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UNC's Aidan Haugh, Carter French and Scott Forbes after 17-1 run-rule win over Wake Forest
Apr 12, 2025
UNC's Aidan Haugh, Carter French and Scott Forbes after 17-1 run-rule win over Wake Forest
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0:00
longer outing than last weekend at Duke.
0:03
How do you think you kind of maybe not
0:05
bounce back but return to the mound
0:07
tonight? Um I think it was just learning
0:10
from what I struggled with last weekend,
0:11
which was uh kind of commanding the fast
0:13
ball. Um especially early in counts and
0:16
you just kind of working on that in my
0:17
bullpen and doing a better job of that
0:20
this this weekend. Jake told us
0:23
yesterday that he also was kind of doing
0:24
that in his bullpen, but I think it was
0:26
his slider. How do you go about figuring
0:28
out what you need to work on and then
0:30
working on it in the bullpen and then
0:32
implementing it in the game? Yeah. Um I
0:34
mean after each weekend you kind of have
0:36
understanding of like what you need to
0:38
work on and then coach Gaines will also
0:40
talk with you before your bullpen on
0:41
like what you need to focus on and um
0:43
like the exact focus of that bullpen
0:46
leading into the weekend. I mean this is
0:48
I think probably the most you've sat in
0:50
between innings that you've pitched.
0:52
This is the most run support you've had.
0:54
What do you do in those innings? How do
0:56
you locked in and ready to go. Um, yeah.
0:59
I mean, you want to sit there for as
1:02
long as you can. I mean, because it
1:03
means your offense is doing good things.
1:05
So, I loved sitting there watching the
1:06
game. Um, but it was a long time and I
1:09
think I don't know, just, you know, you
1:11
got to move around a little bit. So, at
1:13
one point I did go to the bullpen just
1:14
to toss, but um to stay mentally locked
1:17
in. I mean, it's, you know, I'm having
1:19
fun out there, so I'm not going to not
1:21
focus on what's going on and, you know,
1:23
that sort of thing. How relaxing is it
1:25
to go to the mound with a big lead like
1:27
that knowing that you can challenge
1:28
hitters? Oh, I mean it's great. I It
1:31
makes it a lot easier to or not easier
1:34
but takes a lot of pressure off my back
1:36
and I feel, you know, a lot better about
1:38
it and it's amazing seeing the offense
1:40
doing that. What's been the biggest key
1:42
for you in terms of locking the change
1:44
up this season? Um, just continuing to
1:47
throw it and get the feel um get
1:49
confidence in that pitch. I mean, I kind
1:50
of I had a little bit last year. I
1:52
didn't throw it as much and um so I
1:54
really wasn't as confident in throwing
1:55
it especially against the right-handed
1:56
batters and just you know this year
1:58
especially in the fall and preseason
2:00
just throwing it more and getting that
2:02
confidence and making myself be
2:03
comfortable with that pitch. Was there a
2:05
certain point in the offseason where you
2:06
kind of really felt that confidence kind
2:08
of reaching that kind of high point?
2:11
Yeah, I would say there was. I mean it
2:12
was a gradual thing but um you know once
2:15
you start having success with a coach
2:16
then that it really helps with the
2:18
confidence factor. Similarly, I mean
2:20
these last couple outings, you've
2:21
started kind of going to the breaker a
2:23
little bit more. Just kind of how
2:24
confident do you feel just your overall
2:26
arsenal at this point? Yeah, I mean I
2:28
felt great with all three pitches today
2:30
and I mean um Coach Gaines will see like
2:33
you know what's working on that specific
2:34
day and then you know adjust accordingly
2:37
and today it seemed like the curveball
2:39
was working a little more in the change
2:40
up. So we continue to call that more but
2:42
you know all three pitches felt great
2:44
today and um you know it's kind of how
2:46
it went. We've talked a lot about I mean
2:48
the change of developing, but how have
2:50
you seen the curveball evolve from last
2:53
season to this season? Yeah. Um I think
2:56
last season at times it would get a
2:57
little slurvy or slaughterish so it
2:59
wouldn't quite have as much break and
3:01
would get hit sometimes and so this year
3:03
just I don't really know. I mean I I
3:05
guess I try to stay more aggressive with
3:07
it and trust the pitch and it's uh been
3:10
working so far.
