Newsletter

Welcome to all new members of Blackbeard’s Ballers, the Team Behind the Team.

NEWSLETTER 2, December 19, 2007

Koach's Korner with Coach Kee

Happy Holidays to everyone!

I just wanted to take a few moments and share our fall with all our families, friends and fans. I cannot believe the holidays are already here. It seems like the fall flew by…although our kids may beg to differ! J

Coach Koz and I were both pleased with the athletic progress of our squad. We feel we were able to make positive strides in all of our game components: defense, offense, pitching, team speed, team strength and overall team chemistry. Never before have I seen our squad pushed so hard in conditioning! Koz’s motto was “Last year we trained like a number 2 team, and this year we will train like a number 1 team.” I guess you could say being runner-up in C-USA and missing an NCAA bid was and still is our motivation to continue moving forward. This year’s squad accepted the challenge placed before them, and got through the daily grind. Hopefully we’ll see the fruits of our labor come spring!

As you all know, there’s more to our squad then “softball”. Though that tends to be a major part of our program, we take great pride in our academics and community service. This year’s squad set a goal of obtaining 28 hours of community service per individual. I’m pleased to announce we as a team totaled 740 hours this fall. That comes out to an average of 38.9 per player. Eleven of our kids had over 40 hours each! Hopefully our impact in the community will continue to grow.

Academically, they set a goal of obtaining a 3.04. Our team GPA for the fall ended up being a 3.22. Thirteen of our 19 players had a 3.0 or higher, and five girls pulled a 4.0! As a staff, we love their competitive “spirit”!

So, as you can see, Coach Koz and I have a lot to be thankful for. We feel we have put some wonderful student-athletes together who truly understand the meaning of giving, committing, and striving towards a goal no matter how hard the daily challenge may be. They really are a wonderful group! Their laughter is contagious. Their effort is relentless. Their commitment is unmatched. We’ve got a very long and challenging spring ahead of us, but if this fall is any indication of it, we’ll be pleased with the outcome.

We hope to see you out in the stands come February! Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Peace & PIRATES!

Coach Kee

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Latest News

December 15, 2007

Congratulations to all Pirate athletes who graduated today. Remember, once a Pirate always a Pirate.

December 12, 2007

Winningest College Softball Programs

"In the relatively short history of college softball, some programs are known for the alarming rate at which they win games. In 25 seasons of softball, just 10 teams have registered 900+ wins - and it took one program just 21 seasons to hit that plateau." 

With every bit of your Pirate pride, click the link to see who that team is.

ECU recognized by CSTV as one of the top 10 Winningest College Softball Programs

• 1 UCLA
  Through 25 seasons, UCLA has recorded 1,177 wins, 237 losses and 4 ties
• 2 Florida State
  In 23 seasons of play, the Seminoles have recorded 1,136 wins, 371 losses and 6 ties
• 3 Cal State Fullerton
  The Titans are the second California team to hit the century mark with 1,104 wins, 471 losses and 4 ties
• 4 Louisiana-Lafayette
  In 25 seasons, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 1,061 games, lost 299 and never tied
• 5 California
  Cal is the last of the 1,000-win programs with a 1,057-512-2 record over 25 seasons
• 6 Texas A&M
  In 24 seasons, the Aggies have won 970 games, lost 455 and tied twice
• 7 Oklahoma
  The Sooners are the first team from Oklahoma on this list, having compiled a 952-513-2 record in 25 seasons
• 8 East Carolina
  It took the Pirates just 21 seasons to hit 900 wins, as they have won 927 games and lost 491 in that span with 0 ties
• 9 Nebraska
  In 25 seasons, the Huskers have never tied a game, owning a 906-467 all-time record
• 10 Oklahoma State
  The Cowgirls trail their in-state rivals by less than 50 wins, with a 905-423-0 record in 25 years of play

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December 4, 2007

Here’s a holiday good will spotting. Several members of the softball team were spotted reading The Adventures of Pee Dee the Pirate to little Pirates at the ECU Student Stores Holiday Sale 2007.

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December 3, 2007

The third annual Reindeer Dash for Cash 5K and 10-mile run took place Sunday December 2. The event raises money for a scholarship in the name and memory of Capt. Christopher S. Cash, a soldier who died serving the United States in Iraq.  Coach Koz along with several of the team ran in the race.  Other members of the softball team volunteered their time.

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November 30, 2007

The Pirate Clash is an end of the year event that is specific to ECU softball. Two teams compete in what is referred to as, “The test of speed, strength, and knowledge.” Ultimately it’s a wrap up of the fall conditioning, but the competition spices up the challenge of running or doing sprints. The two teams are the Sabers and the Skulls. Each player is put on a team when she enters the program. She remains on that team during her tenure in the program. So once a Saber, always a Saber and once a Skull, always a Skull! Alumni have come back to pull for their teams and the trash talking between teams begins weeks in advance of the Pirate Clash.

The teams compete against one another in 10 challenges. These challenges can be geared around speed, strength, or in some cases, knowledge. But each challenge always requires some strategizing by the teams. Whichever team wins the most challenges, wins the Pirate Clash. Over the last 7 years that the Pirate Clash has taken place, the winner has alternated every year, with this year’s winner being the Sabers.

This newsletter is sent to you so that you will be able to keep up with all that is going on with ECU Softball.  If you want more, go to WWW.Blackbeardsballers.com