East Carolina Pirates | |
---|---|
2024 East Carolina Pirates baseball team | |
Founded | 1907 |
University | East Carolina University |
Head coach | Cliff Godwin (10th season) |
Conference | The American |
Location | Greenville, North Carolina |
Home stadium | Clark–LeClair Stadium (Capacity: 5,000) |
Nickname | Pirates |
Colors | Purple and gold[1] |
NCAA regional champions | |
2001, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
ECAC: 1982, 1984 CAA: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000 C-USA: 2002 American: 2015, 2018, 2022 | |
Regular season conference champions | |
North State: 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961[2] SoCon: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977 ECAC: 1984, 1985 CAA: 1986, 1990, 2001 C-USA: 2004, 2009 American: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
The East Carolina Pirates baseball team is an intercollegiate baseball team representing East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college baseball and participates as a full member of the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates have made regular appearances in the NCAA tournament. As of 2024, they have the most NCAA tournament appearances without a College World Series appearance.[3]
The Pirates are coached by Cliff Godwin and play their home games at Clark-LeClair Stadium, named after donor and alumnus Bill Clark and former coach Keith LeClair. Every year, the Pirates host a baseball tournament in Greenville in honor of Coach LeClair called the Keith LeClair Classic.
Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1932 | R.C. Deal[5][6] | 1 | 1-5-0 | .167 |
1933 | Kenneth Beatty[7][8] | 1 | 3-3-0 | .500 |
1934 | A. D. Frank[9][10] | 1 | 5-8-0 | .385 |
1935 | Doc Mathis[11] | 1 | 7-7-1 | .500 |
1936–1938 | Bo Farley[12] | 3 (4) | 32-11-3 | .728 |
1939 | Gordon Gilbert[13] | 1 | 6-5-0 | .545 |
1940 | Bo Farley[14] | 1 (4) | 5-4-1 | .550 |
1941-1942 | John Christenbury[15][16] | 2 | 13-11-0 | .542 |
1946 | Earl Smith[17][18] | 1 | 7-4-0 | .636 |
1947 | John Cameron[19][20] | 1 | 11-7-0 | .611 |
1948 | James Johnson[21][22] | 1 | 5-10-1 | .344 |
1949–1953 | Jack Boone[23][24] | 5 | 49-39-1 | .556 |
1954–1962 | James Mallory | 9 (10) | 146-52-0 | .737 |
1963–1972 | Earl Smith | 10 | 186-102-2 | .645 |
1973 | James Mallory | 1 (10) | 16-8-0 | .667 |
1974–1976 | George Williams | 3 | 56-32-0 | .636 |
1977–1979 | Monte Little | 3 | 82-49-0 | .626 |
1980–1984 | Hal Baird | 5 | 145-66-1 | .686 |
1985–1997 | Gary Overton | 13 | 427-237-1 | .643 |
1998–2002 | Keith LeClair | 5 | 212-96-1 | .688 |
2003–2005 | Randy Mazey | 3 | 120-66-1 | .644 |
2006–2014 | Billy Godwin | 9 | 317-214-1 | .597 |
2015–present | Cliff Godwin | 10 | 397-187-1 | .679 |
Totals | 21 coaches | 90 seasons | 2248-1225-15 | .647 |
* 1943–1945 No Games Played
Clark-LeClair Stadium is the home of Pirate baseball at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The stadium was named after Pirate alumnus and key contributor Bill Clark and former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair.[25]
The stadium has 3,000 Stadium bleacher seats, plus space for several thousand more spectators in "The Jungle". There are concession and restroom facilities at the stadium plus a family picnic area. Amenities include the Pirate Club fundraising and hospitality suite and a private suite for the LeClair family.