3:11
How much do you pay attention to Jake's
3:13
outing last night and getting a sort of
3:16
a scout going into yours? Is that a
3:18
thing? Oh, yeah. Um, I mean, like while
3:20
I'm doing the chart for Jake, I love
3:21
watching seeing how he attacks them and
3:24
knowing that I pitch a little bit
3:25
differently than him, but still I can
3:27
learn a lot from the batters and, you
3:29
know, how they're adjusting in the box
3:30
and that sort of thing. Do you have any
3:32
sort of scout that you're going to give
3:33
to Jason tomorrow?
3:35
Um, yeah. I'll probably talk to him a
3:37
little bit about it, but I can't let
3:39
y'all know that.
3:43
Anything else? Anything else? Thanks,
3:45
Aiden. Thank you. Thanks, Aiden.
3:52
Postgame media debut for
3:56
Richie
4:00
Carter start yesterday, today. What has
4:03
kind of been your approach at the plate
4:05
and how's it evolved this season? Um,
4:07
just trying to compete and see each
4:09
pitch come in and if it's there, take a
4:12
swing. It's not much more than that. I'm
4:14
just trying to stay focused and composed
4:16
and just having a good time, making sure
4:18
I'm having fun. Is there anything Did
4:21
Coach We um, Coach Forbes talk to you at
4:23
all before yesterday's game or today's?
4:26
Yeah, they just tell me to stick with my
4:27
approach and just be who I am because
4:29
I'm a competitive guy and I just if I
4:31
stick with what I do best, then good
4:34
things will happen. What are the mo
4:35
emotions of getting the chance to start
4:38
this weekend and then coming through as
4:40
as you have? Yeah, I mean it's exciting
4:43
to be able to get out there and have the
4:45
opportunity to do it and I just try to
4:48
stay focused and make sure I'm having a
4:51
good time and not much more than that.
4:52
Not make it bigger than it what it is.
4:54
It's just a game I've been playing. Have
4:56
you always been a good bunner like that?
4:58
Uh no, actually I I had to work on that
5:00
a lot. Uh my freshman year I was told I
5:03
was the worst bunner they've ever seen.
5:05
So that made me want to work hard on
5:08
that and make sure I get it down so I
5:10
can be in the lineup. And coach Forbes
5:12
talked about your defense. Uh it's a
5:14
that that that's a big quality for you.
5:16
Can you talk about what you bring to the
5:18
team defensively? Yeah, I just I like
5:21
being out there running around. I played
5:22
football in high school, so I just like
5:26
out being out there making plays and
5:28
trying to track down balls. It's not I
5:31
don't think much more than that. How
5:32
have you worked on your bunting skills
5:34
knowing that you're probably going to
5:36
come in before I mean this weekend to
5:38
pinch hit or pitch run and you kind of
5:40
have to show up in those little moments?
5:43
Yeah, I I work a lot in the cages just
5:45
making sure to get as many bunts in when
5:47
I can. And uh when I feel like I've got
5:50
it down, then it's just in the game it's
5:52
all mentality. Just being focused and
5:54
just staying in there, getting on the
5:56
plate. Are they now no longer saying
5:58
that you're the worst? No, they don't. I
6:00
hope they don't say that
6:04
any good.
6:06
Thanks. Yep. No problem.
6:14
We done
6:20
again. College buddies in town going to
6:22
steakhouse tonight. Don't keep me too
6:24
long. Don't get loose, though. Nope. Not
6:26
yet. Nope.
6:29
I get Lucy win the whole thing maybe.
6:32
Y'all go ahead. Decision to move Aiden
6:35
to today. Can you kind of just take me
6:36
through that? Um once we knew that we
6:39
were getting pushed to Saturday and
6:40
Sunday, we just felt like Aiden need to
6:42
stay on
6:43
his routine because he threw last
6:47
Saturday in the Thursday, Friday,
6:48
Saturday. And again, we're still working
6:50
on some things mechanically with Jason.
