Shock waves went through the Auburn baseball program last Wednesday when first-year coach Brian Embery stepped down after just 11 games.

Embery left the team five games ago, but didn’t officially resign until Wednesday. Gordon Elliott, who was the program’s junior varsity coach, will fill Embery’s void for the remainder of the season.

“(Embery’s resignation) was a shock to me because I wasn’t ready for it,” admitted Elliott, who also is the school’s football coach. “Because of his resignation, I am the head coach for the rest of the year. It’s too early now (to decide on next year). But you never know.”

Embery had been placed on administrative leave since April 18 while the school district investigated an athletic code violation.

Embery chose not to comment on the situation.

Elliott has a 4-1 record with the team since taking over as head coach.

“The team has been making me look very good,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Trojans have remained relatively unaffected by the change, pitcher Colton Brown said.

“We’re out in the field, so it doesn’t effect us that much,” Brown said.

Along with coaching Auburn’s junior varsity team the last several years, Elliott also has coached baseball at Columbia River High.

“It was a pretty easy transition for me because I’ve had these guys before,” Elliott said.