2016 (Senior Year): Appeared in 53 games, all starts … played exclusively at second base … was a Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference selection … posted a batting line of .279/.356/.375, with six doubles, four home runs, 21 RBIs and 33 runs scored … ranked second on the team in batting average and runs scored … ranked third on the team in home runs … ranked fifth among Redbirds with 21 RBIs … was hit by a pitch seven times, leading the team … drew 19 walks, third-most on the team … tallied a season-high four hits at Belmont (2/20) … hit his first home run of the season at Belmont (2/20) … also homered against Milwaukee (3/19), at Tulane (3/26) and against Wichita State (5/14) … posted 15 multi-hit games … drove in three runs each at Belmont (2/20) and against Wichita State (5/14) … reached base in 28-straight games (between 4/2 and 5/25) … named to the MVC and AFNI honor rolls.
2015 (Junior Year): Appeared in 42 games, making 37 starts as a second baseman and designated hitter … earned All-MVC Second-Team honors … slashed .338/.401/.482 with eight doubles, four home runs, 18 runs scored and 24 RBIs … led the Redbirds in batting average … finished the year strong after a slow start, after hitting just .138 over the first month of the season … recorded 53 assists and 43 putouts, without making an error … was the only Redbird to record five hits in a game during the 2015 season, accomplishing the feat against Eastern Illinois (3/31) … hit two home runs and set a career high with four RBIs against Eastern Illinois (3/31) … matched career high with four RBIs against SIUE (5/2) … collected 14 multi-hit games … doubled twice at Bradley (5/9) … went 6-for-6 with two doubles, a walk, a sacrifice fly, three runs scored and two RBIs in a doubleheader at Bradley (5/9) … named to the AFNI Honor Roll.
2014 (Sophomore Year): Appeared in 44 games, making 37 starts as a second baseman and designated hitter … slashed .283/.359/.341 with three doubles, 16 runs scored and 16 RBIs … had his best game of the year against LIU-Brooklyn (3/7), going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two RBIs … also had three hits in games against Arkansas State (2/22) and Bowling Green (3/11) … recorded 13 multi-hit games … tallied 40 assists and 25 putouts, while committing only three errors, for a .956 fielding percentage … named to the AFNI Honor Roll.
2013 (Redshirt Freshman Year): Appeared in 24 games, making 10 starts as an infielder ... slashed .195/.327/.220 with one double and two RBIs ... went 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts ... scored five runs ... tallied two hits versus Eastern Illinois (3/23) ... delivered a pinch-hit, game-tying RBI single at Bradley (4/27) in a come-from-behind win.
2012 (Freshman Year): Redshirted.
East Peoria Community HS: Was a four-year starter for the baseball team ... batted .425 with four home runs, 35 walks and 27 stolen bases as a senior ... served as a team captain for three years … earned all-state, all-area, All-Mid Illini Conference and team MVP honors ... hit .536 with six home runs, 27 doubles and a school-record 35 stolen bases as a junior ... received all-state, all-area, All-Mid Illini Conference and team MVP accolades ... helped 2010 team to conference championship ... batted .526 with four home runs, 15 doubles and 27 stolen bases as a sophomore ... earned second-team all-area, All-Mid Illini Conference and team MVP honors ... helped the Raiders to 2009 conference title ... hit .360 with two home runs and 25 stolen bases as a freshman ... was also a four-year member of the basketball team and two-time all-conference selection ... set the school record for most three-point field goals ... named to the honor roll.
Personal: Born Sept. 4, 1992 in Peoria, Illinois … son of Ron and Lisa Kelch ... has one sister, Katie ... father coaches basketball at East Peoria Community High School ... uncle, Jim Kelch, is a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds ... majoring in physical education.