6:53
Uh so that gave us another day where he
6:54
could ramp it up more. Um, and it worked
6:59
out perfectly. So, Jason will go
7:00
tomorrow. Uh, it wasn't because Jason
7:04
didn't throw good last week. It was
7:05
strictly this weekend
7:07
because, you know, Hal is older. Like
7:09
I've told you guys, Daro is still the
7:11
youngest player on our team. We wanted
7:12
to give him another day to work on his
7:14
delivery mechanics and didn't surprise
7:16
him that Aiden threw that. Is it a
7:18
little bit of a blessing that I think
7:20
probably for one of the first times
7:21
Jason will have two days worth of
7:25
information on the opposing batters? I
7:27
mean, we have so much information now.
7:30
Um, with Synergy and True Media, these
7:33
are systems that all colleges have now.
7:36
So much video. As a coach, you don't
7:38
really need a game, but things can
7:40
change in a game. And coach Gains, coach
7:41
Al, they go back and watch after every
7:43
game. Um, but I don't think so. If
7:45
anything, you know, he does his pitching
7:49
sets a little more like Aiden's, not
7:51
like as much like Knap, so that could
7:53
benefit him. Logan Lunsford has a 63%
7:58
whiff rate on the change up. Was it a
7:59
similar approach to yesterday to kind of
8:01
lay off that pitch and kind of hunt the
8:03
fast ball, especially when she saw he
8:04
was struggling with command a little bit
8:05
in the first inning? I mean, I didn't go
8:07
in the meeting today when coach WBiki
8:10
and and coach Jackson were going over
8:12
the approach with our hitters, but I
8:14
knew what it was. And it was definitely
8:16
control of strike zone number one. See
8:18
all of his off speed up and his fast
8:21
ball can be scattered sometime, but we
8:23
didn't feel like the fast ball was 94
8:26
96. So, at times we could look for off
8:29
speed and then spit on the off speed and
8:31
then just if you throw a fast ball for a
8:33
strike, throw a fast ball for a strike.
8:35
Carter told us that you guys called him
8:37
one of the worst bunters you've ever
8:39
seen when he came in here. And we've
8:41
talked a lot about that he might have
8:43
been that he has the defense, but how
8:45
have you seen him evolve in his plate at
8:48
the approach and doing the little things
8:49
like putting down those sides? Well, you
8:50
know, Carter is the old doesn't happen
8:53
much anymore, the old true walk-on. I
8:55
got recruited out of, you know, out of
8:57
Tampa Jesuit to play football at some
8:59
Ivy Leagues. Got in North Carolina on
9:00
his own. a coach I I know that he played
9:03
for called and said, "Hey, this kid's
9:05
really athletic. He's extremely tough,
9:08
ultra competitive." Uh, so we saw him
9:10
play like, "Okay, he's got some
9:11
athleticism." He was a str bean. I mean,
9:13
he he was he's still getting stronger.
9:15
Um, but it's a credit to Carter. Like,
9:18
he got here. I'm sure he was like, "Man,
9:20
am I even going to have a chance to make
9:21
this team?" Then it became clear that he
9:23
was going to make the team. And since
9:24
that time, he's just worked. And he's a
9:28
guy that you could say like, hey, it has
9:29
to be part of your game. You have to be
9:31
able to get a sacrifice bunt down. You
9:33
should be able to bump for a hit or
9:34
you're just never going to get in the
9:35
lineup cuz where you are right now, your
9:37
exit velocity back then is not 105 plus
9:41
or even 100 plus. So, he's worked hard
9:43
in the weight room. Um, you know, we
9:46
plugged him in there a little bit. His
9:48
freshman year at the end when Vance went
9:50
down, that's how much confidence we had
9:52
in him. And then last year he didn't
9:55
bury himself because we had three
9:56
outfielders that were never coming out.
9:58
He just kept plugging. Great student
10:00
going to be a doctor. Um we call him Dr.
