By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — After patrolling the outfield at Futrell Field for the past four years in front of maybe 100 fans, Trent Whitehead has pictured himself playing on a much bigger stage. Much, much bigger.
The former Washington Pam Pack standout will wear the purple-and-gold for the East Carolina Pirates this year. The 5-10, 169-pound freshman outfielder, who will wear No. 9, has already envisioned himself in a Pirate uniform playing at Sarge Frye Field, which seats 5,000 fans.
Whitehead will get his first taste of college baseball when the No. 24 Pirates open the season at the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend. The games at Sarge Frye Field will be 3 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Whitehead, last year’s WDN Baseball Hitter of the Year, is coming off a solid camp where he hit well in game situations.
Whitehead, whose entire family will make the trip to Columbia, S.C., to watch him play, said adjusting from high school to college baseball was a tough process.
The speedy outfielder will be one of several who could see action this weekend. The Pirates have a deep bench, which should prove beneficial this season.
Whitehead has enjoyed bonding with his new Pirate teammates, but he and his buddies are ready to see another team.
The Pirates get their wish this weekend against the highly-ranked Gamecocks.
The ECU freshman is glad he can be a part of it. He recently learned that he won’t be red-shirted this year.
After a game Feb. 27 at Elon, Whitehead and the Pirates open their home schedule at Clark-LeClair Stadium with a three-game series Feb. 29, March 1 and March 2 against Monmouth, N.J.