Heels headed back to CWS for fourth time
The UNC Seniors (TarHeelBlue.com)
How many college programs can say that they had their football team go to a bowl game, their basketball team go to the Final Four and their baseball team go to the College World Series all in the same season? No one could until the Diamond Heels took care of the Pirates of ECU by the final score of 9-3. By doing some Carolina became the first team to have that triple feat as well as being the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference to head to Omaha four years in a row. Add to that a women’s soccer title, the men’s soccer team coming in second, the men’s lax team going to the elite eight, and that is just from teams I follow. Indeed, UNC could truly stand for University of National Champions.
But getting back to Mike Fox and his team, which are now headed for another shot at the title. It’s been quite a ride for them, with Carolina being the winningest team in the last four seasons. This year’s group putting up a 47-16 mark up to this point with a team that has several great players, but probably not as talented as the previous years. Today, starting at 6:00 p.m. EST some of these players will know what the pro’s think of them, as the MLB Draft begins. But for now all of these players are focused on just one thing, and that is getting the title that has eluded them in the past three seasons. The head coach of the team says this about the past seasons:
“I said after the first year, the second and the third, we may never go back again, and we might not,” Fox said. “The journey we’ve been on has been pretty amazing.”
Once again it was a great performance by the starting pitcher of the game, as senior righty Adam Warren did a great job in the 7.1 innings on the mound, allowing three runs (all in the seventh inning) on eight hits and one walk, while striking out 8. In the 16.2 innings the starters had 21 strike outs, with junior righty Alex White getting the rest in game one (check out the break down that The College Baseball blog did on White), and the bull pen didn’t have much work, something that will definitely be needed if the Heels want to be able to take home the title. On the offensive side it was All American junior first baseman Dustin Ackley (check out the break down that The College Baseball blog did on Ackley), who went 1 for 4 with a 3 run home run. And just like the first game, where all the starters got a hit, in this game 8 out 9 got a hit in the second game of the best of three series between UNC and ECU.
Having watched the game on ESPN I noticed something I found awesome, the crowd at Boshmar Stadium giving a standing ovation to each of the seniors, because in the end isn’t that what sports should be all about? I think so. But I was not the only one that noticed that, as Warren was asked about this and he told the reporter:
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. Our crowd has been great all year and for them to do that for us was really special and emotional for me. I’m sure it was for the other guys. You kind of reflect on your four years here at Carolina in a flash like that. I’m pretty excited right now.”
Having been a Tar Heel, knowing how the fan base is/was, this is nothing out of the norm by any means, but it’s still something that makes you feel good. Something that makes you feel proud of being a Tar Heel. When you watch the fan base at the newly remodeled stadium (where over $ 25 million was spent) it just makes you feel that while basketball is probably the king at UNC, it’s not suffocating the other sports. Things like this make me proud to be a Tar Heel, to be part of something special, to be part of what is the University of North Carolina.
Now, with the Super Regional all settled coach Fox has to turn his attention to the CWS, where #4 North Carolina (47-16) will be facing #5 Arizona State (49-12) on Sunday, June 14, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST. This is the first game of a double header, with the second game being #8 Southern Miss (40-24) vs #1 Texas (46-14-1), starting time being 6:00 p.m. EST. The other side of the bracket, with the games being played on Saturday, is: #7 Arkansas (39-22) vs Cal St. Fullerton (47-14) at 1:00 p.m. EST, followed by #6 Virginia (48-13-1) going up against #3 LSU (51-16) at 6:00 p.m. EST.
As we all know the College World Series is a double elimination tournament, with the finals being a best of three format. Below is the complete schedule for the 2009 CWS:
`09 College World Series:
Saturday, June 13
Game 1 – 1 p.m. (ESPN) Arkansas (39-22) vs. Cal St. Fullerton (47-14)
Game 2 – 6 p.m. (ESPN) Virginia (48-13-1) vs. LSU (51-16)
Sunday, June 14
Game 3 – 1 p.m. (ESPN) Arizona St. (49-12) vs. North Carolina (47-16)
Game 4 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Southern Miss. (40-24) vs. 1 Texas (46-14-1)
Monday, June 15
Game 5 – 1 p.m. (ESPN2) Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 6 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Tuesday, June 16
Game 7 – 1 p.m. (ESPN2) Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 8 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Wednesday, June 17
Game 9 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6
Thursday, June 18
Game 10 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8
Friday, June 19
Game 11 – 1 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 6
Game 12 – 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8
Saturday, June 20
Game 13 – 1 p.m. (ESPN) or 6 p.m. (ESPN) Game 13 will be necessary if the winner of Game 9 also wins Game 11. If it is the only game scheduled for that day, the game will start at 6 p.m.
Game 14 – 6 p.m. (ESPN) Game 14 will be necessary if the winner of Game 10 also wins Game 12. If it is the only game scheduled for that day, the game will start at 6 p.m.
College World Series Finals:
Monday, June 22
Game 1 – 6 p.m. (ESPN) Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner
Tuesday, June 23
Game 2 – 6 p.m. (ESPN) Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner
Wednesday, June 24
Game 3 – 6 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary) Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner
If you are headed to the 63rd College World Series I found this small online post from the CWS Official Site talking about the best places to stay while enjoying the best college baseball has to offer.
Shortlink:
