East Carolina Releases 2007 Softball Schedule
November 30, 2006 | Softball
Nov. 30, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Head Coach Tracey Kee announced the East Carolina University softball schedule for the 2007 season Thursday afternoon. This year's schedule is arguably the toughest in program history, as it features 2006 NCAA regional participants Tennessee, Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Long Island, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Hofstra and defending Conference USA Champion Tulsa. Additionally, Michigan advanced to a super regional while Tennessee finished in third place at the Women's College World Series.
"I believe this game schedule will challenge us early and often," said Kee. "Within the first two weekends we are playing five NCAA 2006 Regional participants. Overall our schedule has nine NCAA Regional participants with 16 games involved. Though this is the case, I believe our squad is up for the challenge. Never before have we had a team so committed to developing their skill level, strength training and cardio. As a staff, we can only hope this pays huge dividends come spring."
The Pirates will be tested early as they begin the season at the Carolina Classic (Feb. 9-11). ECU will battle Tennessee, Gardner Webb, Ohio, College of Charleston and NC State.
A week later, the Pirates will travel to Boca Raton, Fla. to participate in the FAU Dunkin Donuts Classic. ECU will take on another strong group of teams in 2005 NCAA Champion Michigan, Maryland, Long Island and host Florida Atlantic.
The Pirates will return to Greenville the next weekend and host the Hampton Inn Pirate Classic. ECU will entertain Towson, Appalachian State and St. John's.
The following Wednesday will see North Carolina make an appearance in Greenville for the second consecutive season. The teams played a memorable game last season in which the host Pirates defeated the nationally ranked Tar Heels on a squeeze play in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The beginning of March will find ECU hosting the Holiday Inn Express Pirate Clash. The Pirates will welcome Vermont, Delaware, Binghamton and James Madison to Greenville for the tournament.
A doubleheader with ACC foe Virginia at the ECU softball field on March 6 will serve as a tune-up for the start of Conference USA play. The Pirates will host UCF (Mar. 10-11), whom they swept last year in Orlando, in a weekend series.
In addition to UCF, ECU will host Conference USA opponents Tulsa, Memphis and Houston. The Pirates will travel to Marshall, UAB, UTEP and Southern Miss. The Pirates swept Southern Miss last year in an exciting series in Greenville to secure a spot in the C-USA Tournament.
"I believe Conference USA is full of parity," Kee said. "Anytime you have nine teams vying for six tournament spots, every game is competitive and crucial. Our players understand this, and this is their driving force."
ECU will also play midweek doubleheaders against Coastal Carolina (Conway, S.C.), Akron (Greenville), UNCG (Greenville), NC State (Raleigh) and UNC Wilmington (Wilmington).
The Pirates close the regular season looking to make their third consecutive appearance in the Conference USA Tournament. The tournament will take place in Orlando on the campus of UCF.
"Coach Koz and I are so excited about this years squad," Kee said. "Though we have lots of work to do prior to our game schedule, we believe we'll have them ready. We'll compete each game, fight to the final out, learn from the outcome and keep moving towards our goal."
