By R.L. Bynum
OMAHA, Neb. — Charles Schwab Field Omaha’s spacious dimensions can turn long drives into long outs that might be home runs in other venues.
When No. 4-seed North Carolina (47–14) gets a rematch with No. 12 Virginia (45–15) in Friday’s 2 p.m. Men’s College World Series opener (ESPN), the dynamics will be a lot different from when the Cavaliers won two of three in Charlottesville, Va., in early April.
After each team hit 10 home runs during that series, many drives might produce different results. But the Tar Heels’ top-level defense, led by center fielder Vance Honeycutt and right fielder Anthony Donofrio, has the range to field many balls that might otherwise drop for extra-base hits against other defenses.
“A lot of balls that were hit at the Bosh this year that kind of just barely snuck out, I think they ran out of room at some times,” Honeycutt said. “Being able to have a bigger park with a lot more room, it will give us more chance to just roam.”
The outfield walls are 335 feet away down the lines, 375 in the alleys and 408 to center field and the wind is often blowing in. The proliferation of fly balls in college baseball may not be quite as damaging in Omaha. The alleys and center field in Omaha are about 10 feet farther back than at Boshamer Stadium.
“That is one thing that’s different in the game now that I’ve noticed,” UNC coach Scott Forbes said, “is pitchers are throwing harder and trying to pitch at the top of the zone more, getting more fly ball outs than ever in college baseball.”
Forbes is fine with that considering the defense he puts in the outfield.
“We’ve put a big emphasis on that, obviously, having a generational center fielder like Vance Honeycutt, but also putting two other guys out there where you don’t give a team extra outs,” said Forbes, who starts Casey Cook in left field. “Matter of fact, we’ve stolen a lot of outs. When you have an outfield like this, you can prevent triples also, because you can hit some triples in this park. It’s going to be big for anybody.”
Both offenses are potent, even if home runs might not be as common, and it will be UNC freshman right-hander Jason DeCaro (6–1, 3.89 ERA) against Virginia sophomore left-hander Evan Blanco (8–3, 3.69 ERA).
It’s a rematch of the second game of the April series that Virginia won 7-2.
“Both teams are much different, especially on the mound,” Forbes said of the contrast since the April series. “Both coaching staffs are going to manage their pitching staffs different. I think both the pitchers — if a pitcher is going, it doesn’t matter how good the offense is sometimes.
DeCaro is a different pitcher than the one who gave up six hits, five runs, walked three and struck out five in six innings that day. Blanco scattered six hits in 6⅓ innings, giving up two hits, one walk while striking out seven.
Virginia Coach Brian O’Connor said that Blanco earned Friday’s start
“As of late, the back part of the season, he’s been incredibly consistent and went out there and given us six or seven innings every time and given us a chance to win the ball game,” O’Connor said. “You’re going to go with your guy. He’s our guy. He’s earned it. That said, I know North Carolina will be prepared for him.”
It’s just another big moment for 18-year-old DeCaro, who has come up with big performances on big stages. In the latest example, he gave up only two hits and one run while striking out five in UNC’s clinching 2–1 victory Saturday over West Virginia.
His approach is no different from those other challenges.
“I think just realizing that it’s a privilege that we get to be here and experience all this,” DeCaro said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Men’s College World Series
At Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Neb.
Bracket 1
No. 1 Tennessee (3–0), No. 8 Florida State (2–2), No. 4 North Carolina (1–2), No. 12 Virginia (0–2)
Bracket 2
No. 3 Texas A&M (3–0), Florida (2–2), No. 2 Kentucky (1–2), No. 10 N.C. State (0–2)
Pool play
(All listed times are EDT)
Friday’s results
Game 1: No. 4 North Carolina 3, No. 12 Virginia 2
Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee 12, No. 8 Florida State 11
Saturday’s results
Game 3: No. 2 Kentucky 5, No. 10 N.C. State 4, 10 innings
Game 4: No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Florida 2
Sunday’s results
Game 5: No. 8 Florida State 7, No. 12 Virginia 3; Virginia eliminated
Game 6: No. 1 Tennessee 6, No. 4 North Carolina 1
Monday’s results
Game 7: Florida 5, No. 10 N.C. State 4; N.C. State eliminated
Game 8: No. 3 Texas A&M 5, No. 2 Kentucky 1
Tuesday’s result
Game 9: No. 8 Florida State 9, No. 4 North Carolina 5; North Carolina eliminated
Wednesday’s results
Game 10: Florida 15, No. 2 Kentucky 4; Kentucky eliminated
Game 11: No. 1 Tennessee 7, No. 8 Florida State 2; Florida State eliminated
Game 12: No. 3 Texas A&M 6, Florida 0; Florida eliminated
MCWS Finals
(Best-of-3 series)
No. 1 Tennessee (60–13) vs. No. 3 Texas A&M (53–15)
Game 1: Texas A&M 9, Tennessee 5
Game 2 Tennessee, 4, Texas A&M 1
Game 3: Tennessee 6, Texas A&M 5; Tennessee wins national champinship
UNC scores
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times | Opponent (current rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | |||
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sat. | 4, noon, 1 | vs. Indiana |
| 17 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Richmond |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Longwood |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 4 (Greenville), 2 (DBAP), 2 (CH) | vs. East Carolina |
| 24 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. N.C. A&T |
| 25 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. VCU |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | 4 p.m., 2 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| March | |||
| 1 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| 3 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Elon |
| 6–8 | Fri.-Sun. | 4, 2, 1 | vs. Virginia |
| 10 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Bucknell |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | 9, 5, 4 | at California |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. UNCG |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 8, 2, 1 | vs. No. 8 Louisville |
| 24 | Tuesday | 6:30 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte |
| 27–29 | Fri.-Sun. | 6:30, 3, 1 | at Notre Dame |
| 31 | Tuesday | 8 p.m. | vs. Campbell |
| April | |||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | 6, 6, 2 | vs. Boston College |
| 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Charlotte |
| 10–12 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, 2, 12:30 | at No. 19 Clemson |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. UNCW |
| 17–19 | Fri-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. High Point |
| 23–25 | Fri.-Sun. | 7, 6, 3 | at Duke |
| 28 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Coastal Carolina |
| 29 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Queens |
| May | |||
| 3 | Sunday | 2 p.m. (non-conference game) | vs. Duke |
| 6 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | at UNCW |
| 14–16 | Thurs.-Sat. | 7, 6, 1 | at No. 17 N.C. State |
| 19–24 | Tues.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Charlotte |
| 29–31 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Regionals | Campus sites |
| June | |||
| 5–7 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Super Regionals | Campus sites |
| 12–22 | Fri.-Mon | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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