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Members of the Diamond Heels met with the media in Omaha on Thursday morning to preview Carolina’s appearance in the Men’s College World Series. UNC will face No. 12 Virginia in the opening game on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
Read what the players and head coach Scott Forbes had to say:
SP Jason DeCaro
image via UNC Baseball on Twitter
On how he’s staying loose before Friday’s game: I think just realizing that it’s a privilege that we get to be here and experience all this. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. [I’m] never going to forget this. So just taking it all in and just enjoying it.
On why UNC’s freshman class – himself included – has made major contributions this season: I think the great leadership that we have from the other guys played a huge role. Whether it’s on the field or off the field, they’re always there to give you advice or help you out if you need it. I think that’s been really big from day one. Having them by our side and if you have any questions, you can ask them. So that’s been huge.
1B Parks Harber
Image via UNC Baseball on Twitter
On if his college career ending this season gives him more of a sense of urgency: For me, [I’m] just really excited and grateful for four years of hard work, and I get to finish here. I think I’m just super fortunate to play my last game of college baseball in Omaha. I think this opportunity is really special. So I don’t want to put any extra pressure on myself. I just want to go out there and do the things we’ve done all season, knowing I really, really want to finish my career with a national title.
On facing conference foe Virginia in the opening game: Baseball is an interesting game where you want to prepare for the opponent, but I think it also comes down to your own team, too. If your own team handles business, then it really doesn’t matter that much about the opponent if you can do things the right way out of your side of the dugout. I think with that being said, both teams have grown a lot the last couple of months. Both teams have definitely improved, but I feel like we’re playing really, really good baseball right now.
CF Vance Honeycutt
Image via Aaron Fitt on Twitter
On if the larger dimensions of Charles Schwab Field give him an advantage as an outfielder: Yeah, I think so. A lot of balls that were hit at the Bosh this year that just barely snuck out, I think [we] ran out of room at some times. Being able to have a bigger park with a lot more room, it will give us more chance to just roam.
On his college career potentially ending in Omaha, and how that changes his approach: I don’t think it changes day-to-day. It’s the same game. Just on a bigger stage. I think just being able to really soak it in, but also understand the real reason why you’re here and just really have fun with it.
Head coach Scott Forbes
Image via UNC Athletic Communications/Joe Bray
On coming to the College World Series: Number one, I want to thank Omaha and everybody that puts this thing on. It’s a special event. It’s run so well. Our guys are already experiencing things that they’re never going to forget. On behalf of the University of North Carolina and our program, we thank everybody for that. We’re excited to be out here. Our guys have worked really hard to get to this point. We’ve had a really good two practices. The guys fought hard to get through that regional and get through that super regional. They were both tough. They earned it.
On the strong performance of the ACC this postseason: I felt like this year out of all my years being involved in the ACC – and I have been involved in them a while now – top to bottom it was the best. If you didn’t play well, you would lose. Some really good ACC teams didn’t even make the NCAA Tournament. It’s a testament to our league, a testament to how hard the coaches are working to get great players, and then those players obviously are doing the work on the field.
On if the team will be overwhelmed by the big stage: I think from the first pitch of the season, this group has played like they’ve had something to prove. These kids, they pay attention. We weren’t ranked as high as all these other ACC teams. We felt like we had a really, really good team, and we feel like the University of North Carolina baseball program has been as good as any program in the country. We’re proud of that tradition. We also wanted to make all these players that laid the groundwork proud as well. So the only thing I’ve told them is, “This is why you came to North Carolina.” That’s what I told them before we played LSU. That’s what I told them before we played West Virginia. That’s all I’ll say: “You came to North Carolina because you wanted to play in the College World Series.”
On Vance Honeycutt’s impact on the program: The kid has never taken a day off. I’ve never said a negative word to the kid. I’ve never had to say, “Hey, keep your head up.” Or if he is 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, which has happened to him, you can’t tell. He’s an unbelievable leader off the field. He’s done an unbelievable job in the classroom. I don’t like to use the word “perfect” because nobody is perfect, but he’s been an absolute pleasure to coach. And there’s a reason we’ve had the success we’ve had, and there’s a reason that this team made it to Omaha. Obviously, he stepped up and played great for us. But when he wasn’t hitting the home runs or getting the big hit, he was doing so much more for us. Obviously playing an unbelievable center field, but he is a lead-by-example guy, and that’s really helped these young guys. That gets passed down. Look at these guys that are here today that played in our program. When you have that leadership in your locker room like that, it affects you years down the road, and that’s what Vance Honeycutt [did]. He will leave more than what you guys see on the field. He’ll leave a much bigger legacy than that for sure.
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Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Joe Bray
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