By R.L. Bynum

OMAHA, Neb. — It would be easy for a senior who went from All-ACC second team to rarely-used reserve to be bitter and a distraction in the dressing room.

But that isn’t part of North Carolina senior co-captain Jackson Van De Brake’s makeup. Throughout the season, his admirable team-first approach made a big difference.

With his parents in the stands at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, his impact shifted to the field as he met his Omaha moment, delivering a leadoff double and scoring the winning run Friday in No. 4-seed Carolina’s 3–2 victory over No. 12 Virginia in the Men’s College World Series opener.

“We’re winning a lot of baseball games all year,” said Van De Brake, who started most of the 2023 season at second base. “The only thing I can do is be supportive and be behind my guys. So, I’ll keep doing that, regardless. We all will. Anybody in our dugout will say the same thing.”

UNC Coach Scott Forbes decided it was best for the team to play two newcomers — transfer second baseman Alex Madera and freshman third baseman Gavin Gallaher — ahead of Van De Brake. That drastically changed his role on the field, but didn’t affect the co-captain’s major role of being a positive force.

“There’s a reason this team is like it is,” Forbes said. “There’s a kid, All-ACC last year, hasn’t gone like he wanted it to, and he steps up there and hits a double.”

Van De Brake said he has a terrific relationship with Forbes.

“Me and him, we can pretty much talk about anything,” said Van De Brake, who started the first eight games at third base but has started only nine games since then.

“I’ve been in a good headspace all year,” he said. “I love this program. And I love my teammates and coaching staff. There’s nothing that can make me change from that. I play for those guys. And regardless of what my role is, I’m gonna do what I can do for those guys.”

Coming to that headspace is easier said than done for a player who has gone from starter to reserve and has been primarily a pinch-runner since Kaleb Cost’s injury.

“Really, it’s pretty easy. I mean, obviously, my year — if you look at the numbers or whatever — it is what it is,” said Van De Brake, who is hitting .202. “And at that point, I tell myself that there’s one thing I can do, and that’s support my guys and help win baseball games, and we’ve done that.”

A year earlier, Van De Brake was the newcomer who boosted the Tar Heels. He played two seasons at Tacoma Community College but came to UNC after shortstop Danny Serretti signed a pro contract.

“The guys behind him were younger guys, and they wanted to bring in an older guy. And my head coach in Tacoma has always done a really good job of getting guys out. And I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Van De Brake, a Yakima, Wash., native who had never been farther east than Montana before arriving in Chapel Hill.

Casey Cook started many games with Van De Brake in 2023 but says that his impact has still been big this season.

“He’s a great teammate,” Cook said. “He’s all we could ask for. He’s there for us. He’s cheering us on when we’re out there playing. It makes us extremely happy to see him come through. And you don’t want it for anyone else other than Jackson. He’s our captain. And we love it for him. And we have full confidence in him. It’s great to see out of him.”

Van De Brake, who hit a grand slam in UNC’s 19–2 win over William & Mary on May 1, had been hitting the ball well in batting practice and felt confident when he got the call to pinch hit for Alberto Osuna.

A right-handed hitter, he worked the count and pushed a 2–2 pitch from Virginia closer Chase Hungate down the right-field line for a double to lead off the ninth inning of a tie game.

“We talk about it all the time,” Van De Brake said. “Got to stay ready when your number is called. And for me, it was in that big spot right there, and I was able to get a good swing off.”

He tried not to get too excited after the hit in his first at-bat in 21 days. But he said it was probably the biggest moment of his career.

“Game wasn’t over yet,” Van De Brake said. “So, I don’t think I kind of allowed myself to really think that way. But looking back, I think I can probably say so.”

He stood on second base, representing the winning run, and had a bloody left leg to show for it.

“That was my unathletic slide to second base — straight through the pants,” Van De Brake said with a smile.

After Madera’s sacrifice bunt got Van De Brake to third base, he was confident he would score the winning run. That came after Vance Honeycutt’s third walk-off hit of the NCAA tournament.

