Chansky’s Notebook: All Hands On Deck

Carolina’s committee was better than Oregon State’s.

If there is one thing the Tar Heels have learned from so many trips to the College World Series, it’s that baseball is a team game on this level, perhaps more than any other.

The opening win Saturday over Oregon State demonstrated in so many ways that you have to almost win by committee to survive and advance in Omaha. The Diamond Heels did that better than the Beavers to reach the winners’ bracket.

Start with starting pitcher Luca Dalatri not lasting the first inning before coming out with a hand ailment. That turned coach Mike Fox’s pitching plans upside down, and Carolina had to piece together the rest of the game, including using Cooper Criswell, who was slated to start the second game, for 2 1/3 innings.

The offensive committee was stout enough, with Ben Casparius getting three RBIs in his first game back in a month. Ike Freeman banged out three hits and Ashton McGee drove in a pair of runs against lefthander Luke Heimlich, the Beavers’ ace and the best pitcher in the Pac 12.

Carolina had 13 hits compared to Oregon State’s 11, and the Tar Heels played flawless defense while the Beavers committed three errors that led to one unearned run. A big play was shortstop Freeman snaring a line drive and turning it into a double play that preserved Carolina’s two-run lead; another was catcher Brandon Mortarano picking off a runner at first with a bullet throw.

UNC used six pitchers over nine innings, with Fox not allowing anyone to go more than the 2 1/3 by Criswell. Oregon State used four pitchers, but the first two went 6 1/3 and gave up all eight Tar Heel runs.

So now what, after battling in 100 degrees heat in the longest 9-inning game in  College World Series history? And on a day when the Tar Heels played with heavy hearts after learning before the game about the death of a former teammate.

All hands on deck once again against Mississippi State tonight at 7 in their quest to reach the championship series.

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