ECU Picked Third In Preseason American Conference Poll
December 22, 2014 | Baseball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Making its debut as a member of the American Athletic Conference, East Carolina has been picked third in the 2015 preseason baseball poll, as chosen by the league's eight head coaches Monday afternoon.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Cliff Godwin, the Pirates return 16 letterwinners including 2014 All-Conference USA Freshman Team selections Bryce Harman and Charlie Yorgen, as well as 2013 All C-USA performers David Lucroy and Travis Watkins.
Also stepping onto the diamond are 11 newcomers, which consist of three junior college transfers in Jimmy Boyd (Brunswick CC), Parker Lamm (Pitt CC) and Jeff Nelson (Pierce College).
East Carolina also welcomes eight true freshmen in Ryan Clinch, Ross Gardner, Joe Ingle, Mason Keen, Jackson Mims, Jack Owens, Bailey Sugg and Evan Voliva to go along with redshirt freshman Cameron Snow. The pitching trio of Davis Kirkpatrick, T.J. McDonald and Brandon Saunders will miss the entire 2015 season due to injuries.
The Pirates, who are set to open their 80th season of intercollegiate baseball on Feb. 13 at home against 2014 College World Series Runner-Up Virginia, won the 1961 NAIA National Championship, have claimed 23 conference titles (13 regular season/ 10 tournament), made 26 NCAA Regionals and advanced to three Super Regionals (2001, 2004 and 2009).
Season tickets are officially on sale with packages starting as low as $107. Pirate fans have four different options to choose from and can purchase their 2015 season tickets by utilizing ECU's Online Ticket Center or contacting the ECU Athletic Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.
Ticket Options
Chair back (regular) - $187.25
Chair back (upgrade) - $374.50
Faculty/Staff/Senior - $149.80
Economy Plan/Young Grad - $107.00
Godwin and the Pirates will return to the diamond on Jan. 12th for individual workouts before turning in their first team practice on Jan. 23rd.
2015 American Athletic Conference Poll and Awards
(as selected by The American head coaches)
PRESEASON POLL
1. Houston (6) - 48 points
2. UCF (2) - 41
3. East Carolina - 35
4. UConn - 28
5. USF - 27
6. Tulane - 22
7. Memphis - 16
8. Cincinnati - 7
(First-place votes in parentheses)
PRESEASON PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR
Ian Happ, Jr., OF, Cincinnati
PRESEASON PITCHER-OF-THE-YEAR
Jimmy Herget, Jr., USF
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P - Zach Rodgers, Sr., UCF
P - Jimmy Herget, Jr., USF
P - Aaron Garza, Sr., Houston
P - Andrew Lantrip, So., Houston
P - Jake Lemoine, Jr., Houston
RP - Jared Robinson, Sr., Houston
C - Max McDowell, So., UConn
1B - Bobby Melley, So., UConn
2B - Dylan Moore, Sr., UCF
3B - Connor Hollis, So., Houston
SS - Kyle Teaf, Jr., USF
OF - Ian Happ, Jr., Cincinnati
OF - Blake Davey, Jr., UConn
OF - Kyle Survance, Jr., Houston
DH - Matt Diorio, So., UCF
