NAME: Elijah

NUMBER: 3

POSITION: Shortstop, Pitcher

YEARS PLAYING: 8

PREVIOUS TEAMS: Braves, Angels, Cardinals

FAVORITE MLB TEAM: The Braves because I grew up watching them alot and I just followed what teams my parents liked.

FAVORITE MLB PLAYER: Rafael Furcal the shortstop for the Dodgers now. He is a great player and I have grown to enjoy watching him play.

GREATEST MOMENT IN BASEBALL: Well the play I had last week is the play I have gotten most recognition for when I ran from the pitchers mound to home plate and caught a diving catch when it was about to drop.

Here is the account...

Eli leads off while Adam steals 2nd ELI’S COMING - Those of us in attendance will permanently have etched in our minds the late-in-the game play from Eli. I know that I have replayed it in my mind at least a hundred times. The batter popped up a foul ball about 4 feet towards the 3rd base side but in foul territory at which time Adam jumped up and threw off his mask and had no idea where to even look for the ball.   I was about to yell to look up when out of nowhere came this flash from the pitching mound. Saying anything would have caused a sure collision between he and Adam. At a full run, Eli came running towards the ball and with an unbelievable dive, he flew horizontally at least 8 feet with his arm fully extended at about 12 inches off the ground to catch the ball just before it hit the ground. As he snagged it he continued to slide face first towards the fence right in front of our fans.  Eli displays the type of dedication and commitment that makes all of this time involvement worthwhile. Off the field, Eli just a normal guy. He is well liked, funny, and just a joy to be around. On the field he is totally committed and inspiring to his fellow players, coaches, and our fans. It was such a payoff to all of us watching his incredible play. And while most players would either be unaware that a play like that could even be attempted, or way too cool to give all their effort to catch an apparently out-of-reach pop-up so late in a game that had already been decided, Eli taught us all to keep giving it our best effort no matter what the scoreboard says. All I can keep saying is “That was incredible!” At-A-Boy Eli!

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT IN BASEBALL: Last year in the championship game I missed a simple grounder that lost the first game out of the two championship games I had that day. FAVORITE DREAM MOMENT IN BASEBALL:... Bottom of the 9th... Well its pretty much everyones dream play to be at bat with two outs and the bases loaded when your down by three and hitting a grand slam. HOBBIES: Snowboarding and baseball. FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Chocolate brownie fudge

FUTURE CAREER: Architect or engineer

How has playing baseball made you a better person? I have become a better sport and I have learned how to help people and become nicer to alot of people.

What is the most challenging part about playing baseball? Lately I have been trying to get over the fear of getting hit in the face with the ball on grounders. In the preseason practices I took two facial shots from bad bounces and they hurt a lot.

What is the best thing a coach has either told you or said about you? Coach Leavitt's write up on our website about me.

What other information would you like to share about yourself? I've lived in Fargo, North Dakota, Laie, Hawaii and Utah. I've traveled to most of the states and like to take vacations with my adorable mother.

FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYINGS: He who eats last gets the least!

Elijah	Pitching in practice

No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games.  No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games.  It's the other third that makes the difference.  ~Tommy Lasorda