Chapelboro.com’s coverage of Carolina baseball in the Men’s College World Series is proudly presented by High & Rubish Insurance Agency.
Chapelboro’s Michael Koh is in Omaha to cover UNC Baseball as it plays in the Men’s College World Series. During Michael’s stay, he’ll publish a daily series featuring his thoughts and observations from Omaha, as well as his usual coverage of the team.
Day 1: The Venice of the Midwest
Day 2: Autographs
Day 3: The Center of the Universe
Day 4: Scenes from Rocco’s
Day 5: Easy Like Sunday Morning
Day 6: Last Flags Flying
The Diamond Heels’ biggest fan couldn’t sit still during our interview.
He was crawling all over the couch in the Hilton Omaha, UNC’s team hotel during the Men’s College World Series. He took particular interest in the decorative centerpieces honoring the eight teams who have been playing here during the last week. He was also going wild with a small digital camera he brought specifically for the College World Series, snapping photos left and right before showing off his handiwork.
This was how David, 6, showed his excitement for the day’s ballgame. David and his father Josh are from Burlington, N.C., and flew into Omaha the night before. David is inseparable from his authentic UNC cap, given to him by former star pitcher Jake Knapp last year.
He’s also been inseparable from the Diamond Heels ever since Team IMPACT paired the two together in 2025. At that time, David was battling B-cell leukemia and began regularly visiting with the team. He rang the bell at UNC Hospitals in August, accompanied by some of his favorite players, and is now in remission.
“You sit and talk with these guys and watch them interact with not just him, but the other kids,” Josh says, before taking some time to find his words. “I cannot tell you how amazing these guys are.”
The end of David’s treatment hasn’t halted the special friendship. David’s favorite players are Knapp and Gold Glove second baseman Gavin Gallaher, but Josh also fondly remembers a Christmas party with Folger Boaz in which David and the lefty pitcher attempted to build gingerbread houses (the key word being “attempted” — the construction project ran into more problems than your average Interstate 40 resurfacing). David will try to emulate Folger Boaz when he begins his Little League career — not only is he a lefty, but he wants to be a pitcher once he starts playing.
David and Gavin Gallaher at Boshamer Stadium. (Image via Team IMPACT)
Josh couldn’t be happier with how the program has treated his son. He fondly remembers one particular day when David was hanging out at Boshamer Stadium, which Josh called “one of the most ordinary moments.”
“They brought us down to the dugout and several of the guys were down there,” Josh told me. “They were wrapping up and David was sitting down there on the bench that’s down there. And he had some Hot Wheels and he was just running them around. And Luke Stevenson, he came over and saw David playing and he climbed up on the bench, sat down with him and started playing.
“He just took a couple minutes and it made David happy. And that was hard to come by for a couple years.”
There’s nothing “ordinary” about why David and Josh are in Omaha. They’re here to see the Diamond Heels compete for a national championship. But even on the precipice of greatness, the team hasn’t forgotten its biggest fan. As I was waiting for the team send-off in the hotel later that morning, I wondered where David and Josh had gone off to. I soon got my answer: they both came down the escalator just ahead of the team, no doubt after David had delivered a stirring pregame speech.
Walking out of the hotel through a tunnel of blue-clad fans, the father and son practically received a guard of honor. Then they were off to the ballpark, ready to cheer on the team which has become such an important part of their lives. It would’ve been hard to imagine such a scene in 2023, when David was first diagnosed. And yet, here they are, sitting behind home plate in the College World Series finals.
But before the game could begin, David had two words to say on the Charles Schwab Field jumbotron:
“PLAY BALL!”
Click to find more Carolina baseball coverage from Chapelboro.com, onsite in Omaha! Proudly presented by High & Rubish Insurance Agency.
Featured image via Team IMPACT
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