East Carolina Pirates
Overall Rank: #44
Conference Rank: #3 C-USA
East Carolina Team Page
The East Carolina Softball program returns in 2012 primed for another run at the C-USA championship. Veteran coach Tracy Kee has built a very consistent winning program in Greenville. The Pirates have won 40 plus games the last three seasons. They won the Conference USA Tournament and took Baylor down to the wire in the College Park Regional final falling just short 1-0. East Carolina started eight freshmen in that Regional Final. Thus, an even hungrier and more experienced team returns in 2012.
2011: 41-22, 14-10
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Tracy Kee
Field Players:
Plenty of experience returns, led by sophomore infielder Kristi Oshiro who became a member of the 35-35-35 club where she had at least 35 hits, runs, and walks and led the team in batting average at .316. Senior Suzanne Riggs will anchor the Pirates power production as she returns as the leader in RBI’s at 35 and tied Jordan Lewis with four homeruns to lead East Carolina in that category.
Pitchers:
Youth will be served as a whole new pitching staff arrives in Greenville to pick up the slack for senior stalwart Toni Paisley who was 32-13 in 2011 with a 1.03 earned run average and had 16 solo shutouts on the year. The three freshmen include Sarah Christian, a four time all-state pitcher from Greenville, NC, along with Courtney Smith from Yuba City, California and the most highly touted pitcher, Emma Mendoker out of Amherst, Massachusetts, who was the ESPNRISE 2010-11 Gatorade Massachusetts Softball Player of the year. Mendoker recorded 1,002 strikeouts in her high school career
Who to Watch:
Look for sophomore Jill Jelnick to continue her clutch play at the plate as she hit .340 with runners in scoring position. Jordan Lewis’s power numbers should increase after an offseason of strength and conditioning along with another fall practice period to work on her power game. Alex Fieldhouse returns at third base looking to build off an all-tournament team performance in the 2011 Conference USA tournament where she hit .375, along with a .750 slugging percentage.
Final Projection:
This sophomore heavy squad grew up fast in 2011 as they turned a fifth place regular season finish in Conference USA into another tournament championship. The loss of Paisley will be a significant challenge as having a senior leader in the circle is extremely valuable if you are trying to make a run into the NCAA tournament and beyond. The Pirates won’t overload you power wise as they only hit 16 homeruns. However they find a way to consistently get on base as they have three players with over a .400 on base percentage. Led by Oshiro, this group of field players should only get stronger at the plate and be able to build on their 226 run output in 2011. If the freshmen pitching trio can come together in a hurry, then I would project another NCAA tournament bid for East Carolina in 2012.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Kristi Oshiro, IF, 185
Hits: Kristi Oshiro, IF, 58
Home Runs: (tie) Jordan Lewis, OF/IF and Suzanne Riggs, OF, 4
RBIs: Suzanne Riggs, OF, 35
Runs: Kristi Oshiro, IF, 37
Stolen Bases: Rebecca Lee, C/OF, 12
Wins: None
Innings Pitched: None
Strikeouts: None
Saves: None
