ECU Club Baseball to defend World Series title

East Carolina University’s Club Baseball team will defend its National Club Baseball Association World Series title in Holly Springs. ECU is ranked No. 1 in the country, but was given the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will open play against Penn State at 2:45 p.m. on May 25.
The Pirates won the 2017 NCBA World Series championship with a 1-0 win over Central Florida in 10 innings and makes its sixth World Series appearance since 2011. The ECU club team won the title in 2011 and 2017.
ECU advanced to the World Series by claiming its fifth straight Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship, defeating the University of Maryland 15-8 in Martinsville, Virginia, and is once again strong favorites to defend the title.
“After losing 18 seniors and all three starting pitchers from last year’s team and with only two starters returning in the lineup, I am pretty excited and proud of the success we had this year,” said Ben Fox, head coach of the ECU Club Baseball Team. “This is something we have never experienced in the history of our program. The last time we won the World Series it took us two years to get back. So to be going back after losing so many guys, to defend our national championship makes me extremely proud of my team and coaching staff, all their hard work and dedication has paid off.”
Following last year’s championship run, Tanner Duncan became the first ECU club baseball player to sign a Major League Baseball contract. Duncan is currently pitching with the Houston Astros organization and will be pitching against the Kinston Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium May 29-31.
The World Series success and individual player success have drawn significant recognition for the club baseball program.
“It has allowed us to gain some national publicity that most people would never think a club baseball team would get,” said Fox. “Especially with Tanner being successful and moving up the minor league ranks and the National Championship last year. I think it shows that our program is a legitimate option for high school baseball players all across the country that don’t get the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Other teams joining ECU in the 2018 NCBA World Series include top seed Oregon, Florida State, Grand Canyon University, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Penn State and Texas A&M.
Visit www.clubbaseball.org to follow ECU through the World Series. For additional information, contact Justin Waters with ECU Club Sports at 252-737-2713 or watersj@ecu.edu.
 

1. Contact: Justin Waters, ECU Club Sports, watersj@ecu.edu