10:03
French. Uh but he was a really bad
10:06
bunner but we have fed that machine over
10:09
and over and over and he has figured out
10:11
how to bunt for sure. Even last weekend
10:13
it seemed like you're just getting
10:15
enough offense to get by. But in the
10:17
last three games the offensive explosion
10:19
it's almost as if you guys flipped the
10:21
switch. What's been the difference? I
10:23
mean, up and down the lineup, too. Um,
10:25
you know, I think that definitely buy in
10:27
to what uh, you know, we're working on
10:30
on being on time and getting having a
10:32
good load. Uh, again, failure can do
10:35
that sometime when you've always hit a
10:37
certain way. Uh, but I've always
10:39
believed that hitting's contagious. Um,
10:42
our guys too, you know, you get we it
10:44
feels like most of the year we've had
10:46
like one or two, not a lot of collective
10:48
at bats throughout the lineup. and we
10:51
knew that we we were capable of doing
10:53
that. Um, and I think these guys got to
10:55
a point too where they just stopped
10:56
chasing batting average and they said,
10:58
"Okay, we're at the point in the season
10:59
where all we care about is winning as a
11:00
team. I may not hit 500, but maybe I can
11:04
hit 500 today." So, that's what we've
11:06
worked on the most is like right here,
11:08
right now. Eliminate yesterday. Um, and
11:11
they these guys work too. Stuff y'all
11:12
don't see. we left. Uh they spent a lot
11:14
of times in the cage, a lot of time in
11:16
the cages, but coach RBI and coach
11:17
Jackson do a great job back there with
11:19
them and um you know, the guys put the
11:22
work in. They're they're benefiting from
11:24
it for sure. You were patient at the
11:25
plate. We were patient um but we weren't
11:29
getting our ace swings off to do damage.
11:30
We're trying to hit the ball so deep. Uh
11:33
the old saying is you have to let the
11:34
ball travel. Well, I mean, obviously,
11:36
we're not trying to go out and hit the
11:37
ball mechanically, but if you look at
11:39
spray charts in the big leagues, I mean,
11:42
you pull the ball. You pull the ball in
11:43
the gaps, you're trying to hit the gaps.
11:45
Uh, and I explained to guys, the guys
11:47
that are consistently hitting the ball
11:48
out of the mitt. They just didn't worry
11:50
me too much when I was calling pitches.
11:52
And I want hitters and when it's a 200
11:54
count that I'm on time, and if they
11:56
throw a nasty off speed pitch, you swing
11:57
and miss it instead of giving them a
11:59
quick out. So for me it was more you
12:02
know just having more aggressive swings
12:04
in our counts under control but
12:05
aggressive swings. Why is Kane Keley
12:08
such a ball magnet at the plate? I mean
12:10
is the scout on him to throw it in and
12:13
they're missing it? He's all over the
12:14
plate. Um he's not going to move. And to
12:18
get him out, you really need to try to
12:20
get in there because the ball's out over
12:22
the plate or middle. He does a good job
12:24
of driving it. Um, but you know, he's
12:27
he's good at that.
12:28
And you know, I've coached here a long
12:31
time. I told him that I think you're
12:32
going to break the record potentially of
12:34
having the most hit by pitches in a
12:35
season. We had a guy Kyle Datress, he
12:37
was a magnet. Um, but again, that's who
12:40
Kane Keley is. He doesn't look at it as
12:41
like he looked at it as like a hit. I
12:43
got on base. Uh, but he's all over the
12:46
dish and if you don't have control,
12:47
you're going to hit them. Circling back
12:48
to talking about the bunts. A few weeks
12:50
ago, you talked about how like they
12:51
weren't laying down the bunts and you
12:53
weren't able to use that small ball.
12:54
also now being able to use the small
12:55
ball, reaping the benefits. What options
12:57
does that give you at the plate when you
12:58
have multiple guys being able to lay
12:59
down bunts? A lot of options because we
13:01
have speed. Um, you know, I thought the
13:04
swing of the game was Carter French, but
13:05
guys collectively now one through nine,
13:09
no matter who they are, including
13:10
Stokeley, including Steve. I'm
13:12
comfortable comfortable giving them a
13:14
sacrifice bunt, giving them a hit and
13:15
run, giving them a safety, giving them a
13:16
suicide because I see it in practice
13:19
every single day. And the more pressure
13:20
you can put on teams, the better. Um,
13:22
and I think I don't think I know teams
13:24
know the type and quality of arms we
13:26
have. So, I've been explaining to our
13:28
guys like we don't have to hit a 100
13:30
home runs. Work your way on base. We get
13:33
first and second, no outs. Gives us an
13:34
option to bunt. The batting average goes
13:36
way up when the other team's infield
13:38
comes in. Um, so just applying more
13:41
pressure when we need to. Now, our guys
13:44
have gotten on base more, which has
13:45
given us an opportunity to do that. Uh,
13:48
but we talk about like, hey, we have to
13:50
pressure them on the bases and we have
13:52
to be good in situational hitting, not
13:54
just runners in scoring position, but
13:56
moving base runners, hitting and
13:57
running, running and hitting, uh, those
13:59
type of things. We've talked a lot this
14:01
season about Aiden with the change up,
14:03
but last week he threw the curveball the
14:04
most he has all season. Then again
14:06
today, he used the breaker a lot. Just
14:08
what does that say about his confidence
14:09
in his overall arsenal at this point?
