May 10, 2007 - 06:09:15 CDT
If you want to try to trip up Len Stanley, just ask him where Josh Standing Elk is the most valuable to his Bismarck State baseball team.As a pitcher? At third base? At the plate?
You'll find Stanley stumbling to come up with an answer. That's because Standing Elk is pretty darned valuable in all those areas.
"I don't think there's any one thing that stands out," Stanley said. "He's a solid defender at third base. He's solid on the hill. With wood bats, everybody has struggled."
Then, Stanley paused for a long moment, feeling forced to come up with an answer.
"I'd say it would be his pitching, defense and then his bat," Stanley said.
Standing Elk's versatility will lead the Mystics (11-17) in the postseason. BSC travels to Madison, Wis., for the NJCAA Region 13 tournament. The event runs from Friday through Sunday.
Standing Elk has a 3-3 record on the mound and an ERA of 2.86. The right-hander has fanned 23 hitters and walked 17 in 44 innings.
"He keeps the ball down low," Stanley said. "He's got very good control. He doesn't walk many. His demeanor on the mound is outstanding. He's very composed and confident."
Standing Elk moved to Bismarck from California when he was 13. He graduated from Bismarck High in 2005.
It was when he was in high school that his talent on the hill was discovered. When Standing Elk was 16 he saw his first real action.
"They decided to throw me one game and I became more of an every day pitcher," Standing Elk said. "It gave me more versatility. I thought pitching would be harder. It took a lot of work. I didn't just snap into it."
Standing Elk is now one of the top two pitchers in the Mon-Dak Conference.
As a defender, Standing Elk has committed seven errors in 92 chances, for a fielding percentage of .946. He's also seen some time at first base this season. Standing Elk showed off his fielding talents this past weekend in Miles City, Mont., at the Mon-Dak Conference tournament.
"He made some phenomenal plays," Stanley said. "He fielded some slow rollers barehanded that left some people saying 'wow.' "
Standing Elk is hitting No. 6 in the Mystics lineup. He's hitting .239 with seven RBIs and a home run.
While some hitters are squawking about going to wood bats from aluminum, Standing Elk has welcomed the challenge.
"It's taught me to be more patient at the plate and to look for the best pitch," Standing Elk said. "I like it more from when we used aluminum. It's made me a better hitter."
Standing Elk has struck out 10 times in 80 at-bats.
"He puts the ball down and makes contact with it," Stanley said. "If there's such a thing as a team player, he's it. He brings a lot of value with his all-around ability."
coach worm wrote on Nov 15, 2007 4:38 PM:
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