Personal: Joseph Thomas Sprake is the son of Kevin and Jennifer Sprake…Mother played softball at West Chester University...Born on May 22, 2000.
Honors & Awards
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First Team All-CAA (2021)
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2021 Pitcher of the Year (Team Award)
2022: Did not make an appearance.
2021: Was 6-1 with seven saves and a 3.18 ERA in 23 appearances as Elon's closer. He gathered 23 strikeouts and allowed 14 runs (10 earned) on 21 hits and 13 walks in 28.1 innings pitched...Led the conference in saves and was tied for fourth in wins...Picked up the save in the season opener at UNCG on Feb. 19, striking out a pair and allowing one hit in 1.0 inning of work...Earned the win on Feb. 27 against VCU...Improved to 2-0 after getting the win on Feb. 28 against VCU. He struck out two batters and allowed two unearned runs on one hit and one walk in 2.1 innings of work...Received the save on March 14 against N.C. A&T with two strikeouts and one hit allowed over 1.1 innings...Gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk at UNCW on April 3 as he improved to 3-0...Threw 1.2 innings of scoreless ball vs. HPU on April 6 for his fourth win of the season. He issued one walk and added one strikeout...Got the save in Game Two of a doubleheader vs. W&M on April 10. He struck out the first batter he faced before inducing a fly out and a line out to end the game...Walked two batters and added one strikeout through 2.0 scoreless innings to get the win over UNCW on April 25...Picked up his sixth win against CofC on May 1. He held the Cougars to one unearned run on one hit while striking out a pair...Had a stretch of four saves in as many appearances, starting on May 8 at Wake Forest as he walked one batter and struck out another in 1.0 inning...His next appearance was on May 13 vs. GSU. He struck out two batters and allowed one hit in 1.1 innings to pick up the save...Earned another save on May 14 against GSU after retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth...Earned his final save of the season at CofC on May 20. After giving up a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth, he settled down and retired the next three batters to preserve the 10-7 win over the Cougars.
2020: Pitched 7.0 innings in seven appearances as the Phoenix closer with three saves and a 5.14 ERA...Struck out nine batters while walking seven and giving up four hits...Tied with teammate Kyle Greenler for the team lead in most appearances...Had two four-out saves against UMass Lowell on Feb. 22 and 23...Saved a 5-4 game against UMass Lowell on Feb. 23. With the bases loaded and Elon ahead 5-4, he struck out the final batter looking on a 3-2 pitch to clinch the weekend sweep and pick up the save...Struck out at least one batter in every appearance.
2019: Appeared in 17 games and made one start as a freshman...Had a 4.91 ERA and went 0-2 with a save...Totaled 16 strikeouts in 18.1 innings...Tossed 0.1 innings of relief against Lafayette in his collegiate debut...Made his first career start against N.C. A&T, allowing one unearned run on a hit and two walks...Set season highs with 3.0 innings pitched and three strikeouts at William & Mary.
Prep: Was a two-year varsity starter for Coach Ryan Spillane at Middletown High School South...Earned the Coaches Award and was an Honor Roll student...Perfect Game Top 500 ranking...Played for the North Atlantic Evoshield Canes...Earned all-tournament honors at the Perfect Game 2016 Northeast Qualifier and Perfect Game 2017 Northeast Qualifier...Played in the 2018 WWBA Grads...2018 Perfect Game Preseason Northeast - All-Region Second Team...2018 Preseason All-State honoree.