14:11
You know, that kid, I mean, he's so even
14:14
killed. who works his tail off. But
14:16
again, you know, if you're going to be a
14:18
starter in this league and you have to
14:20
get through the lineup that third time,
14:23
if you're fortunate enough to have that
14:25
third pitch and you can use it, you can
14:29
get through it that third time. And
14:30
that's what him and Jake have been able
14:32
to do. Now, he's always had the
14:34
curveball. Uh so now that's just
14:36
something that he's like, "Okay, well,
14:37
my change up's floating a little bit. I
14:39
always feel confident in my curveball."
14:41
So now here's a guy that's throwing 92,
14:43
94 at times, 95, 96. He's got two off
14:47
speed pitch, pitches that he can throw
14:49
to righties or lefties, and there aren't
14:50
many of those. Um, and that neutralizes
14:53
counts for him. And and a credit also to
14:55
coach Gaines, you know, I talk to him
14:56
all the time about pitch calling. You
14:59
don't want to give into the hitter. Uh,
15:01
I learned the hard way, you can't fear a
15:04
walk. you have to to make the pitch that
15:05
you believe in and the walk happens
15:08
because hitters will swing at pitches in
15:10
3-2 counts or three ball counts that
15:12
aren't balls but are really good
15:13
pitches. So the curve balls I've always
15:16
thought it was nasty. Um and then you
15:18
have that change up in there, man.
15:20
That's tough guy to face. I'm glad he's
15:22
on our side for sure. just how big of a
15:24
luxury is it to have two starters that
15:27
both have sub two erraas that can go
15:30
triple digits back to back and give this
15:33
team so much length on the mound. I
15:35
mean, it's a huge luxury and I I think
15:36
Jason can do the same thing. Um, you
15:39
know, I'm sitting there backing in the
15:42
back. I was like, man, I feel pretty
15:43
good about having Jason Darro going on
15:45
game three. Uh, so I think we have three
15:48
of them. Um, you know, but it is I mean
15:51
those two guys too to to see where they
15:53
were and everybody's story is different.
15:56
You know, you got two guys, one guy that
15:57
wasn't good enough at a small mid-
15:59
major, left, went to a junior college,
16:00
worked his tail off, came here, um, came
16:03
back after being injured, and Aiden Hal,
16:06
who was this close to not coming back.
16:09
Um, that's where, you know, some of the
16:11
stuff going on in college within IIL,
16:14
like, you know, oh man, complain about
16:16
it. But you look at those two guys, you
16:17
know, that's helped those guys be here,
16:19
leave here debtree and and and Aiden had
16:23
the opportunity to sign in the 17th
16:25
round, but he's going to come back here.
16:26
He's going to help us win games and he's
16:27
going to leave with his degree. So
16:29
that's pretty cool in my opinion. What's
16:31
the update on Sawyer situation? He has a
16:33
broken hammade had surgery uh Monday. Uh
16:37
he can't do anything for about two weeks
16:39
and then they'll he'll start rehabbing
16:42
from the surgery. It's it's a you really
16:45
don't need that little hook in there.
16:47
So, it's really going to be a pain
16:48
tolerance, but usually three to four
16:50
weeks before most guys can come back.
16:52
But, he will be back this season. Right
16:54
hand. I don't even know what hand it is.
