fine for the next assignment.
He would like a couple of more college starts this spring if the Phoenix extends its season before he pitches this summer in the Cape Code League for college players.
Last year, Hensley opened the conference tournament on the mound for Elon.
“It’s not uncharted territory,” he said.
Elon pitchers hold the Southern Conference’s best team earned run average (4.55) in conference games. That’s enough to suggest that the Phoenix could be a factor this week.
Behind Hensley, starters Will Romanowicz, Zach Booker and Jesse Lewter are coming off solid outings. Booker and Lewter pitched complete-game victories last week.
Romanowicz has sore ribs after he was inadvertently hit by catcher Pat Irvine’s throw Saturday, but Kennedy said that shouldn’t affect the right-hander’s availability.
It might take all hands on board in the tournament.
“You can get hot for four days and be in a (NCAA) regional,” Hensley said. “If you get hot at the right time, the possibilities are endless.”
It starts with him.
Hensley aims for magic touch at tourney time
By Adam Smith / Times-News
May 22, 2007 3:17 AM
ELON — Recent results have been bothersome to Steven Hensley, but he figures his fortunes can change without major overhauls.
The Elon University pitcher has gone nearly 1½ months without a victory, with a stretch of solid outings going for naught for one reason or another.
“I’ve not pitched particularly bad,” he said Monday. “It has just been some particular events.”
The next event for the Phoenix is the biggest of the season. Hensley goes to the mound Wednesday against Georgia Southern in the Southern Conference Tournament.
Elon coach Mike Kennedy didn’t have to think twice about keeping Hensley at the front of the rotation.
With the exception of an April 27 loss to UNC Greensboro, Kennedy said the right-hander has been plenty good enough to win games the past four starts.
“We either haven’t scored or we haven’t caught the baseball,” Kennedy said. “He has been pretty consistent. His numbers support that. It tells you he has been doing a pretty good job.”
Hensley holds a 7-5 record, making him the team leader in wins, earned run average (3.84), innings (93 2/3) and strikeouts (99). He also has one save.
He needs one strikeout to become the first Elon pitcher with 100 since Ronnie Johnson’s school-record 113 in 1977. The sophomore ranks eighth on Elon’s career strikeout list with 195.
The highlights for Hensley, who has been the lead-off pitcher Fridays for weekend series, are rather basic.
“Just getting the opportunity to pitch,” he said. “I feel like I give my team a chance to win. That’s what you want, as long as we were in the game and in position to win.
“There has just been a little string of bad luck. It’s the job of the Friday night guy to come in and set the tone for the weekend.”
In that role last week against Wofford, a third-strike wild pitch opened the way for what proved to be the decisive runs. It was a fluky development that turned dismal for the Phoenix (29-27).
“Things like that happen,” Hensley said.
He threw 115 pitches in that outing, but he said he should be fine for the next assignment.
He would like a couple of more college starts this spring if the Phoenix extends its season before he pitches this summer in the Cape Code League for college players.
Last year, Hensley opened the conference tournament on the mound for Elon.
“It’s not uncharted territory,” he said.
Elon pitchers hold the Southern Conference’s best team earned run average (4.55) in conference games. That’s enough to suggest that the Phoenix could be a factor this week.
Behind Hensley, starters Will Romanowicz, Zach Booker and Jesse Lewter are coming off solid outings. Booker and Lewter pitched complete-game victories last week.
Romanowicz has sore ribs after he was inadvertently hit by catcher Pat Irvine’s throw Saturday, but Kennedy said that shouldn’t affect the right-hander’s availability.
It might take all hands on board in the tournament.
“You can get hot for four days and be in a (NCAA) regional,” Hensley said. “If you get hot at the right time, the possibilities are endless.”
It starts with him.
