Ty Elliott never had a chance to play alongside his brother.
Matt Elliott was too old to ever team up with his younger brother during their youth baseball days; he graduated from Durango High School in 2010, too soon to join together his brother on the varsity level.
But with one quick stroke of his pen, Ty Elliott changed all that.
The younger Elliott signed on to join the baseball squad at Friends University, an NAIA program in Wichita, Kan., where his older brother will be a senior left-handed pitcher this coming season.
The combination of the brotherly relationship and Friends’ interest in the infielder/pitcher made the decision an easy one for Elliott.
“Seemed like I wanted to play baseball with my brother for one year because I never actually got to play with him in my high school career. ... So it’s a chance to play with him,” Elliott said.
“It’ll be nice for his advice. He actually didn’t do so hot his freshman year, so he’s someone to learn from. He’s actually doing way better now, so it’s a good stepping stone in my career to learn from careers other people make and my own and keep going.”
Elliott, whose primary infield position is second base, battled back from a back injury suffered late in basketball season to participate in 13 games for the Demons, who advanced to the final four of the Class 4A state championships. He hit .295 with six runs batted in in 44 at bats, doubling twice and scoring 12 times. He also compiled a 5.33 earned-run average and a 2-1 record in 22.1 innings pitched.
With the Falcons, Elliott said he’s likely going to see the majority of his time in the infield, while potentially having some opportunities to pitch down the road if need be. And defensively, he said he feels prepared for the next level, while adding he’s hoping to pick up his offensive output.
“My defense, I feel I can totally compete with college athletes defensively, but I need to get my bat going,” he said.
DHS head coach Rob Coddington, who has coached both Elliotts in his tenure as head of the baseball program, also said he thinks Elliott’s glove is ready to go, among other things.
“His defense, like he said, he’s a very, very good infielder. He has a good swing, and he’s hit well for us,” Coddington said.
In terms of health, Elliott said he’s feeling much better than he did initially upon his return to the lineup after a summer resting. Along with the back injury, Elliott had an ankle problem to deal with during the season, which he shrugged off rather quickly.
Academically, the Falcon-to-be said he plans on majoring in business and financing, and he already has a course load set up for the fall starting him down that path.
The impetus? His parents, Ahne and Russ Elliott, are active and successful in the Durango business community, results he aspires to replicate some day.
“My dad and my mom both own businesses, and I’ve always just looked up to both of them,” he said.
For now, mom said she’s happy to have her sons playing ball and going to college together, if only for a year. After all, the Elliotts already know how to find the place.
“It’ll be an easy road trip. I can see them both in one trip. And all my money will go to one school,” Ahne Elliott said with a laugh.
rowens@durangoherald.com
