Westminster pitcher Elder commits to Arizona

The pitcher known for leaving hitters in droughts will play college baseball in the desert.

Senior Kevin Elder of Westminster Christian gave a verbal commitment Friday to pitch for the University of Arizona.

Elder, who helped Westminster Christian win a Class 1A state title as a sophomore in 2010, finished his junior season with an ERA of 1.81 and a WHIP of 0.88 in 69⅔ innings. The two-time Daily Herald All-Area pick struck out 132 and walked 26.

“It feels great,” said the 17-year-old Elgin resident. “I told my parents that when I started playing baseball as a kid I never thought I’d play for a Division-I college. Now that it’s done I hope I can go on even further than that.” Elder has the kind of electric stuff that has professional scouts and college coaches taking notice, including veteran coach Andy Lopez (1003-626-7), who has spent the last seven years of his esteemed 28-year career coaching the Wildcats in Tucson.

Elder throws four pitches — fastball, changeup, curveball and cutter — and he throws all four from different arm angles: overhand, three quarters and sidearm.

Lopez, who coached Pepperdine to its only national title in 1992, first saw Elder pitch last summer at the Perfect Game Tournament in Jupiter, Fla. The Arizona staff contacted him via email shortly thereafter and asked for more information, however, Elder misunderstood the email and did not reply, he said.

“I found parts of the college recruiting process to be pretty confusing,” Elder said.

The two sides made contact again last month, and the Arizona staff traveled to see Elder pitch in the Midwest Top 50 prospects tournament in Kansas City on July 25. Lopez made Elder an offer the following week and the family drove to Arizona to visit the campus.

Elder verbally committed on Friday, choosing the Wildcats instead of an offer from the University of Illinois.

“It would have been a great college to go to,” Elder said of Illinois. “It was definitely my top choice until the Arizona offer. But (Lopez) is one of the best pitching coaches in college baseball in addition to being the head coach. His pitching experience appealed to me a lot and he’s a great guy.

“Also, the campus is really cool and playing baseball there puts me in a better situation to get seen. It feels like a block has been lifted off my chest. I’m glad to have this done before my senior year.”

Elder, who maintains a 3.3 grade-point average, is undecided on a major.