East Carolina pitcher and Pinecrest graduate Seth Maness has been named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.

The sophomore right-hander improved to 9-0 after picking up a 9-1 win over Memphis on Friday as the Pirates clinched the conference regular season title. He finished 7-0 in league play which is the most conference wins in C-USA. In 88 innings this season, the 2008 Conference Freshman of the Year has struck out 76 batters and walked just 14 while compiling an ERA of 3.99 with two saves. His two-year record with the Pirates is a sparkling 18-2.

The Pirates (41-15) go into this week's conference tournament in Hattiesburg, Miss., on a roll that has seen them rise to No.18 or better in all five national polls. They meet eighth-seeded UCF at 5 p.m. today in a first round contest.

Pinehurst Croquet Wins

The Pinehurst Croquet Club hosted the Bald Head Island Croquet Club May 11-14 for the second annual interclub Joust. Fourteen of BHICC's top players came to defend the Joust trophy which Bald Head held since last year after their win in a rain-shortened Joust on Bald Head Island.

This year's match was hard-fought. Pinehurst played without coach/pro Ron Lloyd or reigning top-rated amateur Bob Cherry. Both missed the event to play in the World Croquet Champion-ships in Palm Springs, Calif.

Nevertheless, the Pinehurst team eked out a 32-31 win to take back the trophey when Bob Whitmore won the tiebreaker in the last match  Thursday morning.