|
BAILEY'S TAKE
ON PIRATE SPORTS
-----
|
From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
-----
By Brian Bailey |
 |
LeClair example inspires
members of elite group
©2006 Bonesville.net
|
|
 |
SIGNING
DAY
PREVIEW |
|
Replay
the archive of Monday night's Brian Bailey Show,
which focused on Signing Day and featured
interviews with the prep and junior college
coaches of a number of ECU's incoming recruits. |
|
Select clip |
|
|
Call them the “Class of 23.”
Ben Sanderson, Jamie Paige,
Brian Cavanaugh and now Adam Witter are all part of a most unique and
prestigious club.
These are the men who have
worn or will wear the number “23” to honor former East Carolina baseball
coach Keith LeClair, who continues his courageous fight against ALS, or Lou
Gehrig’s disease.
Coach LeClair was on hand on
Saturday when Cavanaugh read a powerful speech in presenting this year’s
honoree, Adam Witter.
Cavanaugh talked about being
recruited by LeClair, and about showing other recruits around later in his
career. He said that LeClair challenged him to find out what recruits were
like off the field. He added that LeClair didn’t care how much talent a
recruit possessed — if that individual wasn’t a good person, he wasn’t going
to be a Pirate.
Cavanaugh also talked about
the work ethic that LeClair had instilled in his players, about how most of
them would arrive an hour or so before practice just to get in some extra
reps. Cavanaugh said that he came to East Carolina as a hard worker, but
that LeClair pushed him to do much more.
Coach LeClair was on hand for
the presentation, but he stayed in the back so as not to take away any of
the spotlight from his players. LeClair’s failing eyes have limited greatly
his way to communicate with his eye gaze machine.
Still, LeClair was there for
the presentation, along with his wife Lynn. As I’ve said many times, if ever
there was an angel on earth, she is Lynn LeClair. All she is missing are her
wings.
Adam Witter could barely hold
in his emotions as he first donned the number 23.
“Being recruited by Coach
LeClair, I was able to see how he conducted himself personally and what he
expected out of his players,” Witter said. “Great guys like Ben Sanderson,
Brian Cavanaugh and Jamie Paige have carried on the tradition beautifully.”
Witter realizes that he is now
part of a Pirate baseball fraternity that annually honors Keith LeClair’s
great talent, outstanding character and incredible courage. He’ll now always
be a part of the “Class of 23.”
“They’re putting up a plaque
in the team room so everyone can see it,” Witter said. “It will be a
constant reminder to everyone of what Coach LeClair meant to East Carolina
and what he expected on the field.”
First-year Coach Billy Godwin
understands just how closely East Carolina's baseball program is connected
to LeClair.
“He means everything,” Godwin
said. “Certainly what Coach LeClair did here, we want to do everything we
possibly can to preserve that.”
Godwin was pleased that Witter
will wear 23 in 2006.
“Personally, I don’t think it
could have gone to a better candidate. Adam Witter is an outstanding person
as well as the other men who have worn the number 23.”
Ironically, the first three
members of the “Class of 23” had similar, smaller body frames. I thought
Witter was going to pull an “Incredible Hulk” and pop the buttons off the
jersey when he slipped it on in front of Saturday’s big crowd.
Witter joked afterwards and
said, “Coach Godwin already has an order in for a larger size for 23.”
Witter also knows the history
of those that have worn LeClair’s number.
“Hopefully, tradition will
continue," he said. "All of the other guys had career years wearing 23, so
we’ll see.”
LeClair’s framed jersey, his
picture, and the engraved names of the “Class of 23” will forever be a part
of Pirate baseball, as they should be.
Icy treat
Hockey fans in Greenville were
treated to a match-up between East Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill this past
Friday night.
It was a packed house at the
Bladez on Ice facility. Fans jammed the outer edges of the rink just to get
a peak at the Pirates and Tar Heels on ice.
The ECU team in its first
season of play in the sport. The competition is being staged on a club
basis.
It was a great atmosphere and
I’m sure the East Carolina team appreciated the support on Friday night. ECU
beat UNC-CH 4-2 in the non-conference game.
The Pirates have already
clinched a spot in the postseason in their conference. The squad plays at
N.C. State on February 3rd and 4th, and then returns home to host UNC-Wilmington
on February 17th and 18th.
You can check out the “Polar
Pirates” at
ECUIceHockey.com.
Signing Day pig picking
The National Signing Day is
set for Wednesday and several of the Pirates' biggest fans are planning a
pig picking to celebrate the big day.
All Pirate fans are invited to
come by and and join the festivities. The event kicks off about 1 o’clock
and will run until late in the afternoon, when Coach Skip Holtz will host
his
second annual signing day gathering.
Once again this year, Holtz
will show highlights of the newest Pirates.
Wednesday is like Christmas
Day for Pirate faithful, and Holtz will unwrap the new presents later in the
afternoon.
 Send an e-mail message to
Brian Bailey.
Click here to dig into Brian Bailey's Bonesville
archives.
02/23/2007 01:33:24 AM |
