Pirate Baseball Inks Ten In Early Signing Period
November 16, 2006 | Baseball
Nov. 16, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Eight high school seniors and two junior college players have signed early national letters-of-intent to play baseball at East Carolina in 2008, head baseball coach Billy Godwin announced today.
Cameron Freeman, Matt Hancock, Dustin Harrington, Matt Laney, Seth Maness, Brad Mincey, Sthil Sowers and Trent Whitehead are the eight high school players that have signed to play baseball at ECU in 2008. The junior college transfers include Derrick Conatser and Daniel Holder.
"I am real excited about the talent that we have pulled together for this recruiting class," said Godwin. "Each of these players has the ability to step in and compete at the highest level and help us reach our goal of getting to the College World Series in Omaha."
Derrick Conatser • RHP • 6-1 • 180 • Tallahassee Community College (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Posted a 7-2 record and one save as a freshman at Tallahassee Community College under the direction of Mike McLeod ... Worked 61 2/3 innings allowing 55 hits and 19 walks while fanning 51 ... Finished freshman campaign with a 2.92 ERA which ranked among the top-30 in Florida JUCO baseball ... Attended Southwood HS (Shreveport, La.) where he guided the Cowboys to back-to-back district championships (2002-03) ... Earned three varsity letters under head coach David Elledge ... Was a three-time all-district and two-time all-state ... As a junior posted a 9-1 record with a 1.61 ERA which included a perfect game ... During his senior season was selected to participate in the Louisiana High School All-Star Game.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Derrick is a standout right-hander that has pitched in one of the top junior college conferences in the country. He has the ability to come in and pitch on the weekend right away."
Cameron Freeman • INF • 6-1 • 170 • Cape Fear HS (Fayetteville, N.C.)
A two-sport athlete that has lettered in baseball (two) and football (one) ... Helped Colts compile a 32-18 record over the past two season which included the Two-Rivers Conference championship in 2006 under head coach Terry Jeffrey ... As a sophomore led the conference in runs (23) and batting average (.385), while leading the Colts in doubles (12) and stolen bases (10) ... Earned first-team all-conference accolades as a junior after posting a .380 batting average and leading the conference in hits (33) ... Member of the Carolina Hurricanes travel team under head coach Jeff Petty ... Two-time member of the Region 4 squad in the N.C. State Games ... Rated by Impact Baseball as one of the top-25 seniors in the state of North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Cameron is a very athletic infielder. He is one of the most talented players that we saw in the state, who can field, throw and run."
Matt Hancock • C/ Corner INF/ OF • 6-2 • 210 • Xavier HS (Middletown, Conn.)
A two-time letter winner under head coach Richard Magner ... In two seasons has collected 11 homeruns and posted a .397 batting average ... Led Falcons to a pair of CIAC wins in the Class LL playoffs and a berth in the start quarterfinals ... Selected to the 2006 SCC All-Division team and Middlesex All-Area Team ... Earned pre-season Puma All-America honors as a sophomore and junior ... Led the Niantic American Legion team to a two the state semi-finals in 2005 and 2006 ... Recipient of the Golden Bat Award from Team Connecticut.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Matt is a strong power hitting catcher/ third baseman that we saw at one of our camps that jumped out at us right away."
Dustin Harrington • INF/ RHP • 5-10 • 175 • Alexander Central HS (Taylorsville, N.C.)
A three-sport athlete that has lettered in baseball (3), football (3) and basketball (1) ... Three-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient ... Helped Cougars compile a 33-12 overall record in two seasons under head coach Gary Comer which included a conference championship in 2005 ... Earned team MVP and all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior ... Named second-team all-state during junior campaign ... Posted a .450 batting averaged and hit five homeruns as a sophomore ... As a junior hit one homerun, batted .489 with 14 doubles and 13 stolen bases ... On the mound pitched 31 innings, struck out 54, walked 15, allowed 20 hits and posted a 2.40 ERA as a junior ... Two-time participant in the N.C. State Games ... Member of the Charlotte Heat travel team under head coach Jason Harris ... Rated by Impact Baseball as one of the top-30 seniors in the state of North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Dustin is a very versatile and athletic infielder that has played two-sports at Alexander Central. He is a true two-way guy and has the ability to play in the field and on the mound when he arrives on campus."
