WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Rise of a program

By Bob Holliday

Jun 9, 2009

Before Mike Fox, North Carolina baseball competed for ACC Championships but rarely cracked the national rankings. Dick Baddour, in one of his first moves as Athletics Director, made the decision to hire Fox, who had won the NCAA Division III title at North Carolina Wesleyan.

"We knew we could be better than we had been in baseball," Baddour says today.

Under Fox, the North Carolina program has risen step by step through the ranks where college baseball prominence is concerned. In fact, now the Tar Heels have attained a level not seen before in the Atlantic Coast Conference, by earning four straight trips to the College World Series. At this point, the Tar Heels have not won a national title in baseball, but some think this could be the year.

"I really think it could be," says Aaron Fitt of Baseball America. "I had Carolina going all the way in my bracket heading into the tournament."

And what does the A. D. think – is this the year?

"Well, you hope so," said Baddour. "It is so hard to win the World Series. It's got to be one of the more difficult NCAA Championships."

But Baddour feels this is Carolina's best defensive team. And, of course, good pitching usually beats good hitting.

Baseball America's Fitt puts it simply: "I love their pitching. It's the strongest left in the field."

Alex White appears to have regained his best form. Fitt noted the Greenville right hander "had a better feel for his slider than he's shown all season long Saturday against ECU. He changed his grip on the pitch, and he was able to throw it for strikes. Of course, he still has an outstanding split finger, and he's a big, physical kid."

And Carolina has the incomparable Dustin Ackley. Baddour and Fitt were both still talking about the home run he hit Sunday.

"What hands," Baddour gestured. "I mean, that home run went to the opposite field."

And Fitt marveled, "He took a three-two breaking ball, hit it right on the black part of the plate and took it out of the park for a three-run homer. You just don't see that kind of hitting ability very often."

And this Carolina team gets its due, not only in the national media but at Dick Baddour's barber shop.

"I went in to get a haircut, today and the place was full of people talking about Carolina baseball. That was special," Baddour said. Then he noted, with some amazement, "They just weren't talking about Carolina baseball; they were talking about the players by name, by position. They even talked about what they did in the games this weekend!"

Baddour says the program's achievements have meant great visibility for the university and the state. "I've seen articles on our baseball program two or three times in USA Today during the past few weeks."

Now this program and the university are about to enjoy another week or two in the spotlight, as the Tar Heels head back to Omaha.