Latest news with #DiamondHeels
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two UNC baseball starters named finalists for top defensive award
Two UNC baseball starters named finalists for top defensive award Can two UNC baseball star add a little hardware to their trophy cases? The UNC baseball team found itself one win away from a second-consecutive trip to the College World Series, but after a 4-3 loss in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, watched its season come to a heartbreaking end. North Carolina dominated Arizona in Game 1, 18-2 , then struggled on the mound in a 10-8 Game 2 defeat. Despite the Diamond Heels taking a late lead in Game 3, their bats disappeared ahead of a potential ninth-inning rally. A major part of UNC's success throughout the Chapel Hill Super Regional came from two program veterans: starting catcher Luke Stevenson and starting shortstop Alex Madera. Stevenson mashed two hits – including a home run – and drove in four runners during a Game 1 domination. Madera hit 4-of-13 during the Supers, including a 2-RBI performance in Game 1 and 2-hit outing in Game 2. Though Stevenson and Madera's hitting abilities garner most of their attention, their defense is amongst college baseball's best. On June 16, Stevenson and Madera earned finalist nominations for the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove awards. The collegiate Gold Glove award, just like in the MLB, is presented annually to the top defensive players at each position. Stevenson and Madera will discover if they're winners on Wednesday, June 18. The Diamond Heels are just one of two teams, along with UCLA (first baseman Mulivai Levu, shortstop Roch Cholowsky), to have multiple finalists. Stevenson compiled a .996 fielding percentage, committed just four errors and recorded 987 putouts over his first two seasons in Chapel Hill. If Stevenson forgoes July's MLB Draft and returns to North Carolina for his junior season, he'll have a chance to further improve upon those numbers. Madera, who transferred into UNC from Divison-III Arcadia University before the 2024 season, became a mainstay in the middle infield. Starting primarily at shortstop this season and at second base last year, Madera recorded a .982 fielding percentage (eight errors), 281 assists and 149 putouts across his Diamond Heels career. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma head baseball coach gives UNC the ultimate compliment in postgame presser
Oklahoma head baseball coach gives UNC the ultimate compliment in postgame presser When another head coach calls you a team capable of winning a championship, you listen. With its 14-4 victory over Oklahoma in Monday's winner-take-all matchup to close out the Chapel Hill Regional, the UNC (45-13) baseball team solidified one thing: it's one of the country's best. Not only did the Diamond Heels dominate Monday, but they did so against a Sooners squad from arguably the best conference across college baseball. North Carolina lost 9-5 against Oklahoma a day earlier, but responded with its best offensive outburst of the 2025 postseason. UNC also won 11-5 against the Sooners on Saturday evening. Beating a team twice in three days is extremely tough to do in any sport, particularly during the baseball postseason, in which only the best teams and players remain. The Diamond Heels' latest obliteration of Oklahoma prompted the Sooners' head coach, Skip Johnson, to deliver the ultimate compliment. "You guys have a team here that can win the national championship, I can tell you that," Johnson said during his postgame press conference. "They're good. They're really good. They can run, they can do a lot of things. You guys should be proud of that." This message sound familiar? LSU's College World Series-winning head coach, Jay Johnson (no relation), also called North Carolina a National Championship-caliber team after the 2024 Chapel Hill Regional. If you recall that exciting ending, UNC downed the 2023 CWS champion Tigers, 4-3, in the 10th inning. You thought Oklahoma was a difficult opponent? Next up for the Diamond Heels is a Super Regional date with the Arizona Wildcats, who are 4-time College World Series winners. Arizona is winners of its last eight games. North Carolina has Jake Knapp, Gavin Gallaher and a team full of talented guys ready to counter – and hungry for a CWS title of their own. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC star infielder named best player after Chapel Hill Regional
