Baseball has again returned to Chapel Hill after a hiatus during the final exam period.
What was Coach Fox doing in his break away from leading his Diamond Heels? He says he enjoyed visiting with former Tar Heel standout Michael Morin up in New York City. Morin was getting set to make his Major League Baseball debut for the Los Angeles Angels.
“This is our second trip up there to see a Tar Heel in Yankee Stadium. It was a lot of fun, a great trip,” Coach Fox says.
Coach Fox says his favorite part about seeing his former players succeed at the next level is watching them reunite with their families after their big debuts.
“That’s an indescribable feeling. You know they’ve had a hand in that, watched them grow up and taken them to numerous ball fields all over the place. It’s a feeling and a scene that I can’t even describe. If I do, it’s very emotional,” Coach Fox says.
Junior pitcher Benton Moss is wildly successful on and off the baseball field. Moss was once again named to the Academic All-District Team. Coach Fox says he continues to be impressed by the way Moss conducts himself in all facets of his life.
“He’s at another level in many respects and certainly academically. He’s just so well accomplished. He takes unbelievable pride in his schoolwork,” Coach Fox says.
Focusing back on the field of play, Coach Fox says shortstop Michael Russell, who has been fighting some back issues, will be back in the lineup this week, but he’s unsure of how effective the junior will be.
“He’s taking it easy and trying to let the rest help him. He’ll be back in the lineup, but I don’t know that he’s going to be 100 percent,” Coach Fox says.
Another piece of injury news for the Tar Heels comes from Wood Myers. The freshman had been swinging the bat cleanly this season, but went down with a broken hand in the Virginia Tech series. Coach Fox says he doesn’t expect Myers to be back before postseason play.
“Right now, he’s not scheduled to go back to the doctor for two more weeks. It looks like he’s going to be out for sure through the regular season, which is obviously very disappointing,” Coach Fox says.
Currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble by many prognosticators, not much time remains for the Tar Heels to garner quality wins and solidify their place in postseason play. Coach Fox says it feels like the season’s gone by in a flash.
“We’re walking around in shorts and t-shirts now in practice. We’ve practiced in pants, thermals and sweatshirts all year. When we get the opportunity to be in shorts, we’re going to. That doesn’t seem like it’s all that long ago. The season does fly by,” Coach Fox says.
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