As the 2016 East Carolina baseball season winds to a close, it is a good time to look back at the careers of the five seniors who will wrap up their time at ECU shortly.

JIMMY BOYD

Jimmy Boyd struggled as a two-way player for ECU head coach Cliff Godwin in 2015, but while focusing solely on pitching in 2016, the former Brunswick Community College player found his stride.

Boyd became a weekend starter for the Pirates in the Saturday role and has posted a 2.51 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts). He pounds the strike zone and takes the help he can get from his defense. Despite striking out just 49 batters, his .216 opposing batting average is the lowest among ECU starters. In his first season, Boyd permitted a .321 opposing batting average and a 4.73 ERA. This year, Boyd has tied the team-high in wins with six.

GARRETT BROOKS

Garrett Brooks is one of two current Pirates to have played four years on the team. Brooks began his career in 2013 and appeared in 45 games with 21 starts. He showed promise with his glove but struggled at the plate with a .194 average. During his sophomore season, Brooks’ defense was critical in center field, earning 131 putouts in 48 starts. His .207 average was overshadowed by his .337 on base percentage and his 30 walks led the team.

His junior campaign featured a jump in average to .270 while running a .375 OBP and committing just one error in the field. This season, Brooks was named a team captain and again improved at the plate as he has logged a .302 average with a home run and a career-high 16 RBI. He currently has one error on the season and just five for his career. He has appeared in all 51 games this year for the Pirates.

 

NICK DURAZO

Nick Durazo’s big moment as a Pirate came as he earned the win in ECU’s American Athletic Conference Tournament championship win by rolling through five innings of relief pitching and allowing just one hit.

Durazo is the other four-year Pirate. His junior campaign was his most impressive as he appeared in 26 games with two starts and garnered a 5-1 record with a 2.77 ERA. He struck out 37 batters in 39 innings pitched while allowing just a .232 opponent batting average. Durazo was heavily used as a midweek starter in his freshman season and appeared in 11 games during an injury-shortened sophomore season.

This season, Durazo has appeared in 14 games with four midweek starts. In 20 2/3 innings pitched, he has 24 strikeouts with just 10 walks allowed. The Pirates were 3-1 when the southpaw started on the hill.

PARKER LAMM

After just one year with the program in 2015, Parker Lamm was named a captain for his senior season at ECU. The corner outfielder has been a mainstay at the top of the lineup for the Pirates this season and has battled through an early-season injury to have a successful second year in the program.

After two seasons at Pitt Community College, Lamm saw the field in 42 games (27 starts) as a junior and batted .238 in his first season at the Division I level. His speed was noticeable with three stolen bags last season. As his ability to reach base more easily grew, so did the opportunities.

Lamm has 10 steals this season while his average has taken a jump to .313, good for second on the team. Despite hitting in the leadoff role and without the benefit of home-run power, Lamm has logged 23 RBI in 48 games. The Wilson native has also not committed an error in 75 opportunities this season.

 

JEFF NELSON

Jeff Nelson came across the country from his home state of Washington — where he played junior college baseball at Pierce College — to play for ECU. Nelson missed over a month in his first season at ECU after sustaining an injury against Elon, but rebounded well to finish with a .234 average in 27 games during his first year in Division I.

Nelson has appeared in 44 games this season with a .260 average and hit his first career home run against Virginia during an 8-5 extra inning win against the Cavaliers.