16:56
Honestly, think his throwing hand. Is it
16:58
his throwing? No, I think it's his right
17:00
hand. I think it's his right hand. It's
17:02
his throwing hand. Yeah, but he'll be it
17:04
won't affect his throwing. It's just a
17:05
matter of whether or not how how that
17:07
hand's going to go when he when he
17:09
swing. How gratifying is it as a coach
17:11
to get guys like Lee, his college debut,
17:13
get Reese in there in an ACC series like
17:16
this. Yeah, you're trying to get as many
17:17
guys in as you can. Um, and that's a
17:20
challenge, but we're also University of
17:21
North Carolina, one of the top baseball
17:22
programs in the country. So, you try to
17:25
do that, but you're also your number one
17:27
most important thing is put the guys in
17:28
there are going to win the game and both
17:30
those guys can do that, which which is
17:32
why you're trying to get them at bats.
17:34
But Lee particular has looked really
17:36
good. Um he's been in the mix again to
17:39
to get in there now that saw your black
17:41
is out especially against nasty
17:43
right-handers. Uh so it was just good to
17:46
see you know he's the only one that
17:47
hasn't had an at bat and for him to get
17:49
in at bat and have a good at bat was
17:51
awesome because again he's had a great
17:52
attitude. How do you keep the guys two
17:54
more? How do you keep guys on the level
17:56
after you put up 17 or whatever it was?
17:59
I mean you just remind them of what we
18:01
talk about that outcomes like I told you
18:03
guys ain't their distractions if you let
18:04
them be. Um, if you want to walk in here
18:07
and think that's going to happen again,
18:09
it's probably not. You still got to get
18:11
your sleep. You got to move on. So, we
18:13
we just tell them as soon as you take a
18:14
shower, you know, if we if we win a a
18:17
championship to go to Omaha, okay, I'll
18:19
give you maybe 24 hours before back to
18:21
work or getting on that plane to Omaha.
18:24
But, you know, this is just a game and
18:26
we've got a ton of ton of more games and
18:29
you just can't let it be a distraction.
18:31
That's my job to remind them like, hey,
18:32
like, what do you want? you know what
18:35
what do you guys want I know what you're
18:36
telling me what you want you want to win
18:37
a national championship well every game
18:39
matters like you can't give one away so
18:41
I reminded them of that it's a little
18:43
more challenging too tonight last night
18:45
the game's late the guys rush home they
18:47
they've already taken a shower they just
18:49
want to go to bed so then they have to
18:50
get up early so I remind them manage
18:51
your time wind down get your normal
18:53
sleep get in the bed and be ready to go
18:54
tomorrow kind of an interesting schedule
18:56
for you guys where you know obviously
18:58
still one more tomorrow but only one
19:00
more home series the rest of the year uh
19:02
similar not to like you not taking
19:04
advantage of making sure you take
19:06
advantage of opportunities. How
19:07
important was it to go with three
19:09
straight weekend wins here in this home
19:11
stretch? Yeah, you know, early on um the
19:14
Stanford series, you you know, you're
19:16
just you're 13 and0 looking back on
19:18
that. It's new. It's in the ACC. You
19:20
still have a new team. A lot of guys
19:22
that haven't played in the ACC. Uh
19:24
again, you know, if you could draw it
19:26
up, you would want to to have some type
19:28
of I guess struggle or I don't really
19:30
call it adversity because these guys
19:32
don't some of them may know what
19:33
adversity is, but baseball's still fun.
19:35
Um but it makes it better when you lose
19:37
some games, you have to respond. And
19:38
then we had to go on the road. We had to
19:40
go to Louisville. We had to go to
19:41
Boston. But we knew like, okay, let's
19:43
weather this storm. Guys have to learn
19:45
how to travel. Have to learn to win on
19:47
the road. And then we have three
19:48
weekends home in a row. And I don't shy
19:50
away from it. It means something. All
19:52
the games mean something, but when
19:54
you're at the Bosch, it means, hey, we
19:55
have a an advantage and use that
19:57
advantage, uh, which they've done. Um,
20:00
but we still haven't got that sweep, so
20:02
I challenge with that today. Uh, but
20:05
yeah, I mean, anytime you win series in
20:06
this league, you don't take it for
20:08
granted because it's extremely hard to
20:10
do with my P. Thank y'all. This problem
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