Pirate Baseball Inks Nine Players In Early Period
December 16, 2002 | Baseball
"We're very excited about the group of young men we've signed at this time for the 2004 season," said Mazey. "We know that we're going to lose some very talented pitchers at the end of this season and were able to get some of the best pitchers in the state. It's a very talented group that we're expecting big things from in the coming years."
John Emmert (Raleigh, N.C./Wake Forest-Rolesville HS) and Mike Flye (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose HS) headline a group of pitchers that will fill a big hole for the Pirates' next season. ECU's 2003 staff includes five seniors and two juniors that will be draft eligible in June. Emmert is ranked as the top left-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Baseball America, while Flye is also rated among the nation's top high school players by the publication.
Former North Carolina High School Player of the Year Carter Harrell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) transferred from Louisburg College after spending his freshman year at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman with the Tar Heels in 2002, Harrell posted an 8-4 record with a 3.88 earned run average and 65 strikeouts in 58.0 innings pitched.
The remainder of East Carolina's instate commitments include left-handed pitcher Dustin Sasser (Goldsboro, N.C./ CB Aycock HS), right-handed pitcher Brett Braxton (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange County HS), right-handed pitcher Shane Matthews (Conover, N.C./St. Stephens HS), and right-handed pitcher Chris Powell (Asheboro, N.C./Asheboro HS).
Sasser is a two-time all-conference selection and team Most Valuable Player. As a junior he tossed the first no-hitter of his high school career and struckout 94 batters in 58.1 innings pitched. Braxton has also showed similar command of his pitches thus far in his career. Braxton has walked just 32 batters in 129 innings pitched through his junior year and has a career record of 15-5.
Matthews earned all-state honors as a junior last season and was a Wendy's High School Heisman nominee. Powell tossed a perfect game against Union Pines High School and earned honorable mention all-conference accolades.
Ricky Brooks (North Tonawanda. N.Y./North Tonawanda HS) is one of the two out-of-state players to commit to East Carolina University. A three-sport athlete, Brooks earned first team all-conference honors as a junior posting a 1.69 earned run average with 62 strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched.
ECU's other out-of-state signee is Drew Costanzo (Palm Springs, Fla./Louisburg),the lone position player to sign with the Pirates during the early signing period. As a freshman at Louisburg College, he earned second team all-region honors and batted .392 with 12 home runs and 66 runs batted in.
The Pirates open the 2003 season Feb. 14 in Greenville against Western Carolina. ECU plays 12 of its first 16 games of the season at home and will play 31 regular season games total at Harrington Field.
