Elray Laughlin

Antioch High School 1964

When Elray Laughlin was on a roll, the opposing team didn’t stand much of a chance. The 1964 Antioch High School graduate sent 53 batters back to the dugout in 35 innings pitched. The senior had an ERA of .81, earning the moniker of “workhorse” of the pitching staff. In a game against archrival Pittsburg High, Elray tossed a three-hitter and had 16 strikeouts in a 2-1 victory, earning a new nickname of “Strike-out King” from a local sportswriter. The Panthers were co-champions of their division that season with an 11-5 record. Elray was co-MVP for the Panthers in 1964 and was named Second Team All-Contra Costa Division for the second time, having also earned the honor as a junior in 1963. The senior game victories, added to his 4-0 junior season, gave Elray an 8-1 high school career total in which he struck out 105 batters over 88 innings. Highlights of Elray’s junior year: A one-hitter in his varsity debut against Ygnacio Valley High and going 24 innings without allowing an earned run. College Park High felt the pain of defeat twice when Elray was on the mound; one game ended with striking out 16 batters in a 12-inning dogfight and a second match-up resulted in a three-hit, 1-0 shutout in which 12 Falcon batters were struck-out. When Elray Laughlin was on a roll, the opposing team didn’t stand much of a chance. The 1964 Antioch High School graduate sent 53 batters back to the dugout in 35 innings pitched. The senior had an ERA of .81, earning the moniker of “workhorse” of the pitching staff. In a game against archrival Pittsburg High, Elray tossed a three-hitter and had 16 strikeouts in a 2-1 victory, earning a new nickname of “Strike-out King” from a local sportswriter. The Panthers were co-champions of their division that season with an 11-5 record. Elray was co-MVP for the Panthers in 1964 and was named Second Team All-Contra Costa Division for the second time, having also earned the honor as a junior in 1963. The senior game victories, added to his 4-0 junior season, gave Elray an 8-1 high school career total in which he struck out 105 batters over 88 innings. Highlights of Elray’s junior year: A one-hitter in his varsity debut against Ygnacio Valley High and going 24 innings without allowing an earned run. College Park High felt the pain of defeat twice when Elray was on the mound; one game ended with striking out 16 batters in a 12-inning dogfight and a second match-up resulted in a three-hit, 1-0 shutout in which 12 Falcon batters were struck-out. In 1970, the Antioch Daily Ledger newspaper named Elray to its First Team “All-Decade” roster of the best Antioch High School players of the 1960s. Elray’s pitching prowess did not go unnoticed by Major League Baseball. Following his last high school game, a scout from the new MLB expansion team, the Houston Colt .45’s (which later became the Houston Astros), invited Elray to join the farm team based in San Rafael as a relief pitcher. Elray traveled with the team to games in Nevada and Colorado. He later enrolled at Diablo Valley College, earning the “Most Inspirational Award” from the Vikings during his two-year stay prior to being drafted into the military. In 1970, the Antioch Daily Ledger newspaper named Elray to its First Team “All-Decade” roster of the best Antioch High School players of the 1960s. Elray’s pitching prowess did not go unnoticed by Major League Baseball. Following his last high school game, a scout from the new MLB expansion team, the Houston Colt .45’s (which later became the Houston Astros), invited Elray to join the farm team based in San Rafael as a relief pitcher. Elray traveled with the team to games in Nevada and Colorado. He later enrolled at Diablo Valley College, earning the “Most Inspirational Award” from the Vikings during his two-year stay prior to being drafted into the military.