Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
Caden Glauber’s sensational debut college season already had produced ACC Freshman of the Year honors, All-ACC recognition, a national freshman pitching award from Perfect Game and a place on the Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team. D1Baseball added another major honor Monday, naming the North Carolina right-hander its national Freshman of the Year after one of the best debut seasons by a pitcher in program history.
Carolina players should be popular picks at the MLB draft, even though the Tar Heels made the College World Series Finals with a roster featuring deep talent rather than first-round headliners. After a 54–14–1 season that ended one win short of a national championship, several Tar Heels enter the July 11–12 draft knowing their names will be called, led by right-handed pitchers Ryan Lynch and Jason DeCaro, shortstop Jake Schaffner and center fielder Owen Hull.
North Carolina added another experienced relief pitcher out of the transfer portal when former Coastal Carolina right-hander Scott Doran committed to the Tar Heels.
A full day of memorable Carolina victories, from postseason thrills and rivalry showdowns to a memorable Seth Trimble shot, will take over ACC Network on Wednesday as part of the channel’s annual school takeover programming.
North Carolina added an experienced bullpen arm from a familiar conference rival Thursday, as former Virginia Tech right-hander Preston Crowl committed to the Tar Heels. The 6–0, 215-pound junior announced his decision Thursday evening on X (formerly Twitter)
North Carolina added a productive in-state outfielder through the transfer portal with a commitment from UNC Asheville sophomore outfielder Blaize Johnson. The Kernersville native and first-team All-Big South selection announced his decision in a late Tuesday post on X (formerly Twitter).
OMAHA, Neb. — As Oklahoma celebrated on the field, North Carolina players lingered in the third-base dugout, still processing how their amazing run to Omaha ended with such frustration. The Tar Heels weren’t belaboring the 13–2 loss to Oklahoma in Game 3 of the CWS Finals as much as remembering the togetherness and love shared on a team that will never play together again as an entire group.
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s press conference after Game 3 loss to Oklahoma in the College World Series Finals, with Coach Scott Forbes, Gavin Gallaher and Matthew Matthijs.
OMAHA, Neb. — Scott Forbes is giving the ball to freshman left-hander Jackson Rose in Monday night’s battle with Oklahoma for the national championship. The Tar Heels will head into Monday’s 7:09 p.m. (ESPN) winner-take-all Game 3 of the College World Series Finals with what Forbes called an “all hands on deck” approach on the mound after Rose, one shaped by trust in a pitching staff that has carried a heavy load through Omaha and a roster that has responded all season when the stakes have risen.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
