East Carolina Pirates
2024 East Carolina Pirates baseball team
Founded1907
UniversityEast Carolina University
Head coachCliff Godwin (10th season)
ConferenceThe American
LocationGreenville, North Carolina
Home stadiumClark–LeClair Stadium
(Capacity: 5,000)
NicknamePirates
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
NCAA regional champions
2001, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022
NCAA Tournament appearances
1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference tournament champions
ECAC: 1982, 1984
CAA: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000
C-USA: 2002
American: 2015, 2018, 2022
Regular season conference champions
North State: 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961[2]
SoCon: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977
ECAC: 1984, 1985
CAA: 1986, 1990, 2001
C-USA: 2004, 2009
American: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

The East Carolina Pirates baseball team is an intercollegiate baseball team representing East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college baseball and participates as a full member of the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates have made regular appearances in the NCAA tournament. As of 2023, they have the most NCAA tournament appearances without a College World Series appearance.[3]

The Pirates are coached by Cliff Godwin and play their home games at Clark-LeClair Stadium, named after donor and alumnus Bill Clark and former coach Keith LeClair. Every year, the Pirates host a baseball tournament in Greenville in honor of Coach LeClair called the Keith LeClair Classic.

History

Conference

Head coaches

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1932 R.C. Deal[5][6] 1 1-5-0 .167
1933 Kenneth Beatty[7][8] 1 3-3-0 .500
1934 A. D. Frank[9][10] 1 5-8-0 .385
1935 Doc Mathis[11] 1 7-7-1 .500
1936–1938 Bo Farley[12] 3 (4) 32-11-3 .728
1939 Gordon Gilbert[13] 1 6-5-0 .545
1940 Bo Farley[14] 1 (4) 5-4-1 .550
1941-1942 John Christenbury[15][16] 2 13-11-0 .542
1946 Earl Smith[17][18] 1 7-4-0 .636
1947 John Cameron[19][20] 1 11-7-0 .611
1948 James Johnson[21][22] 1 5-10-1 .344
1949–1953 Jack Boone[23][24] 5 49-39-1 .556
1954–1962 James Mallory 9 (10) 146-52-0 .737
1963–1972 Earl Smith 10 186-102-2 .645
1973 James Mallory 1 (10) 16-8-0 .667
1974–1976 George Williams 3 56-32-0 .636
1977–1979 Monte Little 3 82-49-0 .626
1980–1984 Hal Baird 5 145-66-1 .686
1985–1997 Gary Overton 13 427-237-1 .643
1998–2002 Keith LeClair 5 212-96-1 .688
2003–2005 Randy Mazey 3 120-66-1 .644
2006–2014 Billy Godwin 9 317-214-1 .597
2015–present Cliff Godwin 9 351-170-1 .673
Totals 21 coaches 89 seasons 2202-1206-15 .645

* 1943–1945 No Games Played

Stadium

Main article: Clark-LeClair Stadium
Clark-LeClair Stadium

Clark-LeClair Stadium is the home of Pirate baseball at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The stadium was named after Pirate alumnus and key contributor Bill Clark and former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair.[25]

The stadium has 3,000 Stadium bleacher seats, plus space for several thousand more spectators in "The Jungle". There are concession and restroom facilities at the stadium plus a family picnic area. Amenities include the Pirate Club fundraising and hospitality suite and a private suite for the LeClair family.

The stadium is home to the ECU Invitational[26] and the Keith LeClair Classic.[27]

