ECU Picked Third In Preseason American Conference Poll
December 22, 2015 | Baseball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After claiming the American Athletic Conference Tournament title and finishing second in the regular season standings in its inaugural year in the league, East Carolina has been picked third in the 2016 preseason poll, as chosen by the league's eight head coaches.
Under the direction of second-year head coach Cliff Godwin, the Pirates return 17 letterwinners including Coral Gables All-Regional selection Garrett Brooks, 2015 Freshman All-America and All-AAC Tournament member Joe Ingle, three-time Johnny Bench Award Watch List member Travis Watkins and 2014 all-conference performers Bryce Harman and Charlie Yorgen.
Also stepping on the diamond are 17 newcomers consisting of five infielders (Turner Brown, Kendall Ford, Brady Lloyd, Wesley Phillips and Drew Piscorik), three outfielders (Justin Dirden, Ryan Littlefield and Dwanya Williams-Sutton), one catcher (Jake Washer), six pitchers (Matt Bridges, Cam Colmore, West Covington, Chris Holba, Sam Lanier and Shelton Perkins, Jr.) and a pair of two-way players (Denny Brady and Zack Mozingo).
The Pirates, who are set to open their 81st season of intercollegiate baseball on Feb. 19 at home against Longwood, won the 1961 NAIA National Championship, have claimed 24 conference titles (13 regular season/11 tournament), made 27 NCAA Regionals and advanced to three Super Regionals (2001, 2004 and 2009).
Last year Godwin, the 2015 AAC Coach-of-the-Year, guided the Pirates to a 40-win season and a berth in the Coral Gables Regional - their first NCAA postseason appearance since 2012.
Season tickets are officially on sale with packages starting as low as $120. Pirate fans have four different options to choose from and can purchase their 2016 season tickets by clicking here or contacting the ECU Athletic Ticket Office.
Ticket Options (tax included)
Chair back (regular) - $200
Chair back (upgrade) - $400
Faculty/Staff/Senior - $160
Economy Plan/Young Grad - $120
Godwin and the Pirates will return to the diamond on Jan. 11th for individual workouts before turning in their first team practice on Jan. 29th.
2016 American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll and Awards
(as selected by The American head coaches)
PRESEASON POLL
1. Houston (6) - 48 points
2. Tulane (1) - 41
3. East Carolina - 38
4. UConn (1) - 32
5. USF - 26
6. UCF - 17
7. Memphis - 14
8. Cincinnati - 8
(first-place votes in parentheses)
PRESEASON PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR
Darien Tubbs, OF, Memphis
PRESEASON PITCHERS-OF-THE-YEAR
Anthony Kay, LHP, UConn
Seth Romero, LHP, Houston
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P - Cre Finfrock, UCF
P - Anthony Kay, UConn *
P - Andrew Lantrip, Houston *
P - Seth Romero, Houston *
P - Corey Merrill, Tulane
RP - Nolan Blackwood, Memphis
C - Levi Borders, USF
1B - Bobby Melley, UConn *
2B - Josh Vidales, Houston
3B - Willy Yahn, UConn
SS - Stephen Alemais, Tulane *
OF - Jack Sundberg, UConn *
OF - Darien Tubbs, Memphis *
OF - Luke Maglich, USF
DH - Joe DeRoche-Duffin, UConn
* unanimous selection
