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Elder had been one of McKay’s go-to guys for two seasons at Sacramento City College as an outfielder and middle-of-the-order batter, which helped earn Elder a scholarship to NCAA Division I Oral Roberts University (Okla.) this fall.
“Coming in here, I wasn’t sure about the competition I was going to see, if they were going to be heads and shoulders above me,” Elder said of the Northwoods League. “But I don’t see that at all. I feel like I’m at a level with the other players and I definitely feel I can play D-I. I want to be the best possible player I can be by the end of the summer, that’s my goal.”
Elder, who started the season on a 10-day contract, has become a fixture in right field for the Loggers. Entering this weekend, Elder had played in 47 of 50 games, second only to the team’s other outfielders, Cory Vaughn (50 games) and P.J. Polk (48).
“He pretty much gives you something every day,” McKay said. “He’s just kind of figuring out who he is as a player. He’s gotten better every day that I’ve coached him and he’s done well this summer.”
Elder has found the unforgiving NWL schedule to his liking.
“I don’t think about how many games I’ve played or will play, I just think about today,” Elder said. “Even when I’ve had a day off, I’ve wanted to play. I want to be in the lineup, but if I’m not, I have a new role. I enjoy being out here. It’s a grind, but I enjoy every minute of it.”
Elder batted .307 with two homers and 46 RBI while starting all but one game this spring at SCC. Elder has grooved his power swing with the Loggers (team-leading 13 doubles, three homers) while batting .233 with 22 RBI.
“I always knew I had the ability to hit the ball out, but I didn’t hit that many (home runs) in college; I was kind of a raw talent,”Elder said. “There were a lot of situations where I needed to be more polished. I pretty much had a high ceiling as far as potential, that’s what I’ve been told, so I know I can do those things like hit doubles and drive in runs, but I need to try to find a consistent approach.”
McKay said Elder had rough edges talent-wide when he showed up at SCC from Armijo High School in Fairfield, Calif.
“He was incredibly crude,” McKay said. “He’s turned into a very good outfielder, he’s probably the one guy who if we absolutely need a stolen base, can get it for us, and he’s a better baserunner and bunter. And now, he knows he can hit for power. I think he’s just now finding out what he needs to be and is working on doing it on a consistent basis.”
McKay, a sports psychology teacher at SCC, begins each Loggers afternoon practice with a talk intended to sharpen his players’ mental focus. It’s nothing new for Elder, who nevertheless appreciates the sessions.
“My whole outlook toward the game has improved,” Elder said. “I can go 0-for-4 or 0-for-8 and I try not to let it faze me because I can critically look at the game and understand how it works, that you’re going to have stretches where you’re 0-for-8 but you go into each at-bat saying, ‘I’m going to win this time.’”
Elder, who played on an American Legion team last summer, hasn’t been so focused that he’s forgotten to have fun.
“I’m having tons of fun,” Elder said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I wouldn’t want to be at home with friends just hanging out; I’d rather be here. It’s been fantastic. I feel I’ve gotten tremendously better.”
Elder was at the center of a near-brawl — the first of two, actually — with the Wisconsin Woodchucks on June 18. Elder hit a long home run in the second inning off starter Kyle Gumieny. The next time Elder came to the plate, Gumieny threw a pitch behind his head. Elder exchanged words with Gumieny and catcher Carson Vitale before Woodchucks manager Jim Gantner put Elder in a bear hug to remove him from the area.
“That’s part of the game,” Elder said. “That was fun, too.”
Joel Badzinski can be reached at (608) 791-8402 or joel.badzinski@lee.net
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