Year-by-year results

National Champions College World Series berth NCAA Tournament berth Conference Tournament Champions Conference/Division Regular Season Champions
Season Head coach Conference Season results Tournament results Final poll[a]
Overall Conference Conference Postseason BA CB Coaches
Wins Losses Ties % Wins Losses Ties % Finish
East Carolina Pirates
1932 R. C. Deal Independent 1 5 0 .167 — — — — — — — — — —
1933 Kenneth Beatty 3 3 0 .500 — — — — — — — — — —
1934 A. D. Frank 5 8 0 .385 — — — — — — — — — —
1935 Doc Mathis 7 7 1 .500 — — — — — — — — — —
1936 Bo Farley 6 4 1 .591 — — — — — — — — — —
1937 9 4 2 .667 — — — — — — — — — —
1938 17 3 0 .850 — — — — — — — — — —
1939 Gordon Gilbert 6 5 0 .545 — — — — — — — — — —
1940 Bo Farley 5 4 1 .550 — — — — — — — — — —
1941 John Christenbury 6 4 0 .600 — — — — — — — — — —
1942 7 7 0 .500 — — — — — — — — — —
1943 No games played
1944
1945
1946 Earl Smith Independent 7 4 0 .636 — — — — — — — — — —
1947 John Cameron 11 7 0 .611 — — — — — — — — — —
1948 James Johnson North State 5 10 1 .344 3 7 1 .318 — — — — — —
1949 Jack Boone 6 8 0 .429 4 6 0 .400 — — — — — —
1950 7 7 1 .500 — — — — — — — — — —
1951 11 10 0 .524 — — — — — — — — — —
1952 9 9 0 .500 — — — — — — — — — —
1953 16 5 0 .762 — — — — — — — — — —
1954 James Mallory 15 7 0 .682 — — — — — — — — — —
1955 20 5 0 .800 — — — — 1st — — — — —
1956 18 5 0 .783 — — — — 1st — — — — —
1957 16 7 0 .696 — — — — — — — — — —
1958 10 6 0 .625 — — — — — — — — — —
1959 16 3 0 .842 — — — — 1st — — — — —
1960 17 5 0 .773 — — — — 1st — — — — —
1961 23 4 0 .852 — — — — 1st — NAIA National Championship[28] — — —
1962 11 10 0 .524 — — — — — — — — — —
1963 Earl Smith Independent 25 6 1 .797 — — — — — — NAIA World Series — — —
1964 18 7 0 .720 — — — — — — District 3 Playoffs — 23 —
1965 16 7 0 .696 — — — — — — — — — —
1966 Southern Conference 17 10 0 .630 12 3 0 .800 1st — District 3 Playoffs — 28 —
1967 23 6 0 .793 13 3 0 .813 T-1st — — — 23 —
1968 21 11 1 .652 10 1 0 .909 1st — District 3 Playoffs — 19 —
1969 15 14 0 .517 7 7 0 .500 3rd — — — — —
1970 20 13 0 .606 13 6 0 .684 1st — District 3 Playoffs — 25 —
1971 12 18 0 .400 7 5 0 .583 4th — — — — —
1972 19 10 0 .655 11 5 0 .688 2nd — — — — —
1973 James Mallory 16 8 0 .667 10 4 0 .714 T-2nd — — — — —
1974 George Williams 17 13 0 .567 12 2 0 .857 1st — District 3 Playoffs — 25 —
1975 17 12 0 .586 9 5 0 .643 3rd — — — — —
1976 22 7 0 .759 7 6 0 .538 4th — — — — —
1977 Monte Little 30 12 0 .714 15 1 0 .938 1st — Atlantic Regional — — —
1978 Independent 27 18 0 .600 — — — — — — — — — —
1979 25 19 0 .568 — — — — — — — — — —
1980 Hal Baird 28 7 0 .800 — — — — — — Northeast Regional — — —
1981 28 15 0 .651 — — — — — — — — — —
1982 ECAC South 34 14 0 .708 6 3 0 .667 3rd 1st East Regional — — —
1983 21 17 1 .551 2 3 1 .417 — — — — — —
1984 34 13 0 .723 7 2 0 .778 1st 1st South I Regional — 20 —
1985 Gary Overton 32 14 0 .696 12 4 0 .750 1st — — — — —
1986 CAA 40 10 0 .800 13 5 0 .722 T-1st — — — — —
1987 26 17 0 .605 8 7 0 .333 4th 1st Atlantic Regional
1988 33 14 0 .702 8 6 0 .571 T-2nd — — — — —
1989 37 11 0 .771 12 3 0 .800 2nd 1st East Regional — — —
1990 47 9 0 .839 11 2 0 .333 1st 1st Atlantic Regional — — —
1991 30 24 1 .555 9 8 0 .529 3rd 1st Midwest Regional — — —
1992 25 24 0 .510 7 10 0 .412 5th — — — — —
1993 41 19 0 .683 11 7 0 .611 3rd 1st Atlantic Regional — — —
1994 36 18 0 .667 8 9 0 .471 5th — — — — —
1995 29 26 0 .527 5 13 0 .278 6th — — — — —
1996 22 24 0 .478 10 11 0 .476 5th — — — — —
1997 29 27 0 .518 10 11 0 .476 T-4th — — — — —
1998 Keith LeClair 30 29 0 .508 10 11 0 .476 T-4th — — — — —
1999 46 16 0 .742 14 6 0 .700 2nd 1st Baton Rouge Regional 18 19 23
2000 46 18 0 .719 14 7 0 .667 T-1st 1st Columbia Regional — 29 —
2001 47 13 0 .783 19 2 0 .905 1st — Kinston Super Regional 11 11 11
2002 C-USA 43 20 1 .680 16 13 1 .550 6th 1st Clemson Super Regional — — 24
2003 Randy Mazey 34 27 1 .556 17 13 0 .567 5th — Atlanta Regional — — —
2004 51 13 0 .797 25 5 0 .833 1st — Columbia Super Regional 8 13 9
2005 35 26 0 .574 18 12 0 .600 4th — Tempe Regional — — —
2006 Billy Godwin 33 26 0 .559 10 14 0 .417 6th — — — — —
2007 40 23 0 .635 14 9 0 .609 2nd 2nd Chapel Hill Regional — — —
2008 42 21 0 .667 13 11 0 .542 5th — Conway Regional — — —
2009 46 20 0 .697 17 7 0 .708 1st — Chapel Hill Super Regional 17 16 15
2010 15 27 0 .357 11 13 0 .458 6th — — — — —
2011 41 21 0 .661 14 10 0 .583 3rd — Charlottesville Regional — — —
2012 36 24 1 .598 13 10 1 .563 6th — Chapel Hill Regional — — —
2013 31 26 0 .544 14 10 0 .583 3rd — — — — —
2014 33 26 0 .559 16 14 0 .533 6th — — — — —
2015 Cliff Godwin AAC 40 22 0 .645 15 9 0 .625 2nd 1st Coral Gables Regional 15 15 16
2016 38 23 1 .621 15 8 1 .646 2nd — Lubbock Super Regional 15 15 16
2017 32 28 0 .533 7 17 0 .333 8th — — — — —
2018 44 18 0 .710 14 10 0 .583 T-3rd 1st Greenville Regional 23 29 23
2019 47 18 0 .723 20 4 0 .833 1st — Louisville Super Regional 12 15 12
2020 13 4 0 .765 0 0 0 – — Cancelled Cancelled — — —
2021 44 17 0 .721 20 8 0 .714 1st — Nashville Super Regional 13 12 13
2022 46 21 0 .687 20 4 0 .833 1st 1st Greenville Super Regional 17 13 12
2023 47 19 0 .712 18 6 0 .750 1st 2nd Charlottesville Regional 23 26 23
Total 2,202 1,206 15 .645

