Austin Homan to wear No. 23 at East Carolina

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FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Senior Austin Homan will wear East Carolina’s honorary No. 23 jersey for the second-straight year according to an announcement made by head coach Billy Godwin during the program’s annual “Meet the Pirates” fan session, which was held inside the Murphy Center Saturday afternoon.

The No. 23 jersey, which was the number worn by the late ECU Head Coach Keith LeClair throughout his coaching and playing career, became an honorary number for the Pirate baseball program in 2003.

Homan, the Pirates top utility man, set career-highs in hits (40), doubles (7), RBI (28) and belted his first collegiate home run against Conference USA foe Tulane on April 3. He played in 43 games with 33 starts and ranked fifth on the team with a .313 batting average.

The State College, Pa., drove in a career-best five rind against UAB (Apr. 17) where he was 3-for-5 with a double in ECU’s 12-7 win over the Blazers. Homan played in all three C-USA Tournament games in 2010 where he led the club with a .375 (3-for-8) average with a RBI. As a three-year letterwinner, Homan has started 50-of-104 games played boasting a .321 career average with 12 doubles, 52 RBI and 44 runs scored.

“Austin is a special young man,” said Godwin. “He goes about his business every day in a first class manner. Everything he stands for is what Coach LeClair was all about. Not only is he a good player, but he is any exceptional leader for our players on and off the field. Austin’s passion for East Carolina baseball is contagious among our players and coaching staff.

The number is awarded annually to a deserving player who best displays the hustle, determination and desire that made LeClair a great coach and player.

Homan (2010-11) becomes the first two-time recipient and is the eighth Pirate to wear the honorary No. 23 jersey, following Ben Sanderson (2003), Jamie Paige (2004), Brian Cavanaugh (2005), Adam Witter (2006), Chris Powell (2007), Drew Schieber (2008) and Brandon Henderson (2009).

LeClair’s courageous battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has garnered support and admiration throughout the ECU and collegiate baseball community.

The Pirates will open the 2011 season on Feb. 18 when they play host to Youngstown State at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET).