Tag: Diamond Heels

Diamond Heels reward head coach with a big contract extension

Scott Forbes continued the winning tradition of UNC baseball when he took over as head coach in 2021. He’ll be in Chapel Hill for at least five more seasons.

When legendary head coach Mike Fox retired in 2020 after leading the UNC baseball program for 22 seasons, I wondered two things: Who would be the next head coach? Would North Carolina’s next head coach be able to find the same success Fox did?

When Fox retired in August 2020, the Diamond Heels tabbed longtime Fox assistant Scott Forbes as their next coach.

Since hiring Forbes, the 2024 ACC Coach of the Year, UNC has made the NCAA Tournament every season. North Carolina won the 2022 ACC Tournament and this year’s ACC Regular Season Title, plus made it back to the College World Series this summer for the first time since 2018.

For all the success Forbes has led the Diamond Heels to in just his four seasons, he was rewarded on Monday afternoon with a 5-year contract extension.

Here’s something else you may not know about Forbes: in all the legendary coaches to come through Chapel Hill, he is the ONLY one to lead UNC to NCAA Tournament appearances – in each of a head coach’s first four seasons.

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That postseason streak started in 2021, when North Carolina barely squeaked into the NCAA Tournament and finished 28-27. The Diamond Heels won the ACC Tournament in 2022 and reached the 40-win plateau, but were swept in their Super Regional by Arkansas. UNC’s 2023 postseason, sans all-time program great Vance Honeycutt was ended in the Terre Haute Regional by Iowa.

As alluded to earlier, 2024 was undoubtedly Forbes’ best year leading the Diamond Heels. An extremely talented team led by MLB Draftees Honeycutt, Casey Cook and Dalton Pence, North Carolina set off multiple fireworks in the postseason.

First, it was the walkoff against Long Island University in the Chapel Hill Regional Opener. Then, it was staving off elimination against 2023 CWS champion LSU in the ninth inning. UNC kept the momentum rolling into the Super Regional, walking off West Virginia and sweeping the Mountaineers in two games. Honeycutt delivered again in the College World Series, walking off Virginia in Game One.

The Diamond Heels will look extremely different next year, particularly in the field, but I have no doubt Forbes will get the most out of his talent.

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Former 2-way UNC baseball standout starting Game 4 of the World Series

When the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees in World Series action tonight, there’ll be a former UNC baseball standout on the mound.

There’s been a ton of baseball talent to don a North Carolina Tar Heels uniform over the years.

Some notable names you might recognize are Brian Roberts, Andrew Miller and Vance Honeycutt. There’s All-Stars dating back much further, including former head coach Mike Fox.

One of those former standouts will be repping UNC on the biggest stage of professional baseball tonight.

Ben Casparius, a former 2-way player who spent his 2018 and 2019 college baseball seasons in Chapel Hill, will start Game 4 of the World Series tonight.

Casparius has a golden chance to help his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates clinch a 4-game sweep against the New York Yankees, who are MLB’s historically most-decorated team with 27 championships.

With Casparius only appearing in three regular season games for LA, why does he start Game 4 of the Fall Classic?

If I had to guess, it’s for one reason: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wants tonight to be a bullpen game. That’s become a common practice in recent seasons, with the Tampa Bay Rays popularizing “openers” who typically pitch out of the bullpen.

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Casparius has showcased his viability as a reliable bullpen arm for the NL West Champs in limited action, recording a 2-0 record, 2.16 earned run average and 12 strikeouts across 8 1/3 innings. That success has carried over to the postseason, in which Casparius is 1-0 with four strikeouts, through 4 1/3 shutout innings.

On the mound at North Carolina, Casparius compiled a 1-0 record across 27 innings in 22 appearances, allowed just 10 runs on 21 hits, struck out 23 batters.

At the plate as a Diamond Heel, Casparius hit for a career .260 average with 35 hits, 24 RBIs and nine runs.

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Legendary UNC baseball coach Mike Fox announced as 2025 college baseball HOF inductee

Longtime UNC baseball coach Mike Fox will be honored with a College Baseball Hall of Fame induction early in 2025.

Though Scott Forbes has exceeded expectations leading the North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball program over the past four seasons, their program wouldn’t achieve the same level of success it does today without longtime head coach Mike Fox.

UNC made seven College World Series appearances under Fox, including runner-up finishes to Oregon State in 2006 and 2007. Fox won a whopping 948 games leading North Carolina – and 1,487 overall. That total is ninth-best all-time amongst college baseball coaches.

With all the success Fox experienced in his managerial career, particularly leading the Diamond Heels, it comes as no surprise that Fox will be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fox’s induction ceremony will be on Feb. 13, 2025 in Overland Park, Kan, one day before the start of college baseball season.

