Spring Break
2009 ECU baseball preview
Jared Jackson, Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: Sports
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The loss to Coastal Carolina in the NCAA Regionals is fresh on their minds as they get set to open a three-game series with Monmouth this weekend.
"When we ended that loss to Coastal, it hit us hard and we don't want to relive that again," said ECU junior designated hitter/first baseman Kyle Roller. "We're going to come out here every day working our tail off and hopefully get to a Super Regional and reach Omaha."
Roller, who batted .299 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI's last season, is expected to be a key contributor of what should be a fantastic ECU offense that returns six starters from last year.
In fact, all preseason long ECU coach Billy Godwin has made it clear that the overall experience and depth is what separates this current Pirate team from his three previous squads.
"Our experience with our position players is probably our biggest strength," said Godwin, whose team finished with a 41-21 record last season. "We need those guys to come back and be veterans. They need to have the kind of years that we've seen them have [in the past] and we need our young guys to step up. But I feel very good about the talent level."
At first base, senior Brandon Henderson will get the start after setting career-highs in multiple categories last season. In 2008, Henderson batted .347 while hitting 11 home runs and totaling 52 RBI's.
As for the middle infield, senior Ryan Wood returns to his role at second base while sophomore Dustin Harrington will get the start at shortstop. Wood will also compete for the role of closer on the pitching staff along with sophomore Seth Simmons.
Last season, Wood set a career-high with 13 home runs. Harrington, who earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman team last season, brings stellar defense to the infield.
Third base will be manned by last year's No. 23 award-winner Drew Schieber, who is hoping to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2008 campaign. Freshman Corey Thompson is also expected to see time at third.
In the outfield, the Pirates are hoping to fill voids left in the center field and right field positions that were helmed by Harrison Eldridge and Jamie Ray. Senior Trent Ashcraft will take over center field after a stellar summer in the Cape Cod League where he hit .327 with 8 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Sophomores Trent Whitehead and Devin Harris will battle for the slot in right field, where Whitehead is expected to be the starter come opening day, mainly due to his speed.
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