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News Nuggets, 03.08.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pirate pitcher recognized for taming Dogs

A sterling mound performance against one of the nation's top college baseball teams netted the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Award for East Carolina's Jeff Ostrander.

Charlotte catcher Kris Rochelle picked up the Hitter of the Week honor for a string of offensive exploits that were instrumental in the 49ers 4-0 record on the week.

This week's individual C-USA baseball honors:

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Jeff Ostrander, East Carolina, Jr LHP, Ashland, VA:
Ostrander pitched 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against seventh-ranked Georgia as the Pirates upset the Bulldogs 7-1 in the final game of the Keith LeClair Classic. In just his third career start, Ostrander struck out a career-best seven batters and allowed just two hits to notch his first win of the season.''

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Kris Rochelle, Charlotte, So C, Richmond, VA:
Rochelle hit .500 with four extra-base hits and a team-high 7 RBI in four Charlotte wins last week. Among his seven hits were three doubles and a triple, as the sophomore slugged .857 and scored five runs. His on base percentage for the week was .632, as he also drew five walks. On the basepaths, Rochelle was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.

From Conference USA reports.

ECU QB derby a focus as spring drills kick off

East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz is getting his first on-the-field look at the talent he inherited from his fired predecessor, John Thompson.

The Pirates launched their 2005 spring practice regimen on Monday at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex within sight of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

ECU returns seven starters on offense, nine on defense and welcomes back a total of 47 lettermen off a squad which last season recorded a 2-9 mark under Thompson, who was dismissed after compiling a 3-20 record in two seasons.

Holtz, who assumed command of the program on Dec. 3, led his 90-member squad through a two-hour workout, the first of 15 scheduled practice sessions which will culminate with the playing of the Purple-Gold Spring Game April 16 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

"I've been very pleased with the progress they've made as a team and what we've gotten out of our winter workouts," said Holtz in an athletic department news release. "They have worked hard during the off-season and I've seen a bond forming along with leadership skills emerging from our seniors."

Holtz' primary goal during the spring workouts will be the installation of new offensive and defensive schemes and the establishment of the program's first depth chart, said the release.

A priority will be shoring up ECU's unsettled situation at the quarterback position. Last season's starter, sophomore James Pinkney, is not enrolled in classes and must complete stiff requirements in summer school is he is to regain eligibility.

The school's press release noted that Holtz is expecting a battle for the quarterback spot between redshirt freshmen Davon Drew and Patrick Pinkney and repositioned junior Kort Shankweiler, a former high school QB.

Shankweiler, the son of ECU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler, was moved from his fullback position prior to the start of drills.

Several players will miss all or portions of the spring practice schedule with injuries, including center Hunter Wood, who will sit out the drills after having shoulder surgery during the winter.

Four players — wide receiver Bobby Good, tight end Sean Harmon, tight end Shawn Levesque and linebacker Dashaun Stephens — are trying to come back after undergoing season-ending knee surgeries last fall.

The Pirates will return to work Wednesday and Thursday before taking a week off for Spring Break beginning Friday, March 11. Holtz indicated the Thursday workout would be the first in full pads.

ECU will return to its regimen of three workouts per week on Monday, March 21.

Holtz has scheduled scrimmages for Friday, April 1, and Friday, April 8, at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium prior to the playing of the annual spring game.

From ECU Athletics and staff reports.

2004-05 All-Conference USA basketball team

Charlotte's Eddie Basden and Curtis Withers landed two of the five spots on the first unit as Conference USA announced its 2004-05 All-Conference USA teams on Monday.

The members of the All-Conference USA first, second and third teams, as voted on by the league's coaches and media:

From a Conference USA report.

Cards top trio of C-USA teams in hoops poll

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, record, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

(Poll released Mar. 7, 2005. Conference USA team, including future members, and Carolinas teams in bold; East Carolina opponents in red.] 

 1. Illinois 29-1 1725 1
 2. North Carolina 26-3 1701 2
 3. Wake Forest 26-4 1596 4
 4. Kentucky 23-4 1445 3
 5. Duke 22-5 1393 6
 6. Louisville 26-4 1350 9
 7. Boston College 24-3 1286 5
 8. Arizona 25-5 1192 11
 9. Kansas 22-5 1134 7
10. Oklahoma State 21-6 1067 8
11. Gonzaga 24-4 1054 12
12. Connecticut 21-6 1021 15
13. Michigan State 22-5 919 14
14. Washington 24-5 895 10
15. Utah 25-4 697 16
16. Syracuse 24-6 648 13
17. Oklahoma 23-6 630 20
18. Pacific 25-2 583 17
19. Villanova 21-6 552 19
20. Alabama 23-6 456 21
21. Cincinnati 24-6 333 22
22. Pittsburgh 20-7 288 24
23. Wisconsin 20-7 260 23
24. Nevada 24-5 149 25
25. Charlotte 21-6 112 18

Others Receiving Votes:

Florida 96, Louisiana State 58, Southern Illinois 43, Texas 28, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 9, Georgia Tech 5, New Mexico 5, Texas A&M 4, UCLA 3, Holy Cross 2, Saint Mary's (CA) 2, Winthrop 2, Minnesota 1, Ohio State 1, Old Dominion 1, Penn 1, Texas Tech 1, Texas-El Paso 1, Vermont 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:21 PM