Daniel Holder • RHP • 6-3 • 215 • Lurleen Wallace State College (Andalusia, Ala.)
Led Lurleen Wallace to a 43-18 overall record and a third place finish in the 2006 Region XXII tournament as a freshman under head coach Steve Helms ... Compiled a 7-3 record, struck out 64, walked 20 and posted a 1.82 ERA ... Earned Region XXII All-Tournament honors for the Saints ... Played two sports at Rehobeth HS (baseball and basketball) where he earned seven total varsity letters ... As a junior collected a 6-2 record, struck out 65 and walked 13 while posting a 2.57 ERA ... Received the team Most Offensive Award and was named to the Elite WAC Team ... During senior campaign posted a 1.99 ERA while fanning 77 batters and walking 16 ... Earned Elite WAC Team, Super-12 Team, The Best of Dothan and all-state honors ... Took home team Mr. Clutch, Best Defensive and Most Offensive team awards ... Member of Post 12 American Legion Team that placed sixth in the 2005 American Legion World Series ... Worked 106 innings, striking out 94, walking 34, collecting ten saves and posting a 13-2 record ... Member of the National Honor Society and Student Council President ... Graduated fifth in his class out of 160 students.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Daniel is a right-hander that can give us an immediate impact on the mound. Daniel was very successful posting a 7-3 record and being named to all-tournament team at one of the top Division I junior college programs in Alabama.
Matt Laney • LHP • 6-4 • 240 • LC Bird HS (Chesterfield, Va.)
A three-time letter winner that played under head coach Scott Spencer ... As a sophomore posted a 3.14 ERA, striking out 44 and walking 15 in 29 innings of work ... During junior campaign pitched 54 innings, fanned 76, walked 22, allowed 51 hits while posting a 3.63 ERA ... Tossed fourth complete games in seven starts finishing with a 5-3 record on his way to second-team all-district honors ... Member of Richmond Braves travel team under head coach Mickey Roberts ... Selected by Major League Baseball to pitch in the East Coast Professional Showcase in the summer of 2006 ... Invited to participate in the Commonwealth Games of Virginia and competed in the U17-18 World Championships in Atlanta in 2006.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Matt has a ton of pitch-ability and a tremendous amount of physical upside. He has demonstrated his command of three above-average pitches, and that wins at any level."
Seth Maness • RHP • 5-11 • 168 • Pinecrest HS (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Helped Patriots to a 38-11 overall record as a sophomore and junior ... Named Mid-Southeastern Conference Player-of-the-Year and first-team all-state as a sophomore under head coach Jeff Hewitt (former ECU player) ... Posted an 11-1 record on the mound with 124 strikeouts, five walks, while allowing just 13 hits in 86 innings of work ... As a junior posted a 1.44 ERA with 127 strikeouts and six walks in 87 2/3 innings ... Batted .420 both seasons with four homeruns and 23 RBI ... Member of the Carolina Hurricanes travel team (Jeff Petty) and the Dirtbags travel team (Andy Partin) ... Competed in the N.C. State Games (2006) ... Rated by Impact Baseball as one of the top-40 players in North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Seth was one of our last verbal commitments this fall. His numbers are very impressive walking only 11 in 170-plus innings in just two years of high school. Seth comes in here with three solid pitches, throwing in the mid to upper-80s, can really spin his breaking ball and has a great change-up."
Brad Mincey • RHP • 6-0 • 175 • New Hanover HS (Wilmington, N.C.)
