A Red Raider Family Affair
March 05, 2003 | Baseball
March 5, 2003
Playing a sport is like being part of a family. During the season, life consists of eating, sleeping and spending your days surrounded by your team. However, for four Red Raiders this is just an extension of their normal life. Nathan and Cooper Fouts and Travis and Tanner McElroy are two sets of brothers on the Red Raider baseball team whose season-life is just an extension of off-season life.
Nathan and Cooper Fouts are their own little pitching machine. Nathan pitches, Cooper catches. They read each other like no one else can and adapt to each other's strengths and weaknesses. They also appreciate the opportunity that was given to them by Coach Larry Hays.
"It is great to have the opportunity to play together again," said Cooper, the younger of the duo. "A lot of brothers play together when they are younger but don't have the opportunity as they get older."
Senior Nathan Fouts transferred to Tech in 2002 after spending two seasons at the Community College of Southern Nevada where he compiled a 20-2 record and 195 strikeouts, earning First-Team All-America honors. Nathan was ready to make the move to Division I ball and began to look toward Tech.
"I knew how the coaching staff treated people. Also knowing the program, I knew how strong the program was here and also how other programs are and knew I would be a good fit here."
In the 2002 season, Nathan started in 19 games, striking out 76 batters as one of three starting pitchers. After an impressive first year at Tech, look for a visual improvement in Nathan as both he and Cooper admit that playing together improves their game.
"There is not really added stress with us playing together. I know that no matter what he is going to catch me when I throw. He helps calm me down and fixes my problem." While Nathan takes care of things on the mound, his little brother Cooper is behind the plate helping control the game. Sophomore Cooper Fouts, in his first season at Tech after spending his rookie year at CCSN, started in the University of New Mexico series where he hit .300 and recorded 25 putouts behind the plate. Both view their playing together as an asset to the program.
"I can read him better than any one else. The little things make all the difference. We also don't make it a personal, brotherly thing. We are trying to make the team better and ourselves too."
Senior outfielder Travis McElroy and sophomore pitcher Tanner McElroy are another pair of brothers at Tech this season. Travis made the transition to Tech in his junior year, after spending time at Louisiana Tech. During 2002, Travis logged 18 hits, three doubles, and three home runs with 11 RBI. Travis cites the impressive reputation of Tech baseball as the reason for Tanner coming to Tech but he does admit that he added a little persuasion to his decision.
"There used to be a little sibling rivalry when we were younger. I think he enjoyed having an older brother because he didn't get picked on," Travis modestly comments. "I try and set a good example. I admit it that it is nice to have him look up to me."
Tanner like most high school senior athletes was a little weary of where his collegiate playing experience should take him. His options consisted of Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. As a college sophomore, Travis was not happy at Louisiana Tech and was exploring his options. The duo talked about it and Tanner decided to meet his brother at Texas Tech, both knowing what a fine program was there.
In 2002 Tanner made an appearance in only one game as relief pitcher, which was at the Ballpark in Arlington for a match up against Big 12 foe Nebraska. Travis and Tanner have followed the same path growing up and continue to do so in a way into college. Tanner was always two steps behind Travis growing up with the two playing the same sports but always playing a league behind.
"We have always played the same sports growing up. I guess now that I think about it I have always copied him. The difference being that he is in the outfield and I am a pitcher," said Tanner. "I always looked up to him. We played together for the first time in high school and that was really cool."
Although there is the natural competitiveness between the pair of brothers, both the Fouts and McElroy brothers are adamant that them playing together will not only strengthen their individual ability but also the team's as a whole.