Notes

  1. ^ Collegiate Baseball began team rankings in 1959. Baseball America began during the 1981 season.

NAIA tournament

In 1961, the ECU Pirates won the NAIA Baseball World Series championship to claim East Carolina's first national championship in baseball. The East Carolina Pirates won 13–7 over the Sacramento State Hornets. Since then, the Pirates have yet to make it to a national championship.

NCAA tournament

Year Record Pct Notes
1964 1–2 .333 Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
1966 0–2 .000 Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
1968 1–2 .333 Lost to Florida State in the District 3 Regional.
1970 0–2 .000 Lost to Mississippi State in the District 3 Regional.
1974 0–2 .000 Lost to South Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
1977 0–2 .000 Lost to South Carolina in the Atlantic Regional.
1980 0–2 .000 Lost to Maine in the Northeast Regional.
1982 1–2 .333 Lost to West Virginia in the East Regional.
1984 2–2 .500 Lost to South Alabama in the South Regional.
1987 0–2 .000 Lost to Central Michigan in the Atlantic Regional.
1989 0–2 .000 Lost to Villanova in the East Regional.
1990 1–2 .333 Lost to N.C. State in the East Regional.
1991 1–2 .333 Lost to Ohio State in the Midwest Regional.
1993 1–2 .333 Lost to Ohio State in the Atlantic Regional.
1999 2–2 .500 Lost to LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional.
2000 2–2 .500 Lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the Lafayette Regional.
2001 3–2 .600 Won Wilson Regional; Lost to Tennessee in the Kinston Super Regional.
2002 2–2 .500 Lost to Clemson in the Clemson Regional.
2003 1–2 .333 Lost to Stetson in the Atlanta Regional.
2004 3–2 .600 Won Kinston Regional; Lost to South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional.
2005 0–2 .000 Lost to UNLV in the Tempe Regional.
2007 1–2 .333 Lost to Western Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional.
2008 2–2 .500 Lost to Coastal Carolina in the Conway Regional.
2009 4–3 .571 Won Greenville Regional; Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
2011 2–2 .500 Lost to UVA in the Charlottesville Regional Final.
2012 1–2 .333 Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional.
2015 0–2 .000 Lost to FIU in the Coral Gables Regional.
2016 4–2 .667 Won Charlottesville Regional; Lost to Texas Tech in the Lubbock Super Regional.
2018 1–2 .333 Lost to UNCW in the Greenville Regional.
2019 4–3 .571 Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Louisville in the Louisville Super Regional.
2021 3–2 .600 Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Vanderbilt in the Nashville Super Regional.
2022 4–3 .571 Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Texas in the Greenville Super Regional.
2023 2–2 .500 Lost to Virginia in Charlottesville Regional.
Total[3] 49-69 .415

