For readers who enjoy the Tar Heel Tribune’s coverage of Carolina athletics but not the clutter that comes with online advertising, there’s now a simple solution.
A son’s strength, a dad’s legacy: Emotional Paulsen lifts UNC on Father’s Day
OMAHA, Neb. — It was a special and emotional Father’s Day victory for Carolina first baseman Erik Paulsen. When Scott Forbes, the coach who convinced him to leave his home area in New York, away from his family, and play at UNC, talked about it afterward, he had to pause because he got so emotional.
Video, transcript: UNC press conference after Game 2 win at the College World Series Finals
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s press conference after the Tar Heels’ Game 2 victory in the College World Series Finals against Oklahoma, with Coach Scott Forbes, Caden Glauber, Cooper Nicholson and Erik Paulsen.
Pitching, power put Heels win away from national championship
OMAHA, Neb. — For the first time in 20 years, North Carolina is a win away from the program’s first national championship. Dominant pitching and timely hitting powered the No. 4 Tar Heels to a 6–2 victory Sunday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha over Oklahoma in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals to force a deciding game for the national championship.
Video, transcript: UNC press conference after Game 1 loss in the College World Series Finals
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s press conference after the Tar Heels’ Game 1 loss in the College World Series Finals against Oklahoma, with Coach Scott Forbes, Jason DeCaro and Jake Schaffner.
UNC faces elimination game after Sooners roll to Game 1 victory
OMAHA, Neb. — The pitching and defense that have carried No. 4 North Carolina all season failed the Tar Heels during key moments on the biggest stage, and the offense faded after the first inning. That last pitch to get out of an inning couldn’t come enough, as Oklahoma plated five two-out runs in a 9–3 victory Saturday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals.
DeCaro no stranger to big stage, makes final college start with huge stakes
OMAHA, Neb. — It couldn’t be a more fitting stage for Jason DeCaro to make his final college start. The junior ace of No. 4 North Carolina’s staff will get the ball in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals against Oklahoma with the Tar Heels two wins away from the program’s first national championship.
UNC confident it can meet the latest challenge in red-hot Sooners
OMAHA, Neb. — No. 4 North Carolina has met every challenge in its road to the College World Series Finals, but the Tar Heels haven’t faced one quite like what red-hot Oklahoma will present. In Game 1 at 8:07 p.m. Saturday (ESPN), UNC ace Jason DeCaro (11–2, 2.31 ERA) will make his final college start against a Sooners team that has hit eight home runs, including five on Wednesday against No. 3 Georgia.
Video, transcript: UNC’s pre-College World Series Finals press conference
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s pre-College World Series Finals press conference Friday with Coach Scott Forbes, Jason DeCaro and Gavin Gallaher.
UNC signs big right-hander Voorhies out of the transfer portal
Cal State Northridge right-hander James Voorhies has given North Carolina another intriguing arm out of the transfer portal. The 6–4, 197-pound rising sophomore announced his commitment with a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
Game 1 likely matches DeCaro against dominant Sooners freshman pitcher
OMAHA, Neb. — Offense could be at a premium in Game 1 of the CWS Finals on Saturday with two of the hottest pitchers in the country trying to follow up on dominant performances last weekend. The 8:07 p.m. Saturday game will likely match UNC junior right-hander Jason DeCaro (11–2, 2.31 ERA) against Oklahoma freshman left-hander Cord Rager (6–3, 4.69 ERA), a battle that pits North Carolina’s established ace against one of the postseason’s fastest-rising arms.
Heels remind nation they are much more than pitching and defense
OMAHA, Neb. — Pitching and defense got No. 4 North Carolina to the brink of the College World Series Finals, but it was the Tar Heels’ explosive offense that sent them there for the first time since 2007. The hitting was contagious in UNC’s 12–7 victory Wednesday over West Virginia, and it was needed to withstand six late Mountaineers runs. Carolina bettered its combined output of 11 runs in the first two games and showed that this team can swing the bats as well as any team in the country.
Sooners to face UNC in CWS Finals after Heels ousted them last season
OMAHA, Neb. — The battle for the national championship is set. On Wednesday night, Oklahoma followed No. 4 North Carolina in rolling into the College World Series Finals, easily eliminating No. 3 Georgia 11–4 after the Tar Heels advanced Wednesday afternoon with a 12–7 victory over West Virginia.
Forbes emotionally reflects on his first trip to CWS Finals as pitching coach
OMAHA, Neb. — It was an emotional reflection for Scott Forbes when he remembered being an assistant coach the last time North Carolina made the College World Series Finals. Forbes had been there before, in 2006 and 2007, when legendary UNC coach Mike Fox hired him away from Winthrop to serve as pitching coach. He could not have imagined then that, 20 years later, he would be the Tar Heels’ head coach, guiding them back to the national championship series.
Video, transcript: UNC’s postgame press conference after big win over West Virginia
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s College World Series postgame press conference on Wednesday with Coach Scott Forbes, Gavin Gallaher, Owen Hull and Jackson Rose after rolling past West Virginia.
Heels two wins away from title after offensive explosion
OMAHA, Neb. — North Carolina is two wins away from its first national championship after pouring on the offense early, thanks to white-hot Owen Hull returning to the “O-zone.” The No. 4 Tar Heels pounded West Virginia pitching and took advantage of its defensive lapses, rolling to a 12–7 victory Wednesday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha to clinch its first CWS Finals berth in 19 years.