The stadium is home to the ECU Invitational[26] and the Keith LeClair Classic.[27]
National Champions | College World Series berth | NCAA Tournament berth | Conference Tournament Champions | Conference/Division Regular Season Champions |
Season | Head coach | Conference | Season results | Tournament results | Final poll[a] | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | Conference | Conference | Postseason | BA | CB | Coaches | ||||||||||
Wins | Losses | Ties | % | Wins | Losses | Ties | % | Finish | ||||||||
East Carolina Pirates | ||||||||||||||||
1932 | R. C. Deal | Independent | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1933 | Kenneth Beatty | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1934 | A. D. Frank | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1935 | Doc Mathis | 7 | 7 | 1 | .500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1936 | Bo Farley | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1937 | 9 | 4 | 2 | .667 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1938 | 17 | 3 | 0 | .850 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1939 | Gordon Gilbert | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1940 | Bo Farley | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1941 | John Christenbury | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1942 | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1943 | No games played | |||||||||||||||
1944 | ||||||||||||||||
1945 | ||||||||||||||||
1946 | Earl Smith | Independent | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1947 | John Cameron | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1948 | James Johnson | North State | 5 | 10 | 1 | .344 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1949 | Jack Boone | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1950 | 7 | 7 | 1 | .500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1951 | 11 | 10 | 0 | .524 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1952 | 9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1953 | 16 | 5 | 0 | .762 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1954 | James Mallory | 15 | 7 | 0 | .682 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1955 | 20 | 5 | 0 | .800 | — | — | — | — | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1956 | 18 | 5 | 0 | .783 | — | — | — | — | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957 | 16 | 7 | 0 | .696 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1958 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1959 | 16 | 3 | 0 | .842 | — | — | — | — | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1960 | 17 | 5 | 0 | .773 | — | — | — | — | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1961 | 23 | 4 | 0 | .852 | — | — | — | — | 1st | — | NAIA National Championship[28] | — | — | — | ||
1962 | 11 | 10 | 0 | .524 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1963 | Earl Smith | Independent | 25 | 6 | 1 | .797 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NAIA World Series | — | — | — |
1964 | 18 | 7 | 0 | .720 | — | — | — | — | — | — | District 3 Playoffs | — | 23 | — | ||
1965 | 16 | 7 | 0 | .696 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1966 | Southern Conference | 17 | 10 | 0 | .630 | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 1st | — | District 3 Playoffs | — | 28 | — | |
1967 | 23 | 6 | 0 | .793 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | T-1st | — | — | — | 23 | — | ||
1968 | 21 | 11 | 1 | .652 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | 1st | — | District 3 Playoffs | — | 19 | — | ||
1969 | 15 | 14 | 0 | .517 | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1970 | 20 | 13 | 0 | .606 | 13 | 6 | 0 | .684 | 1st | — | District 3 Playoffs | — | 25 | — | ||
1971 | 12 | 18 | 0 | .400 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 4th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972 | 19 | 10 | 0 | .655 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1973 | James Mallory | 16 | 8 | 0 | .667 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | T-2nd | — | — | — | — | — | |
1974 | George Williams | 17 | 13 | 0 | .567 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st | — | District 3 Playoffs | — | 25 | — | |
1975 | 17 | 12 | 0 | .586 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1976 | 22 | 7 | 0 | .759 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 4th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1977 | Monte Little | 30 | 12 | 0 | .714 | 15 | 1 | 0 | .938 | 1st | — | Atlantic Regional | — | — | — | |
1978 | Independent | 27 | 18 | 0 | .600 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1979 | 25 | 19 | 0 | .568 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1980 | Hal Baird | 28 | 7 | 0 | .800 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Northeast Regional | — | — | — | |