Pirates in the Major Leagues

Athlete Years in MLB MLB Teams
Bill Holland 1937 Washington Senators
Bunky Stewart 1952–1956 Washington Senators
Tim Talton 1966–1967 Kansas City Athletics
Floyd Wicker 1968–1971 St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants
Vince Colbert 1970–1972 Cleveland Indians
Tommy Toms 1975–1977 San Francisco Giants
Butch Davis 1983–1984, 1987–1989, 1991, 1993–1994 Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers
Bob Patterson 1985–1987, 1989–1998 San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, California Angels, Chicago Cubs
Bob Davidson 1989 New York Yankees
Mike Christopher 1991–1993, 1995–1996 Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers
Pat Watkins 1997–1999 Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies
Chad Tracy 2004–2010, 2012–2013 Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals
Sam Narron 2004 Texas Rangers
Seth Maness 2013–2017 St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals
Chris Heston 2014–2017 San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins
Mike Wright 2015–present Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners
Shawn Armstrong 2015–present Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles
Jeff Hoffman 2016–present Colorado Rockies
Jharel Cotton 2016–2017 Oakland Athletics
Jack Reinheimer 2017–2018 Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets
Alec Burleson 2022–present St. Louis Cardinals
Gavin Williams 2023–present Cleveland Guardians

