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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate
Notebook No. 241
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
By Denny O'Brien |
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Pirates in hot pursuit of
7th straight bid
�2005 Bonesville.net
The last time the East
Carolina baseball team didn't make the NCAA Tournament, Bill Clinton was
serving his second term in the White House. Midway through the 2005 season,
it was beginning to look as if that statement would soon become null and
void.
But as East Carolina
approaches the Conference USA tournament next week in Hattiesburg, the
prospects for another postseason bid have improved considerably since it
owned a 2-8 league record on April 8.
Following last night's victory over
Saint Louis, ECU continues a hot streak that has thrust it into the top four
in the C-USA standings.
Because of the Pirates' strong
play down the stretch � along with a number of factors that should weigh
heavily in their favor � head coach Randy Mazey believes his team should be
among those announced on Selection Monday.
"I think we deserve to get
in," Mazey said Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, where the Pirates
incurred an 8-5 loss to non-conference rival UNC-Chapel Hill. "We've won our last six conference series.
"If you look at what we've
gone through, and the travel that we've endured and all the injuries �
we're playing without five of our top pitchers and now our two top catchers
� to have 32 wins at this point and maybe get to 34 or 35 before the
(C-USA) tournament starts, I think we deserve to get in. We got some good
wins early in the year, and then our pitching depth caught up with us in the
mid-week. I think we deserve it, but it's not my decision to make."
Based on the criteria the NCAA
typically uses for distributing at-large bids, ECU appears to have a very
strong case.
Most RPI models have the
Pirates at 35 and a strength of schedule of 15, both of which are well
within the threshold of making the field. The selection committee also
tends to favor schools that are performing well down the stretch, which
should be another plus for ECU.
Tradition also could provide a
boost, as well as the fact that C-USA historically has sent at least four
teams to the postseason. Still, a lot can happen between now and tournament
time, and the Pirates aren't taking anything for granted.
"I think our chances are still
good," catcher Adam Witter said Tuesday night. "But we've still got to play really hard.
I think it will come down to winning three this weekend and then having a
good showing in the conference tournament."
That wasn't the case last
season when the Pirates entered the C-USA tournament as the No. 1 seed, but
exited with two straight losses. As a result, ECU was denied a National
seed by the committee and was forced to play its Super Regional series against
South Carolina at Sarge Frye Field in Columbia.
A repeat of last year's league
tournament is a scenario the Pirates must avoid. If not, the consequences
could be more severe this time, especially with an NCAA bid hanging in the
balance.
But based on the adversity the
Pirates already have overcome this season, Mazey is confident his team will
be mentally prepared for the tournament.
"There is a lot of fight left
in these guys," Mazey said. "They're never going to give up, that's for
sure.
"We've got a ton left to play
for. They knew the importance of the (Carolina) game, and when we had an
opportunity to win, they caught some life there and hopefully that momentum
will carry over into this weekend."
And into the postseason.
Catching on
Another day, another
position. That has become the routine for Witter.
Tuesday night against North
Carolina, he notched his first start behind the plate after spending most of
the season at either first base or designated hitter.
"It's definitely different
starting a game (behind the plate)," Witter said. "Especially going all
nine innings.
"I'm used to coming in and
playing one, two innings at most. The adjustment is more on my knees. I
feel comfortable back there. It's kind of like riding a bike."
Witter has been pressed into
backstop duty because of a season-ending injury to Jake Smith, who had
surgery Tuesday to repair his knee. Normal backup Brad Stephenson also is
unavailable, which means Witter is likely to remain a part of the Pirates'
battery for the rest of the season.
Despite the wear and tear
catching takes on a players' knees, Witter doesn't anticipate that his bat
will suffer.
"I don't think so," Witter
said. "I take my same approach hitting every day I come out. If I do make a mistake
catching, I'm going to pick it up with my hitting. I'm just going to help
my team out as much as I can."
Making his mark
Mark Minicozzi is proving
himself to be a viable option out of the bullpen. The Pirates' everyday
third baseman has now made two appearances on the mound and has yet to
surrender a run.
Tuesday night against No. 15
North Carolina he had a perfect eighth and gave the Pirates an emotional
boost.
"He really did," Mazey said.
"I think he looked pretty good doing it, too. If the situation presents
itself again, I wouldn't hesitate to run him back out there."
For the season, Minicozzi has
logged only two innings on the mound, but has yielded just one hit and a
walk.
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02/23/2007 01:59:59 AM |
