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Scott Forbes wasted no time in his postgame press conference following UNC’s season-ending loss to Florida State on Tuesday.
“I told the guys in the locker room: the word that came to my mind was proud,” Forbes said, “because they should be proud of what they’ve done this entire season. They’ve worked since August. They’ve stayed together. They’ve pulled hard for one another. They gave our fans so much to be passionate about, so much to look forward to. I’m proud of Carolina Baseball, where it is. But that’s a credit to our players.”
Those players helped the Diamond Heels reach the Men’s College World Series for the first time in six seasons and the first time with Forbes as head coach. Fans are hopeful it will usher in a new era of dominance for Carolina baseball, much like the six appearances in eight years under Forbes’ predecessor, Mike Fox.
Casey Cook is among the players who may have played their final games in a Carolina uniform. The draft-eligible left fielder sometimes got overshadowed by his more famous teammate in center field, but made a name for himself with a first team All-ACC campaign this season.
“If I wanted a season to end anywhere,” Cook said, “I’d want it to be in Omaha. And doing it with your best friends is even more special. We didn’t get what we wanted, but I’m happy it could be here with the guys I grew up playing with.”
But the face of this team was always one player: Vance Honeycutt. The dynamic junior from Salisbury will be headed to the Major League Baseball Draft later this summer and will likely be selected in the first round. Honeycutt made his last dance with the Diamond Heels a memorable one, hitting six postseason home runs and a walk-off single in UNC’s first game in Omaha. His rare combination of power, speed and defense has wowed Carolina fans for three seasons, and Forbes now faces the unenviable task of replacing the future pro.
“He is the definition of a leader,” Forbes said. “He has integrity, he works, he puts winning first. And he’s also just a kid, and he plays like that. He plays free and easy. I’m gonna miss not just watching him play, I’m gonna miss seeing him every single day. Man, he is something else, isn’t he? He was one of the best I’ve ever coached.”
Carolina fans welcomed the Diamond Heels back to Chapel Hill on Wednesday afternoon, a final show of appreciation for a season which saw unparalleled drama in a single tournament run.
But the caveat of that run is this: Forbes has just two short months to recruit and rebuild before UNC’s fall semester begins in August. In that tight window, he’ll have to find the next Anthony Donofrios, Shea Spragues and Alex Maderas; the next junior college or small-school transfers hungry for a chance at glory.
The ACC Coach of the Year has his work cut out for him.
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Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini
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