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Just Call Him 'The Natural'

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By CLIFF GILL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 5, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - In the 1984 film "The Natural," Robert Redford played a gifted baseball player who approached the manager and asked for a chance to try out for the team.

In the spring of 2007, at a backyard barbecue, Elliott Desvergnes approached former Florida State pitcher Brad Hayes and asked to play catch.

"He threw the ball with perfect mechanics," Hayes said. "You can't teach the natural ability. It just came naturally: perfect balance, shoulders square. He already had the fundamentals. One of the best young players I've ever seen."

Hayes, who was drafted by the New York Mets, encouraged Desvergnes to participate in organized baseball.

A few weeks later, at the West Pasco Little League tryouts, Desvergnes made a similar impression on Coach Eddie Davies.

"It was our team's first practice when I met Elliott," Davies said. "I remember his mother, Kristen, telling me that the family had recently moved to Florida from Maine and that Elliott had never played any kind of sport before. I was trying out some boys to see who can pitch. I put Elliott on the mound. This boy was a natural. It wasn't long until he became our starting pitcher."

The coaches worked with Elliott showing him how to hold the ball and teaching him a few off-speed pitches. He finished the season with an ERA less than 2.00.

When the regular season ended, Desvergnes was chosen to play on the all-star team. His coaches on that team were equally impressed.

"Elliott's a special kid," said Randy Keslar. "Raw and natural athleticism. He had an ERA of 1.29 through the all-star games. He was one of our top three pitchers and was clocked at over 60 mph. As our starting center fielder, Elliott was perfect in the field with seven catches, five of which were ESPN-highlight plays.

"As the outfield coach, my instructions for Elliott was that he had everything from foul pole to foul pole and that right and left fielders were his wingmen. Elliott has such natural speed, it was like watching a deer running loose in a field. Literally."

Desvergnes is also a natural in the classroom. The River Ridge Middle School seventh-grader has a 3.7 grade-point average, and one of his favorite subjects is math.

"Elliott is an ideal math student," said teacher Sherri Pearson. "I never have to ask him to begin working on the day's activity. He is always prepared and hasn't missed a homework assignment. His responsibility, positive attitude and natural math abilities are contributing factors to his A average."

Language arts teacher Laura Mallo agrees, adding: "Elliott is an outstanding student. ... Elliott is also respected by his peers and is ready to lend a hand when needed."

Desvergnes regularly participates in school fundraisers, this year collecting more than $100. After school and on weekends, he earns money by mowing lawns and trimming hedges in the neighborhood.

When he learned an elderly widow was unable to maintain her lawn and flowers, he volunteered to do the work.

"I will help anyone, regardless of whether I know them or not," he said. "When my parents were growing up, they talked about how neighbors helped each other. I want to continue doing that."

Teachers, coaches: If you would like to nominate an outstanding student-athlete to be featured in an upcoming In The Community article, contact Cliff Gill at reportercliffgill@yahoo.com or (727) 860-4903.

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