Compiled an 11-6 record in two years on the mound for New Hanover head coach John Thomas (former ECU player) ... As a sophomore pitched 43 innings with a 1.94 ERA, 37 hits, 35 strikeouts and nine walks ... During junior season allowed 44 hits in 73 innings while fanning 92 batters and walking 11 ... Earned Mid-Eastern 4A All-Conference honors as a sophomore and junior ... Named Area Player-of-the-Year as a junior by New City ... Named New Hanover County Player-of-the-Year by Wilmington Star-News ... Helped Wildcats to the Mid-Eastern conference championship and a No. 9 ranking in the state in 2006 ... Earned three varsity letters ... Member of Post 10 American Legion team under Scott Sandlin ... Posted a 5-1 record on the hill ... Member of Dirtbags travel team under the direction of Andy Partin ... Two-time participant of the N.C. State Games (2005-06) ... Rated by Impact Baseball one of the top-25 players in North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "What we really liked about Brad was his stamina on the mound. We saw him maintain upper-80s velocity for nine innings in an American Legion game. He has a plus change-up (above-average) and is another solid Eastern North Carolina player on our roster."
Sthil Sowers • RHP • 6-2 • 155 • North Lenoir HS (LaGrange, N.C.)
A four-time letter winner (baseball-3, soccer-1) that has helped head coach Jim Montague and the Hawks to back-to-back state championships ... Earned MVP honors of the Easter Tournament and Rookie-of-the-Year honors as a freshman ... As a sophomore posted and amazing 10-1 record on the mound with two saves ... Struck out 100 batters, walked 21, allowed 37 hits and posted a 0.98 ERA in 72 innings ... Earned Eastern Plains All-Conference accolades ... During junior season went 13-0 with a 0.75 ERA surrendering just 47 hits, with 99 strikeouts and 17 walks ... Picked up team MVP honors as well as Conference Player-of-the-Year, MVP of the State Championship and all-state honors ... Member of the Carolina Cubs travel team coached by Ricky Keith ... Two-time participant of the N.C. State Games (2005-06) ... Selected by Major League Baseball to pitch in the East Coast Professional Showcase in the summer of 2006 ... Rated by Impact Baseball as one of the top-25 players in North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "No question that Sthil is a great competitor when you look at his high school resume. He is 23-1 in his last two years on the mound pitching for a perennial high school power at North Lenoir. He has an upper-80s / low-90s fastball, with a plus slider and in my mind is one of the top pitchers in the state of North Carolina that we saw all year."
Trent Whitehead • OF • 6-0 • 165 • Washington HS (Washington, N.C.)
A three-year starter for the Pam Pack under head coach Darin Vaughn ... Named Eastern Coastal Conference Freshman-of-the-Year after batting .280 with 14 stolen bases ... Earned All-Conference and Team MVP honors as a sophomore and junior ... As a sophomore batted .375 with five homeruns, 17 RBI and swiped 17 bases ... During junior season also batted .375 with five homeruns, while driving in 14 runs and stealing 15 bases ... Two-time participant of the N.C. State Games (2005-06) ... Played for head coach Ricky Keith and the Carolina Cubs travel team ... Rated by Impact Baseball as one of the top-20 players in North Carolina.
Coach Godwin's Comments: "Trent is a local Eastern North Carolina player who is what I classify as an East Carolina type player, because he has a great work ethic and plays the game hard. He can run, throw and has the tools to be a great hitter."
2008 Baseball Signees
Derrick Conatser • RHP • 6-1 • 180 • R/R • Tallahassee Community College (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Cameron Freeman • INF • 6-1 • 170 • R/R • Cape Fear HS (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Matt Hancock • C/ INF/ OF • 6-2 • 210 • R/R • Xavier HS (Middletown, Conn.)
Dustin Harrington • INF/ RHP • 5-10 • 175 • R/R • Alexander Central HS (Taylorsville, N.C.)
Daniel Holder • RHP • 6-3 • 215 • R/R • Lurleen Wallace State College (Andalusia, Ala.)
Matt Laney • LHP • 6-4 • 240 • L/L • LC Bird HS (Chesterfield, Va.)
Seth Maness • RHP • 5-11 • 168 • R/R • Pinecrest HS (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Brad Mincey • RHP • 6-0 • 175 • R/R • New Hanover HS (Wilmington, N.C.)
Sthil Sowers • RHP • 6-2 • 155 • R/L • North Lenoir HS (LaGrange, N.C.)
Trent Whitehead • OF • 6-0 • 165 • L/L • Washington HS (Washington, N.C.)