“With Vance, you can’t be surprised,” Van De Brake said. “And I knew between Colby [Wilkerson] or him — one of them — was gonna get it done. Madera got that sac down like he always does, and we were in a good spot.”

A good spot indeed, thanks to a crafty at-bat from a senior making the most of his opportunity on the biggest stage in college baseball.

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	Scores	Opponent (current rank)	Record
	February
14–15	Fri.-Sat.	W, 5–1; W, 8–3; W, 4–2	vs. Texas Tech	3–0
18	Tuesday	W, 12–9	vs. Kansas State	4–0
22–24	Sat.-Mon.	W, 2–0; W, 11–6; W, 6–4	vs. East Carolina (DBAP, CH, G’ville)	7–0
25	Tuesday	W, 7–4	vs. VCU	8–0
26	Wednesday	W, 13–4	vs. N.C. A&T	9–0
28	Friday	W, 16–2	vs. Stony Brook	10–0
	March
1–2	Sat.-Sun.	W, 6–1; W, 9–5	vs. Stony Brook	12–0
4	Tuesday	W, 6–4 (11)	vs. No. 11 Coastal Carolina	13–0
7–9	Fri.-Sun.	L, 13–9; W, 11–1 (7); L, 7–0	vs. Stanford	14–2, 1–2 ACC
11	Tuesday	W, 7–3 (10)	at UNCW	15–2
14, 16	Fri., Sun.	L, 8–7; W, 6–4; L, 5–0	at Louisville	16–4, 2–4
19	Wednesday	L, 5–1	vs. UConn	16–5
21–23	Fri.-Sun.	W, 5–1; L, 3–2; W, 10–0 (7)	at Boston College	18–6, 4–5
25	Tuesday	W, 13–8	vs. South Carolina in Charlotte	19–7
28–30	Fri.-Sun.	W, 2–0; W, 4–2; L, 4–2	vs. Miami	21–7, 6–6
	April
1	Tuesday	W, 11–1 (7)	vs. Gardner-Webb	22–7
3–5	Thur.-Sat.	W, 4–3; L, 9–5; W, 8–7 (14)	vs. Duke	24–8, 8–7
8	Tuesday	W, 12–10	at Elon	25–8
11–13	Fri.-Sun.	W, 11–1 (7); W, 17–1 (7); W, 3–2	vs. Wake Forest	28–8, 11–7
15	Tuesday	W, 14–4 (8)	vs. Charlotte	29–8
18–20	Fri-Sun.	W, 9–6; L, 10–6: W, 7–5	at Virginia Tech	31–9, 13–8
25–27	Fri.-Sun.	W, 15–5; L, 4–2; W, 6–0	at Pittsburgh	33–10, 15–9
29	Tuesday	W, 13–4	vs. George Mason	34–10
30	Wednesday	W, 14–3	vs. Queens	35–10
	May
6	Tuesday	W, 10–1	vs. Campbell	36–10
8–9	Thurs.-Fri.	W, 8–1; L, 8–5	vs. N.C. State	37–11, 16–10
15–17	Thurs.-Sat.	W, 8–3; W, 11–1 (7); L, 5–4	at No. 7 Florida State	39–12, 18–11
		ACC tournament	Durham
23	Friday	Quarterfinal: W, 7–3	Boston College	40–12
24	Saturday	Semifinal: W, 7–5	No. 7 Florida State	41–12
25	Sunday	Final: W, 14–4	No. 14 Clemson	42–12
		Chapel Hill Regional
30	Friday	W, 4–0	Holy Cross	43–12
31	Saturday	W, 11–5	Oklahoma	44–12
	June
1	Sunday	L, 9–5	Oklahoma	44–13
2	Monday	W, 14–4	Oklahoma	45–13
		Chapel Hill Super Regional	Best-of-3 series
6	Friday	W, 18–2	No. 21 Arizona	46–13
7	Saturday	L, 10–8	No. 21 Arizona	46–14
8	Sunday	L, 4–3	No. 21 Arizona	46–15