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ECU Roster Features Veteran Pitchers and 15
Recruits as Baseball Practice Gets Underway
Compiled from an ECU SID Press Release - 09/28/01
GREENVILLE — Coming off its most successful season in school history,
East Carolina's baseball team has started conducting fall practice with a
roster that features a deep pitching staff and 15 newcomers.
As ECU prepares for its first year as a baseball-playing member of
Conference USA, thirteen freshmen and a pair of junior college transfers are
in the mix for playing time. "We were able to address a lot
of our needs with this class," said fifth-year Pirate head coach Keith
LeClair. "We`ve got a lot of good athletes and a lot of good arms in this
class and we fully expect some of these players to contribute during the
season." Of the 15 recruits, nine are from North Carolina,
two each are from California and Pennsylvania, one is from Virginia and one
is from Connecticut. Included in the group are eight position
players and seven pitchers. Shortstop Justin Phillips is the
only Greenville player to sign with the Pirates. At J.H. Rose High School,
Phillips was a three-time all-conference player and a two-time all-state
performer. Phillips will be one of nine players on the East Carolina roster
this season who attended J.H. Rose High School in Greenville.
The Pirates also added a pair of junior college transfers from Chabot Junior
College in California, first baseman Adam Stephens and shortstop Luke
Cherry. Cherry batted .425 as a sophomore at Chabot last season, earning
All-America honors, while Stephens was a first team all-conference and
All-Northern California selection. Other position players
signed include: Brian Cavanaugh (Monroe, Conn.), Mark Minicozzi (Wayne,
Penn.), Ty Rutledge (Wilmington, N.C.), Adam Witter (Chambersburg, Penn.)
and Ryan Norwood (Richmond, Va.). All seven of ECU`s newest
hurlers are from North Carolina. Brandon Harris was a
two-time all-state player at Raleigh`s Millbrook High School, while Darryl
Lawhorn was named all-state this past season, playing at New Hanover High
School in Wilmington. Greg Bunn also earned all-state honors at Wake Forest-Rolesville
High School last season. John Westbrooks was a four-year
letterman at West Columbus High School, and is the only left-handed pitcher
in the group. Brian McCullen (Eastern Wayne HS), Kevin Rhodes (Pender County
HS), and Phillip Powell (Bunker Hill HS) each received all-star honors at
their respective high schools. ECU returns 23 lettermen for
the 2002 campaign, including all 10 pitchers from last year's 47-13 team
which won an NCAA regional championship. The Pirates finished the season
ranked No. 11 in all three major polls and No. 4 in the NCAA's final Ratings
Percentage Index. - 30 -
Friday, 23. February 2007 01:34:59 PM
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