Pirates ride momentum into tourney

By Brian Bailey
©2015 Bonesville.net
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East Carolina heads to the Sunshine State for tournament play this week at the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.

The Pirates carry plenty of momentum to Clearwater, FL, after sweeping Cincinnati. ECU finished the regular season one game out of a share of the AAC title with Houston.

The American features a double elimination format rather than the pod system some leagues have used in the past. Pirate coach Cliff Godwin says he’s a big proponent of the double elimination format.

“I wasn't going to leave the meetings in Connecticut in September if we didn't play double elimination,” said Godwin only half joking. “I can't stand playing meaningless baseball this time of the year. I think you should play for something. For me the pod system, people can argue that you might get in (NCAA Tournament) if you win one of the three games, but I want to play for something and I think the kids do too.

"You get the emotion and the competitive juices flowing when it's a double elimination tournament and I'm glad that the coaches all voted for it.”

Pirate ace Reid Love will get the start in game one against Central Florida. The Knights were a preseason top 10 pick, but fell on hard times this season. ECU swept UCF earlier this season.

Perhaps Love is in line to join several other Pirates who are now in the big leagues.

Sunday was a day like no other for former ECU players. Chris Heston started his game for the Giants. Heston has been a big surprise all year, though Sunday was his worst outing of the young season.

Seth Maness was doing his usual in St. Louis, coming out of the pen and inducing a double play ground ball. No one has done that better over the last couple of seasons.

Then there was the stunning debut of former Pirate Mike Wright.

Wright didn’t find out he was starting on Sunday against the Angels until Saturday night. His first major league strikeout came against Mike Trout, who oddly enough originally committed to East Carolina out of high school.

Wright was brilliant for the Birds. He pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up no runs and just four hits. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.

He was absolutely beaming when he spoke to the television audience on MASN after the Orioles' 3-0 win.

“It's amazing,” said Wright. “It's really amazing. It's more than anything I could have asked for. It's just a great feeling. It was great. You know I've been in the bullpen the last few games and that's how I thought I would come out but to have my normal routine and continue starting like I have done in the past."

His interview was then interrupted by the traditional pie in the face after a great debut.

“Welcome to the majors,” said Orioles play-by-play man Gary Thorne.

Thorne then asked Wright what flavor the pie was.

‘It's delicious, absolutely delicious,” Wright answered.

Later in the interview, Hall of Fame pitcher and Orioles color commentator Jim Palmer asked Wright about keeping his composure, and slowing down.

“My pitching coach worked with me on that,” said Wright. “He would say if I threw two balls in a row to step back off the mound and regroup and so that’s what I do.”

Wright was then asked to name his coach.

“Dan Roszel, absolute stud,” said Wright.

As luck would have it the Pirate baseball team watched the interview with Wright while traveling.

“The whole team cheered when Wright gave that shout-out to Dan,” said Godwin. “I think Dan Roszel is the best pitching coach in the country, and that’s why he’s at East Carolina.”

Roszel is certainly spitting out the prospects.

His current staff will be tested in the AAC tournament and most likely in the NCAA regionals next week.

BB

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