Why ECU’s Young Ace Could Be Their Key to a Spot in the Top 25
Eight innings and nineteen strikeouts, an AAC conference record. Ethan Norby, East Carolina University baseball’s ace, is only in his sophomore year and already playing like a veteran on the pitcher’s mound. Norby made light work of 24th ranked Coastal Carolina’s nine batter lineup in Friday's game in Clark Le-Clair Stadium. Striking out each batter at least once, he made his way off the mound with a shrug. All in a day’s work. See you guys next week.
ECU has remained unranked for the first three weeks of play, struggling to find a place in the nation's top 25 where they are used to sitting comfortably. Norby may be the key to getting the Pirates there. Though he made his way into 20 games last season, he has big shoes to fill. The Pirates’ former ace Trey Yesavage, who was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2024 MLB Draft, was a weapon for the Pirates, helping them start each series with a win over big teams. That’s Norby’s job now and ECU’s shut-out 6-0 win over Coastal Carolina has proved he is stepping comfortably into his role.
When Norby first appeared in a lineup for the Pirates, ECU fans knew him for who his brother was to Pirate Nation. Connor Norby, a second baseman for the Miami Marlins organization, was a key offensive player for the Pirates during his time in Greenville. However, Ethan’s jaw-dropping performance on Friday has shown that he is his own athlete, and will soon leave his own legacy on the program. When Norby shows out on the mound, his teammates in ECU’s batting lineup put on a show as well. This year’s young team needs nights like Friday to boost their confidence in a way that allows them to play to their full potential offensively. There are some big bats in the rotation, but when the Pirates are faced with a team who can take advantage of their pitching staff, a comeback is a rare occurrence. Norby’s talent on the mound ensures that his team has room to take control of the game both offensively and defensively.
This team has what it takes to hold their own against undefeated powerhouse teams like UNC and take down teams at the bottom of the top 25. Baseball season is long, the Pirates have time to sneak their way into the national rankings. In every loss, the Pirates come so close every time and in every win they improve. Upsets happen all the time in college baseball, but there’s something different about this one. Watch out, after this weekend’s series, Ethan Norby and the Pirates are hungry and they’re looking for blood.
