Pitching absences have produced a new leader

Swann has stepped this year in tough times

By: Hart Holloman

Posted: 4/3/08

The ECU softball team was dealt a harsh blow earlier this season when its No. 1 pitcher and last years Conference USA Freshman-of-the-Year, Toni Paisley, went down with an injury.

Yet, the Pirates have continued to win on the strength of some fine performances by junior Brooke Swann, who has become the everyday starter in Paisleys' absence and the departure of Keli Harrell, who has been the star of the ECU softball team the past couple of seasons.

Swann started her career at ECU with a lot of promise. As a freshman she managed a 1.52 ERA in 19 appearances and held opponents to a .199 batting average.

Then last year, with the record-setting Harrell leading the staff and the arrival of Paisley, Swann was relegated to spot duty.

However, that didn't stop her from working hard and learning from those around her.

"Keli [Herrell] has helped me a lot the past few years," Swann said. "She was ahead of me a couple years and now she's the pitching coach. She knows my motion and has been a really big help, especially now."

The marquee characteristic of all successful athletes is the drive to continually work on their skills and try to improve as a player, a fact not lost by Swann.

"Every day when we work out in the bullpen we set goals for the day and we try to achieve those goals by the end of each workout," said Swann.

When asked what she's working on when she sets those goals, she replied like any elite athlete would, saying, "Everything. I still need to work on everything."

Still, making the transition from backup to starter has been a challenge for Swann.

"I started the year as the No. 2 starter again and then when Toni went down I was kind of pushed into that role of the No. 1 and I'm just now making that transition," she said. "It's tough to do that in the middle of the season, but I'm getting into it now and settling into the role."

And settled in she has. Swann has tallied 14 wins this season and broken the century mark in strikeouts with 102. She has eaten up almost 165 innings in her 31 total appearances and owns the team's only two saves.

Though the individual achievements are an indicator of her progress, her focus is set on the team and their goals for the season.

"We want to make it to the regional tournament this season and I want to do my best to help us get there," said Swann. "When your top pitcher goes down it's not easy to come back from that. I'm just hoping I can do enough to get us there and hopefully beyond."

In fact, when asked about any individual goals or records she was gunning for, she couldn't think of any.

"I really don't know," she said. "I've never thought about it, I just want to help the team win as many games as we can."

Swann will take the field with the rest of the Pirates this weekend in a three-game conference tilt against Marshall in Greenville, with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and the finale on Sunday at noon.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com