See also

References

  1. ^ ECU Athletics Style Guidelines (PDF). July 14, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "CONFERENCE CAROLINAS HISTORY (THROUGH 2021-22)" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "2018 ECU Baseball Fact Book" (PDF). East Carolina University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "Conference Carolinas History & Roots". Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "WHO'S WHO IN BASEBALL". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. April 30, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2024. Although the Teachers have had only a few weeks practice on the diamond in which to learn the wrinkles of the field and the eccentricities of the old sphere, Coach Deal is gradually turning out a well-rounded team. None of the players have had previous experience other than high school and a little semi-professional baseball except Bill "Lou" Brown. From this raw material the present team has evolved.
  6. ^ "Nothing But Co-eds—REVIEW OF YEAR'S ACTIVITIES". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. May 14, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved April 15, 2024. Also the boys have a baseball team this term. Prof. R. C. Deal is coaching this team. Although we are not having quite as successful season in this sport as basketball, we are nevertheless making a fair showing. A baseball team cannot be organized in one season.
  7. ^ "BASEBALL SEASON REVIEWED". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. May 3, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved April 8, 2024. All of the teams have been coached by Kenneth C. Beatty who has served with no financial remuneration whatsoever, without the assistance of coach Beatty it is doubtful whether the teams would have ever been put out. The college as a whole owes to Coach Beatty, and the Athletic Committee, a debt it can never repay. Both for the school spirit developed by the teams, and the mental and physical development of the squads.
  8. ^ Whitfield, Lloyd (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina: East Carolina Teachers College. p. 4. Retrieved April 8, 2024. The baseball diamond was along side the lake in the arboretum, and the Coach for the 1933 season was Kenneth C. Beatty, a Greenville man who had no financial help whatsover in fielding a ball club that played .500 ball.
  9. ^ Willard, George S. Jr. (May 19, 1934). "Action Photo of Successful Pirates - East Carolina College 1934 Baseball Squad". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina: East Carolina Teachers College. p. 3. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Willard, George S. Jr. (May 30, 1934). "Sports Comments". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina: East Carolina Teachers College. p. 5. Retrieved April 6, 2024. Hats off to Dr. A. D. Frank, coach of baseball during the past season.
  11. ^ Whitfield, Lloyd (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina: East Carolina Teachers College. p. 4. Retrieved April 6, 2024. Mathis Appointed Coach. In 1935 Doc Mathis was appointed head coach at the college, and under this able and ambitious director, athletics were on the upgrade...Mathis' nine won seven games, tied one, and lost seven games.
  12. ^ "College Secures Bo Farley As Baseball Coach For Season". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina: East Carolina Teachers College. March 12, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved April 6, 2024. Director of Athletics of Local High School Succeeds Doc Mathis as Baseball Coach
  13. ^ The Tecoan 1940. Charlotte, North Carolina: The Lassiter Press, Inc. 1940. p. 173. Coach Gordon Gilbert's Pirates got off to a bad start for the 1939 season, by dropping the first game to Campbell College's nine to the tune of 13-5.
  14. ^ "Coach Farley Launches First Practice Paces". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. March 28, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved April 12, 2024. The first baseball practice, held Monday under the supervision of Coach Bo Farley, who was the Pirates' baseball skipper in 1937 and 1938 and former manager of the Greenville entry in the Coastal Plain League, indicated that this year's nine would be an unusually good team.
  15. ^ "Bucs End Athletic Season". The Teco Echo. May 22, 1942. p. 4. Retrieved July 8, 2022. Coach Christenbury was able to find several teams which proved to make games of interest for the Pirates. By winning seven and losing seven the Teachers ended up with a .500 average.
  16. ^ Lloyd Whitfield (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College—Intercollegiate Sports Begin Decline". The Teco Echo. p. 4. Retrieved July 31, 2022. It was in 1942 when the U.S. government was drafting all young college boys that baseball as well as other sports began to decline. Many colleges dropped the most popular of all spring sports and Coach Christenbury could only draw up a 14-game schedule which saw only three college teams listed. The rest of the teams on the card were service teams which were loaded with professional material.
  17. ^ "Photo 1946 Pirate Baseball Team". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. August 21, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Here is the picture of the 1946 baseball team that won seven and lost four games in their first season since '42.
  18. ^ "Sports Of All Kinds Come Back To E.C.T.C." The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. May 3, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Last quarter we had a pretty good basketball team under the able direction of Coach Smith, and this quarter as most of the student body no doubt knows Smitty has produced a good baseball team.
  19. ^ "Coach John Cameron Boasts Varied Career In Athletics". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. May 2, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. John Cameron, head baseball coach and instructor in physical education at ECTC, is a man of varied experience in the sports world.
  20. ^ "Buccaneers To Battle NATTC In Contest At Norfolk Today". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. April 18, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Coach John Cameron has shaken his line-up considerably in a maneuver toward placing a higher caliber nine on the diamond.
  21. ^ "Baseball Practice Now Underway At East Carolina". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. March 5, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. The Pirates will be without the service of John Cameron, last year's head baseball coach. He will be succeeded by Coach Jimmy Johnson.
  22. ^ "Last Year's Baseballers Back For Rugged 23 Game Schedule". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. April 2, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Coach Jim Johnson's 1948 diamond hopefuls were scheduled to take to the fields this afternoon, playing host to Elon in their season's debut. Johnson was elevated into the Head Coach spot this year, succeeding John Cameron, who last year led the Pirates to a successful season.
  23. ^ "Diamond Season Opens With Two Games Here". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. March 25, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Coach Jack Boone, who has just this year taken over the head baseball coaching duties, has been drilling his diamond prospects for three weeks with the first two weeks used in limbering up exercises and the fundamentals of baseball.
  24. ^ Davis, Jack (June 23, 1949). "Sports Review". The Teco Echo. Greenville, North Carolina. p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2024. Coach Jack Boone's baseball squad racked up a season record of 6 wins and 8 defeats. The Pirates had a 4-6 record in Conference standing.
  25. ^ "LEWIS FIELD AT CLARK-LeCLAIR STADIUM". ECU Athletics. Archived from the original on 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  26. ^ "2007 ECU Invitational". ECU Athletics. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  27. ^ "6th Annual Keith LeClair Classic". ECU Athletics. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  28. ^ "2024 East Carolina Baseball Record Book" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved April 7, 2024. PIRATES' DEFY ODDS IN 1961 NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP RUN
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