By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Seth Maness knows it will be one of the biggest games of his career. The East Carolina junior is more than ready for the challenge, as he’ll get the nod when the No. 11 Pirates open the season today against No. 2 Virginia.
“I’m excited about it,” Maness said. “To be the man, you have to beat the man. I’m just looking forward to the challenge.”
Maness, 18-5 with a 4.16 ERA in his career, will face a Virginia team that went to the College World Series a year ago. Expectations are high once again for the Cavaliers this year.
“I’m very anxious,” Maness said. “We’re ready for the first game.”
Virginia hit .327 with 59 home runs a year ago. Several players off last year’s team are back this year.
“It’s a chance to get out there and prove myself,” Maness said. “No doubt it’s going to be big. You just have to set the nerves aside.”
Roll(er)ing along
East Carolina senior Kyle Roller continues to rake in the awards. The first baseman/designated hitter was named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The release marks USA Baseball’s first step toward identifying the top player in college baseball.
Roller enjoys the recognition, but is more concerned with the ultimate team goal.
“I really want to get to Omaha,” Roller said. “That’s been a dream of mine since I got here. I think this is the year to do it.”
Roller, a 2009 first-team All-America selection by the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Ping!Baseball, batted .366 (86-for-256) with 16 home runs and 75 RBI. He ranked among the national leaders in hit by pitches (fourth), RBI (23rd), total bases (79th), home runs (80th) and hits (98th) after earning first-team All-Conference USA and NCAA Greenville Regional All-Tournament honors.
Roller has been tabbed preseason All-America by Collegiate Baseball (first-team), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) (second-team), Ping!Baseball (second-team), All C-USA (first-team) by the leagues head coaches, while also being selected as the sixth-best player in college baseball by CollegeBaseballBlog. Earlier in the week, Roller was selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for baseball, which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.