East Carolinian

Issue date: 6/10/09 Section: News

Media Credit: AP

While being swept in two games was not what ECU had in mind for super regional play at North Carolina, getting this far was no doubt a moral victory for a program that has steadily improved in four seasons under coach Billy Godwin.

After missing the postseason in his first year, Godwin has guided his club to NCAA tournament berths in each of the past three seasons while also improving in the wins category every year since his arrival.

The Pirates also reached a major program milestone this year by hosting their first regional at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The stadium, finished in 2005, was built almost solely for the reason of hosting an NCAA regional.

The Pirates not only achieved that goal this year but also took the Greenville Regional in dramatic fashion. The Pirates overcame a six-run deficit against South Carolina to take a 10-9 win in 10 innings.

Unfortunately for ECU, the dream of reaching Omaha and the College World Series ended early, as it always has.

While he doesn't like to make excuses after losing, Godwin said sometimes you must fail before accomplishing certain goals.

"Unfortunately, we have to have experiences such as these," Godwin said after Sunday's season-ending loss to the Tar Heels. "I think you fail before you succeed sometimes."

Godwin said he can see progress in the team.

"The first year we came and lost here in a regional then we bounced back and made it to the championship game last year," Godwin said, who holds a 161-90 during his time at ECU. "This year we pushed through and won a regional."

This year's super regional berth was the third appearance in the past nine years for the Pirates, who also made appearances in 2001 and 2004.

UNC coach, Mike Fox, had only good things to say about the future of the ECU program under Godwin. He should know; Godwin served as an assistant when Fox coached at N.C. Wesleyan in 1989 and 1990.

They were so close, in fact, that Fox signed as the witness in Godwin's wedding in 1990.

"Bill and I do go way back," Fox said. "He's done a terrific job there ... not that I doubted that he would. He's taking quite a journey, like I have, the coaching journey, and worked hard. He deserves to be where he is and that program's going to be good for a long time."

But for right now, dreams of playing for a national championship have been put on hiatus for the Pirates for another year.

As much as it hurts for the six departing seniors, as well as the coaching staff and fans, Godwin believes it is all part of taking the program to the next level.

"It hurts, it stings, but I think it's an important part of growing and maturing as a team and as a program," he said.

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