In the late ‘90s as an East Carolina baseball player, Erik Bakich internalized the word “Omaha” as a symbol of the journey and the goal wrapped up into one. As a volunteer assistant at Clemson in 2002, he got to experience the storied College World Series in that city for the first time. Now, seventeen… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
The Bradsher Beat
Hope persists as Pirate Nation suffers together
Four years ago, when I had the opportunity to write a book commemorating fifty years of Super Bowls, I interviewed former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi about the unique pain of losing the Super Bowl. I have tremendous respect for Accorsi, and his perspective on that particular sports tribulation has stayed with me.… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Pirates ready to ride the next wave
Media members and Pirate fans have worried this week about the quick turnaround for East Carolina baseball — just three days rest between the pandemonium of the Greenville Regional and the opening game of the Super Regional in Louisville. But listen to the players who spoke to the media Wednesday morning before boarding a plane… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Jungle dwellers cocked and loaded
Even from six hundred miles up the Eastern seaboard, Colin Donnelly has heard enough about The Jungle to lob a peremptory shot across the bow this week. Donnelly, the 6-1 Quinnipiac pitcher who won the game that led his team to the MAAC Championship on Sunday, took to Twitter to proclaim, “I AM THE JUNGLE,”… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Varner ready to get back in the fire
An up-and-coming PGA golfer hits the jackpot in a major, pulling out enough outstanding shots in the first three rounds to enter the final day sitting in second place and paired with the tournament leader. After two good holes the wheels fall off, and our presumptive hero falls from second place to a tie for… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Golfers achieve program’s highest regional finish
For the East Carolina women’s golf team, the difference between being a world-beater and a mild overachiever at the NCAA Auburn Regional was three uncharacteristically difficult holes. The Pirates, who came in seeded 14th out of the 18 teams at the regional, made it clear on the first two days that they weren’t just happy… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Pirate Nation rallies for one of its own
Suzanne Brown understands well that Coach Cliff Godwin keeps a busy schedule during the baseball season. In the four years her son Turner has played for East Carolina, she has never missed a home game and has come to appreciate how hard Godwin works. But judging from his attentiveness to Turner and their family since… [ More… ]