Four Pirates Earn All-AAC Honors, Led by First-Teamer Colby Wallace
Burress, Irby Highlight All-Freshman Selections
Four East Carolina players received All-Conference recognition from the American Athletic Conference, headlined by junior third baseman Colby Wallace earning First Team honors. Sophomore right-hander Ethan Norby was named Second Team All-AAC, while freshmen Braden Burress and Austin Irby both landed on the All-Freshman Team. Burress was also selected to the Second Team, making him one of the league’s most decorated rookies in 2024.
Wallace Locks Down the Hot Corner
Wallace capped off a strong season with a First Team selection after anchoring the middle of the ECU lineup and the left side of the infield.
He hit .270 overall with nine doubles, 10 home runs, and 37 RBIs, while also leading the Pirates with a .987 fielding percentage at third base. Wallace started nearly every game and was a steady presence in both phases, combining power and reliability all spring.
Norby Delivers as a True Friday Night Ace
Sophomore right-hander Ethan Norby was dominant throughout the year and earned Second Team honors as ECU’s go-to Friday starter.
Norby currently ranks third in the AAC in strikeouts (95), fifth in opposing batting average (.217), and sixth in ERA (3.65). He has posted six wins over 14 appearances (12 starts), including a complete-game shutout of William & Mary.
His signature moment came on March 17, when he struck out 19 batters in a 7-0 win over then-No. 24 Coastal Carolina. That performance earned him National Pitcher of the Week honors and came just one strikeout shy of the single-game program record.
Burress Among AAC’s Best Freshmen
Braden Burress made an immediate impact in his debut season, earning both Second Team All-AAC and All-Freshman Team honors.
Burress enters postseason play leading the Pirates — and the AAC — in batting average at .385. He also ranks second in the league in on-base percentage (.491), fifth in hits (67), and tied for sixth in runs scored (47). He’s delivered a team-best 21 multi-hit games and has reached base in 12 straight contests heading into the AAC Tournament.
In addition to his production, Burress brought speed, leadership, and poise to the shortstop position, quickly becoming one of ECU’s most trusted players.
Irby Produces Across the Board
Austin Irby rounds out ECU’s award recipients after earning a spot on the AAC All-Freshman Team.
He started 53 of ECU’s 54 games, hitting .275 with 29 runs, seven doubles, eight home runs, and 38 RBIs. He also drew 30 walks and posted a .989 fielding percentage at first base, committing just four errors all season.
Irby tied for the team lead in multiple-RBI games (10) and ranked second in multi-hit performances (14). He heads into the postseason riding an eight-game on-base streak..
2025 American Athletic Conference Baseball Postseason Honors
Player of the Year
Mason Lytle, Sr., OF, UTSA*
Pitcher of the Year
Blake Gillespie, Jr., P, Charlotte
Newcomer Position Player of the Year
Todd Clay, Jr., 3B, UAB
Drew Detlefsen, Jr., OF, UTSA
Newcomer Pitcher of the Year
Blake Gillespie, Jr., P, Charlotte
Defensive Player of the Year
Mason Lytle, Sr., OF, UTSA
Coach of the Year
Pat Hallmark, UTSA*
All-Conference First Team
P – Blake Gillespie, Jr., Charlotte*
P – Trey Beard, So., Florida Atlantic
P – Corey Braun, R-Jr., South Florida
RP – Michael Lombardi, Tulane
RP – Robert Orloski, So., UTSA*
C – Andrew Stucky, Sr., UTSA
1B – Cody Gunderson, Jr., Charlotte
2B – Connor Rasmussen, Jr., Tulane
SS – Ty Hodge, R-Jr., UTSA
3B – Dawson Bryce, So., Charlotte
OF – Marshall Lipsey, Jr., Florida Atlantic
OF – Mason Lytle, Sr., UTSA*
OF – James Taussig, Sr., UTSA
DH – Blaine Brown, Fr., Rice
UTL – Colby Wallace, So., East Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
P – Colin Daniel, Jr., UAB
P – Ethan Norby, So., East Carolina
P – Davion Hickson, Jr., Rice
RP – RJ Bollinger, So., Florida Atlantic
RP – Jack Nedrow, Sr., South Florida
C – Logan Poteet, R-So., Charlotte
1B – Sebastian Greico, Sr., South Florida
2B – Jordan Ballin, Fr., UTSA
SS – Brando Leroux, Sr., Florida Atlantic
3B – Todd Clay, Jr., UAB
OF – Logan Braunschweig, Sr., UAB
OF – Braden Burress, Fr., East Carolina
OF – Drew Detlefsen, Jr., UTSA
DH – Gavin Schulz, Sr., Tulane
UTL – Seth Cox, Sr., Memphis
All-Freshman Team
Brendan Connor, P, UAB
Braden Burress, INF, East Carolina*
Austin Irby, INF, East Carolina
James Litman, P, Florida Atlantic
Hiram Bocachica Jr., INF, Rice
Blaine Brown, P/OF, Rice*
Michael Zito, INF, Rice
Jordan Ballin, 2B, UTSA
Nathan Hodge, UTL, UTSA
Caden Miller, UTL, UTSA
Tanner Chun, OF, Tulane
Jason Wachs, OF, Tulane*
*Denotes unanimous selection