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BAILEY'S TAKE
ON PIRATE SPORTS
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From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
By Brian Bailey |
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Exceptional day in
more ways than one
By
Brian Bailey
©2010 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View photos of the Exceptional Community Baseball
League's day with the Pirates.
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There were plenty of
smiles all over Clark-LeClair
Stadium on Sunday. East
Carolina had just
completed a three-game
sweep over UAB, winning
a 12-inning marathon on
a John Wooten RBI single
that drove home Kyle
Roller. About the same
time, the first of some
100 players from the
Exceptional Community
Baseball League was
making his way into the
ball park.
This was the fourth year
that East Carolina has
hosted the exhibition
game with the former
Challenger League. The
league changed
organizations in an
effort to allow older
players into the
program. Young and old
alike can now play the
game that many of us
love so much.
I’ve had the privilege
of coaching the Cubs for
the past five years.
“I told our players that
when this game ends
today, they’ll never
forget it,” said ECU
coach Billy Godwin. “I
sincerely feel that our
program gets more out of
this afternoon then the
“exceptional” players
do. To see their smiles
really means so much to
all of us.”
Kyle Roller is a veteran
of this exhibition game.
“We’re having a great
time,” said Roller.
“Sure, it’s been a long
day, but we’d stay out
here as long as they
want us to. Everyone is
having a great time.”
The Pirates swept UAB
over the weekend but it
was hardly a thing of
beauty. Errors have
forced Godwin to
continue to tinker with
his defense.
John Wooten was moved to
shortstop over the
weekend to send Corey
Thompson back to his
more familiar position
of third base. Cam
Freeman is a natural
outfielder, but he’s
spent the year at second
base.
I joked with Roller that
he might be the best
defensive player on the
Pirate infield, and he’s
known more as a
designated hitter.
“The guys are working
hard,” Roller said. “I’m
sure it’s frustrating
for them because many of
them are playing out of
position. But they never
whine or complain. They
just want to do what’s
best for our team.”
“I’ll play anywhere I’m
needed,” said Wooten
when asked about his new
home at shortstop. “If
Coach Godwin wants me to
sit and cheer on my
teammates, I’ll do that.
We’re just working hard
to get better.”
I asked Coach Godwin if
he was feeling more
comfortable on Sunday,
with Kevin Brandt
rolling along and the
Pirates not making an
error through five
innings.
“Have you seen us play
defense?” he joked.
A trio of errors in the
6th opened the door for
UAB. East Carolina
rallied and took a lead
into the ninth. Another
miscue or two and ECU
found itself in a
12-inning marathon.
Still, the Pirates hung
tough and picked up a
series sweep over the
Blazers. ECU plays at
Campbell this evening
and hosts North Carolina
State on Wednesday
before traveling to Rice
for a battle for first
place in Conference USA.
Maybe the Pirates needed
a relaxing hour or two
with the “exceptional”
players to put
everything in
perspective. The game
with the college players
is the highlight of the
Exceptional Community
Baseball League season.
For more information and
pictures from Sunday’s
game go to the ECBL
Facebook site at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Exceptional-Community-Baseball-League-ECBL/109724742400155?ref=ts.
Or visit my team’s site
at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECBL-Cubs/109673332398700?ref=ts#!
Thanks Coach Godwin and
the Pirates for a Sunday
to remember!
BB
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04/20/2010 03:10 AM |
