Pirate Baseball Adds Seven Players to Signing Class
September 29, 2003 | Baseball
"With the guys we signed in the spring, we added some much needed help in the infield. We were able to get three talented infielders and we really added some good quality depth on the mound with some older, more experienced guys. That should solidify our defense both on the mound and in the field," Mazey said.
Junior college transfers Billy Richardson (Fresno, Calif./Fresno City College) and Brett Lindgren (Santa Cruz, Ca./Fresno City College) highlight a group of four JUCO players. Both helped lead Fresno City College to Central Valley Conference titles the past two season. Lindgren, who played both shortstop and third base, earned All-CVC honors in 2003 after hitting. 331 with 25 RBI. Richardson earned second team All-CVC honors in 2002 before being named first team all-conference in 2003. He hit .281 with five doubles, four triples, four home runs, 25 RBI and added 11 stolen bases.
ECU added depth at first base and third base with College of Charleston transfer Lee Allen. As a freshman at Charleston last season, Allen started 15 of 22 games and hit .361 posting five doubles, three triples, two home runs and 14 RBI.
The Pirates solidified their pitching staff with left-hander P.J. Connelly (Beloit, Wis./Triton College), right-hander Ken Huffmaster (Wagner, Ind./Triton College), left-hander Will Anderson (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro H.S.) and left-hander John Westbrooks (Chadburn, N.C./Southeastern CC).
Connelly was an All-Conference performer for Triton after posting a 3.41 ERA in 38 innings and striking out 38 batters. Huffmaster played with Connelly at Triton and helped Triton to a 34-17 record in 2003 and a first place finish during the regular season in the NJCAA Region IV.
Anderson recorded a 2.01 ERA his senior year at Tarboro High School and hit .324. He was named conference player of the year twice.
Westbrooks helpd Southeastern Community College to the best record in school history at 39-7 in 2003. He finished 4-1 with a 4.32 ERA striking out 26 in 30 1/3 innings of work.
The seven join nine players that ECU signed last fall to finish out the 2004 class. Last fall's early signees included John Emmert, Mike Flye, Carter Harrell, Dustin Sasser, Brett Braxton, Shane Matthews, Chris Powell, Ricky Brooks and Drew Costanzo.
"The group as a whole is very talented. We have a lot of new faces. They're very young and very inexperienced," Mazey said. "Some guys are going to have to mature quickly, but we're very happy with the talent. If this group continues to progress over the next couple of years, it's going to be a special group before they finish."
| Will Anderson | LHP | 6-0 | 227 | Fr. | Tarboro, N.C (Tarboro HS) |
| Brett Braxton | RHP | 5-10 | 186 | Fr. | Hillsboro, N.C. Orange HS) |
| Ricky Brooks | RHP | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | N. Tonawanda, N.Y. (N. Tonawanda HS) |
| P.J. Connelly | LHP | 6-3 | 200 | Jr. | Beloit, Wis. (Triton College) |
| John Emmert | LHP | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Raleigh, N.C. (W.F.-Roseville HS) |
| Mike Flye | RHP | 6-3 | 200 | Fr. | Greenville, N.C. (J.H. Rose) |
| Carter Harrell | RHP | 6-2 | 205 | Jr. | Rocky Mount, N.C. (Louisburg College) |
| Ken Huffmaster | RHP | 6-3 | 200 | Jr. | Wagner, Ind. (Triton College) |
| Shane Matthews | RHP | 6-2 | 180 | Fr. | Conover, N.C. (St. Stephens HS) |
| Chris Powell | RHP | 6-1 | 180 | Fr. | Asheboro, N.C. (Asheboro HS) |
| Dustin Sasser | LHP | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Pikeville, N.C. (C.B. Aycock HS) |
| John Westbrooks | LHP | 6-2 | 170 | So. | Chadburn, N.C. (Southeastern CC) |
| Lee Allen | 1B/3B | 6-3 | 195 | So. | Raleigh, N.C. (College of Charleston) |
| Brett Lindgren | INF | 5-10 | 170 | Jr. | Santa Cruz, Calif. (Fresno City College) |
| Billy Richardson | SS | 5-9 | 160 | Jr. | Fresno, Calif. (Fresno City College) |
| Drew Costanzo | OF | 5-10 | 200 | Jr. | West Palm Beach, Fla. (Louisburg College) |
