LeClair stays in touch

Former coach watches ECU win

The biggest hero this frigid Friday night wasn't on the field.

Based on sheer determination and crowd reaction, he was sitting in the press box, in a wheelchair, still battling ALS -- Lou Gehrig's Disease -- and still following baseball.

From that vantage point, former East Carolina coach Keith LeClair took in part of the Keith LeClair Baseball Classic, straining to see through a window and listening to the radio broadcast as ECU edged Penn State 4-3 with a run in the ninth inning.

In a moving moment before the game, when LeClair was introduced, every fan stood, cheered, and fought back tears.

Then LeClair watched as his 11-year old daughter, Audrey, and 8-year old son, J.D., fired "first pitches" in honor of their dad.

"He wants to be here,'' said Lynn, LeClair's wife, who also participated in the pregame ceremony.

LeClair's vision is failing, Lynn said, and he no longer can see well enough to use his computer. He communicates now via a big letter board.

"[But]," Lynn said, smiling. "He's in good spirits. He listens to all the [ECU] games and keeps up with others as well."

Several of his former East Carolina players have landed coaching jobs at major schools.

"They saw what kind of man he was, and decided they wanted to coach," said George Whitfield, an East Carolina assistant.

Before stricken with the debilitating disease in 2002, LeClair guided the Pirates to a 212-96-1 record and four NCAA Tournaments.

But his influence transcended baseball. LeClair had Bible studies for his team while coaching and he still gives every East Carolina senior a Pirate purple Bible when they graduate, Lynn said.

On Friday several of his former players dropped in to see him. They talked, laughed and communicated with him on the large letter board.

N.C. State coach Elliot Avent also came by after his Wolfpack had disposed of West Virginia 12-4.

"He created a legacy here that's going to live a long time," said Avent, his eyes moist. "He created a legacy among his players who played so hard for him and love him so much."

Now the Pirates are playing hard for first-year ECU head coach Billy Godwin, who carved a robust record at Louisburg Junior College.

Sophomore outfielder Harrison Eldridge says Godwin has brought pep to the Pirates as well as expertise.

"He's into every pitch, every at-bat," Eldridge said. "The energy, the work ethic he brings will make us a better team."

The Pirates were picked sixth in Conference USA's preseason poll, but Godwin said he believes his team can rise higher than that.

He likes his pitching staff that features starters T.J. Hose (nine strikeouts in seven innings on Friday) and Dustin Sasser, plus a bullpen armed with Carter Harrell.

Jay Mattox, Jake Smith and Adam Witter are counted on to fuel an offense that Godwin says "hasn't reached its potential yet," even though ECU has racked up 51 runs in eight games.

Lacking the power of some previous teams, the Pirates hope to produce big results from "small ball." Steal. Bunt. Hustle for an extra base.

Take the bottom of the ninth against Penn State, for example. Drew Schieber walked and Dale Mollenhauer and Mattox singled to load the bases with one out.

Then Schieber scored the winning run on Smith's sacrifice fly to short left field.

"The players knew how much coach LeClair meant to this program," Godwin said. "It was a good way to end a great day."

It was winning Pirate baseball again, which is what ECU fans relish more than hot dogs and peanuts.

Baseball is the school's most successful sport: 53 winning seasons in the past 55 years; seven straight trips to the NCAA regionals; And a national NAIA title in 1961.

Godwin is aware of the tradition, values it, and has the ingredients to build on it.

There's a modern stadium that accommodates 3,000 in the stands and another 2,000 in the "jungle" around the outfield fence. About 2,000 season tickets have been sold and 3,400 spectators showed up for one game, although spring has hardly sprung.

Meanwhile, Godwin stays in close touch with LeClair, who embodies the spirit he wants his Pirates to display.

"[Just] his whole attitude ... he's such a great inspiration to anybody fighting any type of adversity," Godwin said.