Spring Break
MLB player returns for homecoming
Addison Harvey
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Sports
Chad Tracy returned to ECU's Clark-LeClair Stadium this past weekend to partake in Homecoming festivities. The Arizona Diamondbacks' third baseman starred at ECU from 1999-2001 before becoming the seventh round pick of the Diamondbacks in the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft.
Tracy went to West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. After graduating from high school, he took his skills to ECU on a baseball scholarship. Tracy had a stellar career for the Pirates, compiling a .339 batting average over his three-year career. After Tracy's junior season, he was draft-eligible and could not resist a shot at making it in the Majors.
When the former Pirate returned to ECU on Friday, it was the first time he had stepped onto the infield at Clark-LeClair Stadium. When Tracy played for the university, Bagwell Field was the home of the Pirates.
"This place is amazing and it just shows you the hard work that a lot of people have put in this program has paid off," said Tracy, when discussing Clark LeClair stadium.
Hard work and determination are essential for any professional athletic career, and this was no different for Tracy.
"I worked harder here than I have ever worked in my life. I learned work ethic and how to play the game the way it is supposed to be played," he said.
Tracy has had some trouble staying healthy this past season, appearing in only 88 out of 162 games, but he persevered and kept focused on his goal of maintaining a MLB career.
ECU sophomore shortstop Dustin Harrington says he looks up to Tracy and his work ethic.
"He came out and worked hard everyday and he is a great guy to look up to," said Harrington.
Corey Thompson, a freshman third baseman for ECU, took a lot from Tracy's visit to ECU.
"He showed that the weight room and conditioning got him where he is today," said Thompson.
Tracy was proud of the Pirates' early success this football season.
"They have done a great job this year when they beat West Virginia and Virginia Tech. You don't think I wasn't running around the locker room and letting everyone know it?" the major leaguer said.
Head coach Billy Godwin was pleased with the opportunity to have Tracy visit ECU's campus and get a chance to see how the baseball program is doing.
"What we have here is a direct result of all the hard work that guys like Chad put into this program, and we're certainly honored to have him back on campus this weekend," said Godwin.
"There were a lot of valuable things that he shared with them [the baseball team] about his time here. He talked about some of the hard work that he paid when coach LeClair was here. It's the same thing we're doing now. It does reinforce the important things that we want our guys to do and what this program stands for."
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
Tracy went to West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. After graduating from high school, he took his skills to ECU on a baseball scholarship. Tracy had a stellar career for the Pirates, compiling a .339 batting average over his three-year career. After Tracy's junior season, he was draft-eligible and could not resist a shot at making it in the Majors.
When the former Pirate returned to ECU on Friday, it was the first time he had stepped onto the infield at Clark-LeClair Stadium. When Tracy played for the university, Bagwell Field was the home of the Pirates.
"This place is amazing and it just shows you the hard work that a lot of people have put in this program has paid off," said Tracy, when discussing Clark LeClair stadium.
Hard work and determination are essential for any professional athletic career, and this was no different for Tracy.
"I worked harder here than I have ever worked in my life. I learned work ethic and how to play the game the way it is supposed to be played," he said.
Tracy has had some trouble staying healthy this past season, appearing in only 88 out of 162 games, but he persevered and kept focused on his goal of maintaining a MLB career.
ECU sophomore shortstop Dustin Harrington says he looks up to Tracy and his work ethic.
"He came out and worked hard everyday and he is a great guy to look up to," said Harrington.
Corey Thompson, a freshman third baseman for ECU, took a lot from Tracy's visit to ECU.
"He showed that the weight room and conditioning got him where he is today," said Thompson.
Tracy was proud of the Pirates' early success this football season.
"They have done a great job this year when they beat West Virginia and Virginia Tech. You don't think I wasn't running around the locker room and letting everyone know it?" the major leaguer said.
Head coach Billy Godwin was pleased with the opportunity to have Tracy visit ECU's campus and get a chance to see how the baseball program is doing.
"What we have here is a direct result of all the hard work that guys like Chad put into this program, and we're certainly honored to have him back on campus this weekend," said Godwin.
"There were a lot of valuable things that he shared with them [the baseball team] about his time here. He talked about some of the hard work that he paid when coach LeClair was here. It's the same thing we're doing now. It does reinforce the important things that we want our guys to do and what this program stands for."
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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