Quad City Hitmen Baseball Hall of Fame

2008 Inductee - Elliott Kelso

March 29, 2008, as read by Patrick Rangel, Executive Director, Quad City Hitmen Baseball and Softball Academy -

Elliott was a 7-year member of the Quad City Hitmen. Among the honors he has collected are the 2003 Mel Blaser Competitive Edge Award Winner. He has accumulated over a dozen All-Tournament 1st team awards in regional and national competition, including Most Valuable Player Honors at the Brian Rangel Memorial 8U tournament in 1999 and MVP honors as a 12-year-old at the National tournament in 2002. Elliott has hit over 100 Home Runs for the Quad City Hitmen from 8-14 years old. He has been a 4-year starter on varsity for Alleman High School, earning 1st team All-Conference and 1st team All-metro the past two seasons, and awarded Pacesetter of the week by the Moline Dispatch/R.I. Argus.

In 2005, Elliott was recognized as a top 100 Baseball prospect in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report. In 2007, the Allen Mathews Prep Report recognized Elliott as the 58th Top prospect among all U.S. High School Players. Elliott has qualified and represented our area in the IHSA Hitting Derby, has been ranked #1 in raw power at the Team One Showcase in Cincinnati, OH, and has hit 22 Home Runs during his High School career. His next home run will tie the all-time career home run mark at Alleman High School.

In 2007, Elliott was selected and played for the Washington National Team at the Area Code Games held in Long Beach California, he was named to the Nike SPARQ 1st team, and ranked 4th overall in the Nike SPARQ testing at the area code games where over 200 athletes from across the nation competed. Elliott is recognized in the Who's Who among High School Athletes; he has received the Joe and Deloris Healy Scholarship Award at Alleman High School and is a pre-season All-State selection.

Elliott has served as a youth ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, served as a fund raising organizer for the Ella Christopher Spinal Muscular Atrophy benefit, and serves 8 hours per month on the Peer Justice Program in Rock Island County.

Among 62 competitors from every state and internationally, Elliott hit the longest home run with a wooden bat at the 2008 International High School Power Showcase Home Run Derby held at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Devils Rays. That home run was a 420 foot shot.

On behalf of the Quad City Hitmen Baseball and Softball Academy, the Coaches and players, it is my pleasure to welcome Elliott Kelso into the Quad City Hitmen Hall of Fame.

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