By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — After enjoying a record-setting season last year, Trent Whitehead is more than ready to go this season.
Whitehead, East Carolina’s leadoff batter and a former star at Washington High School, set a single-season hit record with 105 last year. That number ranked fourth in the nation.
The junior hit .376 (105 for 279) with seven home runs, 10 stolen bases, 24 doubles, 47 RBIs and 78 runs scored.
Whitehead begins his quest for another solid campaign when the No. 11 Pirates open the 2010 season at home Friday. The Pirates will take on No. 2 Virginia in a three-game series at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
“I’m excited,” said Whitehead, who was a preseason first-team All-Conference USA selection. “I really like this team. We have a good mix of younger and older guys. Everybody is really looking forward to getting the season started.”
Whitehead earned numerous postseason awards last year, and several preseason honors this year. He was named to the All-Conference USA second team and was a C-USA All-Tournament selection in 2009.
Along with the preseason conference honor, Whitehead was a second-team All-America selection from NCBWA and earned third-team All-America designation by Ping!Baseball.
Despite all the accolades, Whitehead said there isn’t any added pressure to perform well this year.
“I see it as an opportunity,” Whitehead said. “Last year was last year, and last year was great, but I don’t want to look at the past.
“I really just want to try to improve this year and try to have a better year. I’m trying not to think about stats and all the awards, because they’re really not important.”
He worked on some specific areas during the offseason.
“I worked on pitch recognition, try to cut down on strikeouts and put the ball in play more,” Whitehead said. “With me being the leadoff guy, I want to do whatever it takes to help this team score more runs — get on base and let the middle lineup do their thing.”
ECU coach Billy Godwin is hoping for another big year out of Whitehead.
“(I expect him) to be better than he was last year,” Godwin said. “I just want him to go out there and be Trent Whitehead. I personally think that’s enough.
“I don’t want him to feel any pressure. He’s a proven player. He’s a darned good player and I’m expecting him to have a great year.”
Whitehead, who has a career .351 batting average (129 for 367) to go with 10 home runs, 62 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, said he is firmly focused on helping his Pirates reach the College World Series.
“My number one goal is to try and help this team win,” Whitehead said. “I want to do whatever it takes to get to Omaha.”