Tuesday was a great day for the UNC baseball team, as a walk-off home run from Dylan Enwiller gave the Tar Heels a 4-3 win over UNC-Wilmington.
It was also a special day for Chut Techalertavorkul, a UNC fan from Thailand who made the journey to Chapel Hill to watch the Tar Heels’ baseball team win a thriller over the Seahawks.
The story went viral on Tuesday afternoon when a user on Inside Carolina’s message board posted about Chut’s love for the Tar Heels, which stemmed from his first trip to see the baseball team play in the NCAA Regionals in Greensboro.
“I flew Chut to RDU and we stayed in Chapel Hill, driving to Greensboro twice for the regionals,” user KCUNCFAN wrote. “Now, Thailand has no intercollegiate athletics, so he was not prepared for what he saw. He fell in head over HEELS in love with UNC. AND as a bonus, he got to see Lehigh knock Duke out in the first round. (He still talks about that.)”
After Chut returned to Thailand, he continued to listen to UNC athletics through online streaming. KCUNCFAN shared that when Chut got married to his wife, Pong, the color at their wedding was Carolina blue.
Upon learning he would be traveling back to Chapel Hill, Chut was asked to throw out the first pitch at UNC’s game versus UNC-Wilmington.
The only problem? Chut had not thrown a baseball in his life.
“He went to every store in Bangkok that might possibly have a baseball, but no luck,” KCUNCFAN wrote. “Finally, a friend went to Japan on vacation, and brought back a ball for him. He and his wife went to the park to practice. Of course, they have no baseball glove, so Pong took along her oven mitt!
“They carefully measured off 60 feet, six inches, but when Chut finally started getting the ball to her, she realized she was going to break her hand. Chut went on line on something like Craig’s List and found where some westerner had listed a used ball glove that he snapped up. They have been practicing since then.”
Upon arriving at Boshamer Stadium, Chut was greeted by coach Mike Fox and received new UNC baseball gear before throwing out the first pitch to Michael Busch.
For those following the story, our guy Chut is here for the first pitch! He’s been watching YouTube to get ready for his first pitch. And that jacket 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/glHkNcswzv
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) February 26, 2019
Here’s the first pitch from Chut Techalertavorkul, the @DiamondHeels Club member from Thailand who came all the way to Chapel Hill for today’s baseball game and tonight’s men’s basketball game. Catching the pitch was Michael Busch, Chut’s favorite player. pic.twitter.com/WxeqNANCji
— Pat James (@patjames24) February 26, 2019
It was a great day to be in Chapel Hill, as Enwiller’s walk-off home run kept the baseball team undefeated and Coby White’s 34 points helped the basketball team hold off Syracuse in the Dean Smith Center.
Travel from Thailand to Chapel Hill ✅
Throw First Pitch ✅
See Heels hit Walk Off HR ✅
Head to Dean Dome to watch @UNC_Basketball ✅
Have a day, Chut! pic.twitter.com/zYsXZnUMfr
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) February 26, 2019
Featured image via @DiamondHeels
Oven mitt. I love that part.