Southeast Missourian player of the week: Leopold's Joe Elfrink

Leopold senior Joe Elfrink turned in an iron-man performance last week against Oak Ridge, pitching all nine innings and striking out 15 batters in the Wildcats' 4-3 extra-inning road victory against Oak Ridge.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander saved his best for last as he improved to 4-0 this spring.

Leopold coach James Lewis had informed Elfrink he was going to be removed after he held the Blue Jays scoreless in the bottom of the eighth.

"He said, 'Coach, if we score, can I go back out?'" Lewis said. "I said, 'If we score, yeah, you can go back out. And we score two runs in the top of the ninth and I let him go back out, and he struck out the side in the ninth."

Elfrink allowed seven hits and walked two in the 152-pitch performance.

"He's one of those pitchers that get stronger the more he throws," Lewis said. "He's a little bit of a throw-back in that sense. Most guys once they hit 100 pitches, they're pretty much gassed and they're done. And literally, it's to the point where I make him throw extra in his bullpen warming up, because usually when he hits 100 pitches, that's the time where he really starts pitching. He starts throwing harder and it's got more movement."

Elfrink has a 1.45 ERA and has struck out 52 batters in 38 innings this season.

Lewis said he throws Elfrink against the Wildcats' toughest opponents. Those outings include a complete game in a 4-3 victory over Chaffee earlier this season.

"He's our horse," Lewis said.

Elfrink, who plays shortstop or center field when not on the mound, also bats third in the lineup. He's was hitting .463 with four doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs at week's end, which had the Wildcats sitting at 11-6-1.