Kim Elliott recalls baseball -- St. Louis Cardinals baseball more specifically -- being a big part of her childhood.
"We were a big baseball family," she said. "I used to listen to (Cardinals announcer) Harry Caray as a child."
When she had a boy of her own, she wanted to share that love of the sport with him. She would take young Greg Elliott to Cardinals games frequently. She played catch with him and showed him how to hit the ball.
"She introduced me to the game and taught me how to play," said the younger Elliott, whose fathet. Steven, worked a lot and didn't have as many chances to play with him.
Baseball quickly became Greg's favorite sport. When his mom told him he would have to choose between that and football or basketball, he didn't have to think about it very long. He chose baseball and hasn't looked back.
Flash forward to 2011 and Elliott has demonstrated that he made the right decision. He was a standout at McCluer North during his high school years and has been a mainstay on the Florissant American Legion team for three summers including this one.
"He's having an excellent year," said Post 444 coach Todd Wright of Elliott, who will be playing college ball at Harris-Stowe University. "He always does. Last year he was incredible, too. He's just a great all-around athlete."
Elliott is enjoying his finest season yet with Florissant. Through Thursday's play, he was hitting .544 with 31 runs batted in, 43 hits, an .835 slugging percentage and 29 stolen bases. He ranks at or near the top in District 10 in several of those categories.
"I'm seeing the ball at the plate pretty well," said Elliott. "I've struggled a little bit driving the ball the other way but, other than that, it's all good."
Elliott, who likely will be an American Legion All-Star for the second straight season, is a big reason why Florissant is enjoying a fine season. After starting the campaign 6-7, Post 444 had won 14 of 17 games and Elliott has been leading the way.
Hitting out of the No. 3 spot, Elliott is a prolific run producer.
"If anybody is on base there's at least a 90-percent chance they're going to score when he's up," said Wright of Elliott. "That's a great feeling when you're the third base coach."
When there is not somebody on, Elliott is also good at getting on and getting in scoring position with a stolen base. Wright said he's also a solid outfielder.
"He can also play shortstop or third base and last year he pitched for me," said Wright.
There's not much Elliott can't do on the baseball field which is why he was very bummed out when he had to sit out his junior year at McCluer North due to academic issues.
"That was killing me," he said. "We had a good chance to take district that year. Not being able to play, I felt like I let my teammates down and myself down. I think it hurt me a lot with recruiting and all that."
Elliott had a very good season for Post 444 last summer, however, and came back and excelled for the Stars this past spring when he hit .455 and had 14 RBI.
The 19-year-old is excited about playing for Harris-Stowe next spring.
"I'll probably do two years there and then transfer," he said. "I'm going to Harris-Stowe to get my grades right. I want to go D-! but that's hard."
Before he leaves, he's hoping to lead his red-hot Florissant team deep into the playoffs. No. 3 seeded Florissant was upset by No. 6 seed Thoman-Boothe 6-2 in the first round of the double elimination tournament Sunday. Post 444 did rebound to beat Oakville Monday to state alive in the double elimination tournament.
"I think we're doing good," said Elliott. "I feel if we're playing as a team we're pretty much unbeatable. When we lose, we pretty much beat ourselves."
