As Cliff Godwin enters his second season as head coach of the East Carolina baseball team, expectations are high, and deservedly so.

The Pirates had their first regional appearance since 2012 last season and their first 40-win campaign since 2011. ECU lost just five players off the team that was sent home after two games in the Coral Gables Regionals. On paper, most holes have been filled. There’s under a week until the first pitch of the season, which is Friday against Longwood.

Godwin said internal expectations are high, while players listed team goals that include winning 40 games, reaching a regional, reaching a super regional and playing in the College World Series.

“I think they expect to win. This group is very confident, almost on the verge of overconfidence at times,” Godwin said. “As a coach you want to keep them confident, but also keep them grounded at the same time and that’s a bit of a fine line.”

Godwin’s players weren’t satisfied with the regional appearance. This disappointment over last season’s quick exit is clear on player’s faces but the experience gained tends to be first thing players bring up.

Regional experience is critical for a younger team (the Pirates will graduate just five seniors off the team this year) as the games played reaches into the 60s. Most players are not used to the high-level, long-term grind of the college baseball season, but after the summer in Greenville, players believe they are ready for the haul.

“That was our first time in a regional but we’re wanting to be there constantly,” redshirt junior catcher Travis Watkins said. “I think last year’s experience is definitely going to help us this year so the experience is huge in that situation. We didn’t perform like we wanted to but this year we’re prepared, we know how to handle the situation and we’re going to grow as a team.”

The Pirates will draw heavily on the junior class, starting with Watkins, who is part of the class after suffering a season-ending injury in 2014. Evan Kruczynski and Jacob Wolfe sit at the top of the pitching rotation as juniors and virtually the entire infield, barring the undecided shortstop position, is anchored by a junior.

Godwin said he trusts his junior class as they step into leadership roles and take more critical at bats than they have in the past.

ECU played its first season in the American Athletic Conference and took some former Conference USA foes by surprise on the way to a conference tournament title. Godwin said the mindset does have to change as his team becomes the hunted in conference, but it’s something he is used to and has been preaching to his team.

“You’re always on edge as a baseball coach, especially when you play or coach at East Carolina,” Godwin said. “That’s the way it was when I played here. You had a bulls eye on your back because everyone knew they would get your best shot. Everyone is going to be trying to beat us but we just have to play our best baseball and the winning will take care of itself.”

The Pirates kick off the 2016 season against Longwood Friday at Clark-Leclair Stadium. Kruczynski is likely to throw the first pitch.