Everything seemed to be breaking the Diamond Heels’ way, and yet the program’s familiar NCAA Tournament demons came calling once again.
In the wake of a shocking 4-3 loss to Arizona in Game 3 of the NCAA Super Regionals Sunday at Boshamer Stadium, head coach Scott Forbes was left with a shaky voice and teary eyes.
“I have written on my game card a Bible verse that I look at all the time, so I’m gonna revert to that,” Forbes said. “It just says, ‘Be thankful in all circumstances,’ which can be extremely difficult to do. But that’s what I’m gonna hold on to and cling to, because that’s a really special group in there. And to see them hurting is the reason for the tears.”
It was hard not to put the metaphorical cart before the horse and see this year as a golden opportunity for UNC to win that elusive first national title in baseball. Chaos in other portions of the bracket had eliminated No. 1 seed Vanderbilt, No. 2 Texas and No. 4 Auburn. UNC was the second-highest seed remaining in the field entering Sunday’s game, and the highest on its side of the bracket.
Carolina’s other accomplishments this season, like the ACC Tournament title in Durham and hosting more postseason baseball at Boshamer, will serve as little consolation to the bitter taste of Sunday’s loss. Yet Forbes refused to call the season – one which many writers predicted would end, one way or the other, in Omaha – a failure.
“I’m extremely heartbroken for them,” he said. “Selfishly heartbroken, because I don’t get to put this uniform on with them again and take them to the College World Series. But they have so much to be proud of. We define success as a team as doing the best you can do with what you have, and every single one of those guys has done that.”
The loss does bring a sudden end to the college careers of several key Diamond Heel players, including Jackson Van De Brake, Hunter Stokely, Jake Knapp and Alex Madera. Madera was the only player to join Forbes on the dais following Sunday’s loss. The veteran shortstop, like his coach, found words hard to come by.
“I haven’t had many conversations yet [with my teammates],” Madera said. “I’m trying not to, honestly. It’s obviously sad. You don’t know if that’s your last game playing baseball, ever. There are a lot of emotions.”
The offseason will also see the likely departure of star catcher Luke Stevenson, a draft-eligible sophomore who is a projected first-round pick in this summer’s Major League Baseball draft. A year after Forbes had to replace his entire outfield, another rebuilding project beckons.
It’s understandable, then, that in the wake of Sunday’s loss, Forbes preferred to look backward than forward.
“You hope you’re surrounded by kids that you love being around every single day,” he said. “And with this group, there wasn’t a day I wasn’t smiling and having a blast. And that was because of them.”
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini
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