Elder thriving as Westminster’s ‘other’ ace

Updated: May 16, 2011 3:42PM

Kevin Elder is the rare 17-year-old who has a fastball that tops out near 90 miles per hour and yet still isn’t the main attraction on his high school baseball team.

Such is life for Elder, a Westminster Christian junior who forms half of one of the state’s most dominant pitching duos with fellow teammate Ryan Perez.

Prep Baseball Report’s rankings of the top juniors in Illinois have Elder No. 5 and Perez No. 8, but you wouldn’t know that with the way Perez is attracting national media attention for his uncanny ability to dominate on mound with both his right and left arms.

Perez and Elder are equally valuable to the reigning Class 1A state champion Warriors, but Elder harbors no animosity when television cameras and print reporters come around only to see Perez dazzle with his ambidextrous talents.

“Ryan might be the only high school pitcher that can do what he does, so him having all the headlines, he deserves it,” Elder said. “He’s been my friend for six years and we’re like brothers. Anything that happens to him, I’m happy, and anything that happens to me, he’s happy.”

Westminster’s other dual threat

Elder might only pitch with his right hand, but the 6-foot, 215-pounder can still give opponents a variety of looks much like his ambidextrous teammate.

One inning Elder will throw with a sidearm delivery, and the next he’ll come with a more traditional overhand delivery. He boasts a blazing fastball and a devastating change-up from both arm slots, and this season he’s developed a nasty overhand slider to complement his sidearm curveball.

“That (slider) has been one of my better out pitches,” Elder said. “Changing from overhand to sidearm gives everybody a different look. If one isn’t working, the other one is there. If they’re both working, it’s just even more of an advantage.”

Elder’s vexing repertoire of pitches helped him lead Westminster in strikeouts each of the past two seasons. This year he’s second on the team to Perez with 110 strikeouts in 57-2/3 innings to go along with a 7-2 record and 1.94 ERA.

Improved control has helped Elder allow only 24 walks and 31 hits this season, but there’s no question he’s a strikeout pitcher. In his three varsity seasons he has 353 strikeouts in 205 innings, and he’s well on pace to break Ben Palmer’s school record of 391 career strikeouts, which stands as the 18th highest total in state history according to IHSA.org.

“Kevin brings a different kind of approach when he’s on the mound,” said coach Jeff Moeller. “He’s a guy that just keeps coming after you. He’s also probably a lot more intimidating to a batter than Ryan is just because of the way he carries himself on the mound and how hard he throws from the different arm angles.”

A closer’s mentality

Moeller and Westminster pitching coach Juan Perez, Ryan’s father, take full advantage of having two aces on their staff. Ryan Perez will start on the mound in most big games, throwing a few innings with his left hand while occasionally switching to his right hand. Regardless of how Perez is faring, Elder will flip-flop positions with Perez by coming in from third base to pitch the final few innings.

The approach has allowed Elder and Perez to combine for several no-hitters during their three varsity seasons, including one in last year’s supersectional victory against Ottawa Marquette. In almost every case, Elder is the one who closes the games out.

“If you give Kevin a lead, he tastes the blood and he’s going after it,” Moeller said.

Adds Elder: “I’ve always closed out games and that’s where I feel most comfortable. I like starting, but coming in behind Ryan and knowing that if I get guys out we have a good chance of winning, I really like that. Especially if there’s a little pressure where it’s the seventh inning and we’re only winning by a run or two and I have to close the door.”

Future looks bright

Hearing Elder on his passion for finishing games, it isn’t hard to imagine the burly right-hander some day trotting in from the bullpen as a Major League closer.

College and professional scouts are already taking a keen interest in Elder and Perez. This summer Elder will get big-time exposure when he suits up for the East Cobb Braves, one of the top traveling teams in the country based in Marietta, Ga.

“The exposure to southern schools is a big thing for me,” Elder said. “I’ve had exposure to the northern schools, but the southern schools will be something I’m looking into.”

Elder, who grew up being home schooled in Somonauk before moving with his family to Elgin shortly before beginning high school, said he hopes to make a college decision prior to the start of the school year next fall. Regardless of where Elder lands, Moeller is convinced his ace will have success.

“He’s a lot more of a competitor than people think,” Moeller said. “He doesn’t show a lot out there, but he does not like to lose.”

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