Heels vs Eagles in a three game series to end season
Heels taking the field (TarHeelBlue.com)
Well, in a year that has had me move to three different sites with my blog, The Fifth Corner, I knew I was going to lose out on following some of the sports I love at North Carolina. One of them is Mike Fox’ baseball team, who right now is ranked fourth in the nation and heading to the last weekend of play against Boston College. North Carolina is 39 and 13 on the season (17-9 in the ACC), while Boston College is 30 and 21 (12-13 in the ACC). The two clubs will play three games, starting today at 1:30 p.m., then tomorrow and Saturday with the first pitch being at 1:00 p.m.
Just to tell you how tight the conference has been, depending on these three games go for the Heels they will be seeded anywhere between #1 and #6 in the upcoming post season tournament, which will be held in Durham next week. Things look good, since if history is any sort of measuring stick, the Heels have beaten the Eagles every single time since they have joined the ACC. Getting a win on Thursday Carolina will once again reach 40 wins (8th year in a row).
The team is lead by Dustin Ackley, who has been put as a <a href=”http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2009/insider/news/story?id=4161981&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fdraft2009%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d4161981″ target=”_blank”>Top 10 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft</a>, who has a .391 (9 for 23) batting average against Boston College. Alex White (7-2 – 3.45 ERA), the other Tar Heel being a Top 10 prospect, alsong with Adam Warren and Matt Harvey are 4-0 (in 4 starts) against BC. For more stats regardng the Eagles Eagles check out Previewing BC by Inside Carolina.
While on USA Today there is a piece talking how the Heels are ready to make the next step at the CWS.
UNC lost to Oregon State in the 2006 and 2007 championship finals and finished third last season. Five Tar Heels went in the June draft, but returning junior All-Americans Alex White, Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager have provided a solid foundation.
And that they have, but can it be enough? Head coach Mike Fox gives this statement that makes you think about it all, really think.
“I don’t think we’re really, really good at any particular phase of the game,” he said. “But we’re not bad at anything. We’ve somehow found a way to get it done at the end of games.”
Adding this as well:
“We’ve had some wrinkles and hiccups, but everyone has,” Fox said. “I try not to look in the crystal ball too much in terms of figuring out the season, but I’m very pleased with our record (38-13 overall, 17-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference).”
This to me sounds a lot like someone saying to you “someone has to win it, why not us?” And I think that is how this team is thinking in terms of the regular season, the post season tournament and the NCAA tournament. The coach ends by saying this about his team, which makes you think even more:
“We’re not nearly as talented as the last three years.” Fox said. “But I think this team is feeding off those years in terms of expecting to win and knowing how to win.”
There is nothing, but nothing like experience. I say this because being a Tar Heel I saw what the year after year experience that the Men’s Basketball team was able to get is one of the main reasons why they won it all. Why can’t this be the same for the Baseball team? They have the pieces on the team to make it to Omaha and get another chance to win it all. Once there the title is there for the taking, and why can’t it be North Carolina that takes it? As I said before, I have not been able to follow the team enough to do recaps, but I been reading enough to see that the talent is there to play with anyone in the country.
And while even their own coach believes they are not as strong as a year ago, the facts are still there, they are ranked fourth in the country and have a great chance to go to this year’s College World Series. Yes, five starters from last year are gone from Chapel Hill and playing at the next level. Yes, a lot of the players that should have come to UNC opted for the minor league life. Yes, yes, yes, to all of that and much more, but the facts are still the same. The Tar Heels are a Top 5 team and are a lot better than people expected and will be heading to Omaha when the time comes. And that, with a team that had to turn bench players into starters that need to contribute on a daily basis, is something that people should truly be content with.
I will make sure to get a recap about the games from this weekend, as well as the developments to the post season tournaments. Lastly, make sure to vote for Adam Warren at Lowe’s Senior Class Award. All I can say for now is best of luck to the Diamond Heels as they take on BC.
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