By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
When the season begins Feb. 19, Trent Whitehead will step into the batter’s box having already earned some impressive accolades.
Whitehead, who sets a single-season hits record with 105 knocks for the East Carolina Pirates last year, as named to the 2010 Ping!Baseball preseason All-America third team. It was the second All-American honor Whitehead has received in the preseason.
Earlier this winter, the ECU junior center fielder was named to the 10th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Pro-Line Athletic Preseason All-America Second-Team.
“I’m honored by it,” Whitehead said about the honor. “It’s a high honor. My coaches and teammates really helped me earn it.”
Whitehead, a former great with the Washington Pam Pack, put up some big numbers his sophomore season. The ECU leadoff hitter hit .376 with seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 24 doubles and 78 runs scored.
He was named to All-Conference USA second team and was a C-USA All-Tournament selection.
Whitehead was named the NCAA Greenville Regional Most Outstanding Player after hitting .381 with a home run, five RBIs and five runs scored.
He led the Pirates with 31 multi-hit games, while recording 10 multi-RBI games. One of Whitehead’s biggest games came against N.C. State, where he belted a pair of home runs and knocked in five runs.
Whitehead and the Pirates begin spring practice Jan. 29.
The Pirates open the 2010 season Feb. 19 at Clark-LeClair Stadium against preseason No. 3 Virginia.
“The number one goal is getting to Omaha,” Whitehead said. “We really want to get there this year.”
ROLLER ALSO HONORED
ECU senior designated hitter DH Kyle Roller was named to the 2010 Ping!Baseball preseason All-America second team.
Roller, a 2009 first-team All-America selection by the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Ping!Baseball, batted .366 with 16 home runs and 75 RBIs last year.
MEET THE PIRATES
East Carolina University baseball fans will get their first chance to meet the 2010 Pirates on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the 10th Annual “Meet the Pirates” luncheon.
It is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the Murphy Center’s Harvey Banquet Hall.
Fans will get the chance to get autographs and photos of the ECU baseball team and fifth-year head coach Billy Godwin. A catered lunch will be held during the event.
A limited number of tickets are available at $10 for adults, $5 for children (12 and under) and $5 for ECU students (with valid One Card). Advance reservations are required.
Tickets will go on sale today and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1 (or until sold out). Fans may reserve their seats by ordering online at www.ECUPirates.com or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.
Following the event, the Pirates will hold an intra-squad scrimmage at Clark-LeClair Stadium.