UNC star infielder named best player after Chapel Hill Regional Is Gavin Gallaher the next UNC baseball legend? The North Carolina Tar Heels finally pieced together another complete game on the baseball diamond, dominating Oklahoma on Monday, 14-4, to win the Chapel Hill Regional and advance to the Super Regionals this coming weekend. UNC (45-13), which won three of its four games in the Chapel Hill Regional, will face the Arizona Wildcats for a spot in the College World Series. Just like 2024, when the Diamond Heels advanced to the Super Regionals, there was a constant force behind this year's Regional run: third baseman Gavin Gallaher. When North Carolina needed a base hit, home run, a runner driven in or virtually anything offensively, its star sophomore at the hot corner delivered. Gallaher finished this year's Chapel Hill Regional hitting an unconscious 13-of-18 (.722 batting average), which included three home runs and 10 RBIs. Gallaher saved his best performance for last in Monday's winner-take-all game, hitting 4-for-6 with four RBIs, two home runs and four runs scored. It should come as no surprise to anyone, Sooners fans included, that Gallaher earned Most Outstanding Player honors. Gallaher rose to prominence as a clutch freshman during last season's Chapel Hill Regional, blasting a walk-off grand slam against Long Island University during the opener. UNC trailed during the ninth inning of that game and, saving his team from embarrassment, Gallaher blasted a no-doubt, bases-loaded grand slam that send Boshamer Stadium into a frenzy. The Diamond Heels will need every bit of Gallaher's offense during the Chapel Hill Super Regional, which will start Friday, June 6 against Arizona at a time TBD. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC baseball team stays in Top 5 of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
UNC baseball team stays in Top 5 of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Can the Diamond Heels finally achieve college baseball immortality? You'll be hard-pressed to find a college baseball team playing better than UNC, which enters the NCAA Tournament with three consecutive wins and an ACC Tournament Championship in its back pocket. North Carolina (42-12, 18-11 ACC), which will host Oklahoma, Nebraska and Holy Cross in the Chapel Hill Regional starting Friday, is the fifth national seed. The Diamond Heels will begin their own Regional at 12 p.m. Friday, facing Patriot League Tournament Championship winner Holy Cross (31-25, 17-8). Just days ahead of its Regional opener, UNC received additional good news, finding itself atop the May 26 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. Texas, LSU, Vanderbilt and Arkansas round out the Top Five, while Florida State is the only additional ACC team in the Top 10. Clemson (12) and Georgia Tech (16) also made the Top 25, while NC State dropped out after previously being ranked 24th. Rankings mean virtually nothing at this point in the season, but being the top-ranked team in one college baseball poll is quite the honor. North Carolina's focus is solely on beating Holy Cross this Friday, but it's difficult to not look ahead at the possibilities. UNC has not won consecutive Regionals since 2018 and 2019, or made consecutive College World Series Appearances since 2008 and 2009. The 2025 Diamond Heels are fully-equipped for a deep run, though, led by Player of the Year candidate Jake Knapp. If North Carolina wins Friday, they'll play the winner of Oklahoma and Nebraska on Saturday. UNC got a tough draw for its Chapel Hill Regional, but I have full confidence in a couple victories. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC stages seventh-inning comeback to down Boston College, advance in ACC Tournament
UNC stages seventh-inning comeback to down Boston College, advance in ACC Tournament Can UNC enact revenge on Florida State Saturday night? The UNC baseball team is unofficially locked into an NCAA Tournament spot, but winning this weekend's ACC Tournament will improve UNC's Regional seeding. North Carolina had a chance to win the ACC Regular Season Title, but clinched third place after losing its finale at Florida State. The Diamond Heels earned a double-bye in the ACC Tournament as a result, facing Boston College Friday in their opener. UNC trailed for most of Friday night's quarterfinal matchup, but something changed once the seventh inning rolled around. North Carolina overcame a 2-run deficit in the seventh, scoring five runs during the frame en route to a 7-2 victory. With their win, the Diamond Heels advance to face FSU in a rematch, this time in Saturday's ACC Tournament Semifinal Round at 5 p.m. UNC ace Jake Knapp tossed another gem Friday, throwing seven innings of 2-run ball, but lacked the run support needed to extend his undefeated streak. North Carolina finally broke through with another clutch hit from Jackson Van De Brake, as its captain doubled down the right-field line and tied the game at 2-all. Van De Brake also supplied the Diamond Heels with their winning run, scoring on a wild pitch. Luke Stevenson and Lee Sowers singled during the seventh inning, extending UNC's lead to 5-2. North Carolina wasn't done pouring on runs in the later frames, with Stevenson mashing a 2-run home run in the eighth. You thought Knapp was stellar on Friday? Diamond Heels closer Walker McDuffie hurled two perfect frames, striking out three batters across the eighth and ninth innings. UNC won its regular season series in Tallahassee, taking the first two of three games from the Seminoles earlier in May. FSU eliminated North Carolina in the 2024 College World Series, so there's plenty on the line in Saturday's ACC Semifinal matchup. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
