Photo Credit: Chuck Liddy - News & Observer
In what had to be one of the more bizarre starts and completion of a Super Regional game, UNC withstood a Stanford rally and endured a 3.5 hour rain delay to become the first team in 2011 to punch their ticket for the College World Series. It will be the fifth time in six seasons UNC will travel to Omaha in what has almost become a rite of spring in Chapel Hill. It is the ninth time in school history the Heels have advanced to the college baseball’s pinnacle event.
This game could best be described as a roller coaster. UNC got off to shaky start with Kent Emanuel giving up a run in the 1st inning while throwing over 20 pitches. Emanuel ultimately settled down while the Tar Heel offense put together a pair of three run innings to take a 6-1 lead into 8th. In the 8th, Greg Holt had all sorts of issues in relief of Emanuel allowing three hits, a walk and run which left the bases loaded and UNC up 6-2. Michael Morin came in and battled with Stanford’s Austin Wilson in a long at-bat that saw Wilson get the best of it with a bases clearing double to trim the Tar Heel lead to 6-5. Morin eventually got a double play to end the inning.
In the ninth UNC had Levi Michael on 3rd with two outs and Tommy Coyle at the plate facing a 2-1 count when the umpires called a weather delay. A line of thunderstorms were moving into the area(I was at the Durham Bulls game and left at 9 PM because of the rain.) What followed was a 3.5 hour rain delay that ended at 9:55 PM. After almost four hours of waiting, Coyle drew a walk and Jacob Stallings had his second RBI hit of the game adding an insurance run off Stanford MLB first round pick Chris Reed who retook the mound after the long delay. Mike Fox opted to do the same with Michael Morin, most likely because there was not much experience left in the bullpen and Morin has been that good all season. I don’t know what UNC was doing during the rain delay but Morin came out throwing some absolutely filthy stuff. Morin struck out the first two Cardinal batters he faced and induced the 4-3 ground out to send the Heels to Omaha.
The win over Stanford was the 50th of the season for the Diamond Heels, a nice milestone we do not see all that often. All things considered this UNC team is not like the past versions of Tar Heel CWS teams under Mike Fox. This is a gutty team who cobbles together little rallies, responds to the opposing team and gets just enough great pitching to get the job done. UNC does not wow you as an offensive juggernaut nor is the pitching one to catch your eye apart from Patrick Johnson, Emanuel and Morin. Of the five UNC teams to make the CWS this one might be the most satisfying to watch. Lower expectations tend to do that because without that pressure both the team and the fans cherish the journey more.
The question is can the most unlikely of the five Fox coached CWS teams be the one that finally gets the job done? We will find out next week in Omaha.
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Proud of the Heels! Can’t wait to see them in Omaha next week!
Great job by Fox and the staff to keep the guys focused after that long rain delay. Coming back, Stanford looked exhausted, then looked completely defeated after Jacob Stallings knocked in the insurance run. Morin looked spectacular after the delay as well.
I don’t know if anyone expected them to make Omaha this year, but they certainly have as good a chance as anyone else to take it all.
Hope some of you make the trip up; it’s going to be a crazy good time with the new stadium, and let me know if you have any questions about hotels, restaurants, recreation, etc, etc.
If there’s anything I hate, it’s being glued to a television for about 7 hours on a Saturday, but, man, was it worth it. The team looked unshakable throughout. Wish I could take you up on your offer, Andy, you lucky son of a gun.
Great job, Heels!
The starting pitching and defense were solid thru these regionals. IF the bullpen can be just a little more effective and IF we can strand a few less base runners, then I like our chances in Omaha. Will be very important to win first two games to remain in winner’s bracket.
Go Heels!!
[...] rain delay that lasted over three hours. For a good recap of the game you can check out the article by Tar Heel [...]
Heels are building a solid program without cheating. Congrats Mike fox
Go Heels! This is a great team to follow. Stuck with a dook fan in nyc tonight. She doesn’t understand.
ps, just noticed that SOG is prominent on display. Mind changing that
Wow….North Carolina, Florida, and Vanderbilt all on one side of the bracket?
Looks like Texas might be about to join them. That would be all chalk on that side.
On the other side looks like UVa and FSU both need Game 3 to try and get in. Cal goes for the sweep tonight versus Dallas Baptist and South Carolina is up on the ninth on UConn. Cal could be the only non-national seed there is UVa, FSU and SCAR can punch their tickets. Of course Cal is going to be a sentimental favorite. The program was cut after last season and via some fundraising the they restored it now they are one win away from the CWS. Ironically, you know who eliminated Cal from the NCAAs last season? UNC.
The ending of the UVa game had to be one of the craziest endings I’ve ever seen watching any level of baseball. How the hell did they luck out when that comebacker hit the UCI pitcher on the heel? Incredible.
This is going to be interesting. Vandy’s basketball coach will have a conflict of interest during the first match up for UNC. His son is the starting catcher for the Tar Heels and Carolina’s first opponent on Saturday is Vanderbilt.
To quote Lord Vader: “There is no conflict”
Kevin Stallings has been at as many games as I think he can make. I am betting he will be sitting with Roy Williams in Omaha. Roy always makes it to a few games out there.
THF,
Well hopefully Commodores fans won’t make a stink fit. Then again they are Vandy fans. I am not sure they even travel out of state.