1981 | 28 | 15 | 0 | .651 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1982 | ECAC South | 34 | 14 | 0 | .708 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 3rd | 1st | East Regional | — | — | — | |
1983 | 21 | 17 | 1 | .551 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1984 | 34 | 13 | 0 | .723 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 1st | 1st | South I Regional | — | 20 | — | ||
1985 | Gary Overton | 32 | 14 | 0 | .696 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | |
1986 | CAA | 40 | 10 | 0 | .800 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | T-1st | — | — | — | — | — | |
1987 | 26 | 17 | 0 | .605 | 8 | 7 | 0 | .333 | 4th | 1st | Atlantic Regional | |||||
1988 | 33 | 14 | 0 | .702 | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | T-2nd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1989 | 37 | 11 | 0 | .771 | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 2nd | 1st | East Regional | — | — | — | ||
1990 | 47 | 9 | 0 | .839 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1st | 1st | Atlantic Regional | — | — | — | ||
1991 | 30 | 24 | 1 | .555 | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 3rd | 1st | Midwest Regional | — | — | — | ||
1992 | 25 | 24 | 0 | .510 | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 5th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1993 | 41 | 19 | 0 | .683 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 3rd | 1st | Atlantic Regional | — | — | — | ||
1994 | 36 | 18 | 0 | .667 | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 5th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1995 | 29 | 26 | 0 | .527 | 5 | 13 | 0 | .278 | 6th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996 | 22 | 24 | 0 | .478 | 10 | 11 | 0 | .476 | 5th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997 | 29 | 27 | 0 | .518 | 10 | 11 | 0 | .476 | T-4th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998 | Keith LeClair | 30 | 29 | 0 | .508 | 10 | 11 | 0 | .476 | T-4th | — | — | — | — | — | |
1999 | 46 | 16 | 0 | .742 | 14 | 6 | 0 | .700 | 2nd | 1st | Baton Rouge Regional | 18 | 19 | 23 | ||
2000 | 46 | 18 | 0 | .719 | 14 | 7 | 0 | .667 | T-1st | 1st | Columbia Regional | — | 29 | — | ||
2001 | 47 | 13 | 0 | .783 | 19 | 2 | 0 | .905 | 1st | — | Kinston Super Regional | 11 | 11 | 11 | ||
2002 | C-USA | 43 | 20 | 1 | .680 | 16 | 13 | 1 | .550 | 6th | 1st | Clemson Super Regional | — | — | 24 | |
2003 | Randy Mazey | 34 | 27 | 1 | .556 | 17 | 13 | 0 | .567 | 5th | — | Atlanta Regional | — | — | — | |
2004 | 51 | 13 | 0 | .797 | 25 | 5 | 0 | .833 | 1st | — | Columbia Super Regional | 8 | 13 | 9 | ||
2005 | 35 | 26 | 0 | .574 | 18 | 12 | 0 | .600 | 4th | — | Tempe Regional | — | — | — | ||
2006 | Billy Godwin | 33 | 26 | 0 | .559 | 10 | 14 | 0 | .417 | 6th | — | — | — | — | — | |
2007 | 40 | 23 | 0 | .635 | 14 | 9 | 0 | .609 | 2nd | 2nd | Chapel Hill Regional | — | — | — | ||
2008 | 42 | 21 | 0 | .667 | 13 | 11 | 0 | .542 | 5th | — | Conway Regional | — | — | — | ||
2009 | 46 | 20 | 0 | .697 | 17 | 7 | 0 | .708 | 1st | — | Chapel Hill Super Regional | 17 | 16 | 15 | ||
2010 | 15 | 27 | 0 | .357 | 11 | 13 | 0 | .458 | 6th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011 | 41 | 21 | 0 | .661 | 14 | 10 | 0 | .583 | 3rd | — | Charlottesville Regional | 25 | — | — | ||
2012 | 36 | 24 | 1 | .598 | 13 | 10 | 1 | .563 | 6th | — | Chapel Hill Regional | — | — | — | ||
2013 | 31 | 26 | 0 | .544 | 14 | 10 | 0 | .583 | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014 | 33 | 26 | 0 | .559 | 16 | 14 | 0 | .533 | 6th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2015 | Cliff Godwin | AAC | 40 | 22 | 0 | .645 | 15 | 9 | 0 | .625 | 2nd | 1st | Coral Gables Regional | — | — | — |
2016 | 38 | 23 | 1 | .621 | 15 | 8 | 1 | .646 | 2nd | — | Lubbock Super Regional | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||
2017 | 32 | 28 | 0 | .533 | 7 | 17 | 0 | .333 | 8th | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018 | 44 | 18 | 0 | .710 | 14 | 10 | 0 | .583 | T-3rd | 1st | Greenville Regional | 23 | 29 | 23 | ||
2019 | 47 | 18 | 0 | .723 | 20 | 4 | 0 | .833 | 1st | — | Louisville Super Regional | 12 | 15 | 12 | ||
2020 | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | — | Cancelled | Cancelled | 24 | — | — | ||
2021 | 44 | 17 | 0 | .721 | 20 | 8 | 0 | .714 | 1st | — | Nashville Super Regional | 13 | 12 | 13 | ||
2022 | 46 | 21 | 0 | .687 | 20 | 4 | 0 | .833 | 1st | 1st | Greenville Super Regional | 17 | 13 | 12 | ||
2023 | 47 | 19 | 0 | .712 | 18 | 6 | 0 | .750 | 1st | 2nd | Charlottesville Regional | 24 | 26 | 23 | ||
2024 | 46 | 19 | 0 | .708 | 19 | 8 | 0 | .704 | 1st | — | Greenville Regional | 16 | — | 16 | ||
Total | 2,248 | 1,225 | 15 | .647 |
In 1961, the ECU Pirates won the NAIA World Series championship to claim East Carolina's first national championship in baseball. The East Carolina Pirates won 13–7 over the Sacramento State Hornets. Since then, the Pirates have yet to make it to a national championship.
Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional. |
1966 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional. |
1968 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to Florida State in the District 3 Regional. |
1970 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to Mississippi State in the District 3 Regional. |
1974 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to South Carolina in the District 3 Regional. |
1977 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to South Carolina in the Atlantic Regional. |
1980 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to Maine in the Northeast Regional. |
1982 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to West Virginia in the East Regional. |
1984 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to South Alabama in the South Regional. |
1987 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to Central Michigan in the Atlantic Regional. |
1989 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to Villanova in the East Regional. |
1990 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to N.C. State in the East Regional. |
1991 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to Ohio State in the Midwest Regional. |
1993 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to Ohio State in the Atlantic Regional. |
1999 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional. |
2000 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the Lafayette Regional. |
2001 | 3–2 | .600 | Won Wilson Regional; Lost to Tennessee in the Kinston Super Regional. |
2002 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to Clemson in the Clemson Regional. |
2003 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to Stetson in the Atlanta Regional. |
2004 | 3–2 | .600 | Won Kinston Regional; Lost to South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional. |
2005 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to UNLV in the Tempe Regional. |
2007 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to Western Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional. |
2008 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to Coastal Carolina in the Conway Regional. |
2009 | 4–3 | .571 | Won Greenville Regional; Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. |
2011 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to UVA in the Charlottesville Regional Final. |
2012 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional. |
2015 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost to FIU in the Coral Gables Regional. |
2016 | 4–2 | .667 | Won Charlottesville Regional; Lost to Texas Tech in the Lubbock Super Regional. |
2018 | 1–2 | .333 | Lost to UNCW in the Greenville Regional. |
2019 | 4–3 | .571 | Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Louisville in the Louisville Super Regional. |
2021 | 3–2 | .600 | Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Vanderbilt in the Nashville Super Regional. |
2022 | 4–3 | .571 | Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Texas in the Greenville Super Regional. |
2023 | 2–2 | .500 | Lost to Virginia in Charlottesville Regional. |
2024 | 3–2 | .600 | Lost to Evansville in Greenville Regional. |
Total[3] | 52-71 | .423 |
Although the Teachers have had only a few weeks practice on the diamond in which to learn the wrinkles of the field and the eccentricities of the old sphere, Coach Deal is gradually turning out a well-rounded team. None of the players have had previous experience other than high school and a little semi-professional baseball except Bill "Lou" Brown. From this raw material the present team has evolved.
Also the boys have a baseball team this term. Prof. R. C. Deal is coaching this team. Although we are not having quite as successful season in this sport as basketball, we are nevertheless making a fair showing. A baseball team cannot be organized in one season.
All of the teams have been coached by Kenneth C. Beatty who has served with no financial remuneration whatsoever, without the assistance of coach Beatty it is doubtful whether the teams would have ever been put out. The college as a whole owes to Coach Beatty, and the Athletic Committee, a debt it can never repay. Both for the school spirit developed by the teams, and the mental and physical development of the squads.
The baseball diamond was along side the lake in the arboretum, and the Coach for the 1933 season was Kenneth C. Beatty, a Greenville man who had no financial help whatsover in fielding a ball club that played .500 ball.
Hats off to Dr. A. D. Frank, coach of baseball during the past season.
Mathis Appointed Coach. In 1935 Doc Mathis was appointed head coach at the college, and under this able and ambitious director, athletics were on the upgrade...Mathis' nine won seven games, tied one, and lost seven games.
Director of Athletics of Local High School Succeeds Doc Mathis as Baseball Coach
Coach Gordon Gilbert's Pirates got off to a bad start for the 1939 season, by dropping the first game to Campbell College's nine to the tune of 13-5.
The first baseball practice, held Monday under the supervision of Coach Bo Farley, who was the Pirates' baseball skipper in 1937 and 1938 and former manager of the Greenville entry in the Coastal Plain League, indicated that this year's nine would be an unusually good team.
Coach Christenbury was able to find several teams which proved to make games of interest for the Pirates. By winning seven and losing seven the Teachers ended up with a .500 average.
It was in 1942 when the U.S. government was drafting all young college boys that baseball as well as other sports began to decline. Many colleges dropped the most popular of all spring sports and Coach Christenbury could only draw up a 14-game schedule which saw only three college teams listed. The rest of the teams on the card were service teams which were loaded with professional material.
Here is the picture of the 1946 baseball team that won seven and lost four games in their first season since '42.
Last quarter we had a pretty good basketball team under the able direction of Coach Smith, and this quarter as most of the student body no doubt knows Smitty has produced a good baseball team.
John Cameron, head baseball coach and instructor in physical education at ECTC, is a man of varied experience in the sports world.
Coach John Cameron has shaken his line-up considerably in a maneuver toward placing a higher caliber nine on the diamond.
The Pirates will be without the service of John Cameron, last year's head baseball coach. He will be succeeded by Coach Jimmy Johnson.
Coach Jim Johnson's 1948 diamond hopefuls were scheduled to take to the fields this afternoon, playing host to Elon in their season's debut. Johnson was elevated into the Head Coach spot this year, succeeding John Cameron, who last year led the Pirates to a successful season.
Coach Jack Boone, who has just this year taken over the head baseball coaching duties, has been drilling his diamond prospects for three weeks with the first two weeks used in limbering up exercises and the fundamentals of baseball.
Coach Jack Boone's baseball squad racked up a season record of 6 wins and 8 defeats. The Pirates had a 4-6 record in Conference standing.
PIRATES' DEFY ODDS IN 1961 NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP RUN