Fox’s career accolades also include multiple coaching awards, highlighted by being named Baseball America’s 2008 National Coach of the Year and ACC’s 2018 Coach of the Year.

If you remember UNC standouts and future MLB Draft picks Andrew Miller, Dustin Ackley, Colin Moran and Aaron Sabato, who all won numerous Player of the Year awards, Fox coached all of them.

When Fox walks across that stage, he’ll be joined by MLB and college baseball legends Mike Schmidt and Roger Clemens, Mark Texeira, Bill Thom, Jeff King, Murray Wall, Randy Ross, coaches Woody Hunt and Wilbert Ellis, plus umpire Jim Paronto.

It was truly an honor watching Fox lead the Diamond Heels for over two decades. Now, he’ll be getting the greatest post-career honor in college baseball.

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Former 2-way Diamond Heel Ben Casparius called up to Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers just made one former Diamond Heel’s childhood dreams come true on Sunday, Aug. 18.

The UNC baseball program is amongst the best in college baseball. Despite not winning a College World Series, North Carolina consistently competes atop the ACC and has players selected in the MLB Draft.

In the case of this article, we’re talking about pitcher/infielder Ben Casparius, who was a Diamond Heel in both 2018 and 2019. Casparius finished his collegiate career out at UConn, later being chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers 162nd overall (fifth round) in the 2021 MLB Draft.

After nearly three full seasons in the minor leagues, Casparius’ dreams came true on Sunday, Aug. 18, with the Dodgers calling him up to the major leagues.

Casparius was best known at UNC for his 2018 College World Series performance, when he drove in three runs during North Carolina’s 8-6 victory over Oregon State. If you’ve followed Diamond Heels baseball in the 21st century, you know a UNC victory over the Beavers is rare like snow in the south.

Casparius finished his 2018 freshman season with a 1-0 win-loss record, 1.69 earned run average, a save, nine strikeouts and just two runs – on four hits allowed – in 16 1/3 innings pitched. Casparius also hit .316 at the plate in 2018, adding 18 hits (including three doubles and a triple) and 15 RBIs.

2019 wasn’t as kind to Casparius, as he recorded a 4.41 ERA and just a .179 batting average. Casparius then thrived upon transferring back to UConn, leading the Huskies and the Big East Conference with eight wins and 127 pitching strikeouts.

Here’s to hoping Casparius, despite his brief Diamond Heels career, shines for one of baseball’s most storied franchises.

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UNC baseball standout Vance Honeycutt debuts on Baltimore Orioles’ prospect rankings

The Baltimore Orioles chose UNC baseball standout Vance Honeycutt 22nd overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Where does Honeycutt debut on Baltimore’s prospect rankings?

The North Carolina Tar Heels took advantage of their loaded baseball roster this spring, with a slew of star veterans and a top-ranked recruiting class leading them to their first College World Series appearance since 2018.

UNC’s greatest success story was star center fielder Vance Honeycutt, who exits Chapel Hill as arguably the greatest player in program history.

Honeycutt’s historic career paid off with an MLB Draft selection, as the Baltimore Orioles added him to their already-loaded farm system with the 22nd overall pick. Honeycutt later signed his first professional contract on Thursday, Aug. 1, making him an official member of Birdland.

Not even a month into being a pro baseball player, Honeycutt already finds himself on Baltimore’s top prospects list. He rings in at fourth overall, just behind Samuel Basallo, Coby Mayo and 2023 first overall pick Jackson Holliday.

Honeycutt became the first player in ACC history to hit 50 career home runs and steal 70 career bases, he won his second consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, ended his Diamond Heels career with a program-best 65 home runs and was the true definition of clutch, as evidenced by multiple walk-offs in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Honeycutt’s North Carolina career numbers also included a .293 batting average, 205 runs, 203 hits, 170 RBIs and 76 stolen bases.

As of Monday, August 5, Honeycutt was playing on the FCL (Florida Complex League) Orioles. There are no recorded stats for Honeycutt.

How long will Honeycutt play in the minor leagues before his first trip to Camden Yards?

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Vance Honeycutt officially signs with Baltimore Orioles

Vance Honeycutt interviews like a seasoned MLB veteran. Can he play like one, too?

It’s difficult to imagine anyone having a better summer than Vance Honeycutt, the former UNC baseball star who is arguably the greatest player in program history.

Way back in May and June, Honeycutt hit a pair of walk-offs to advance the Diamond Heels further in the NCAA Tournament.

Last month – on Sunday, July 14 to be exact – Honeycutt was the Baltimore Orioles’ 22nd overall (first-round) selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. He gives Baltimore yet another young power-hitting, speedy, Gold Glove-caliber outfielder in an already deep farm system.

The Orioles had until 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 1 to sign Honeycutt – and did so moments before the deadline.

“The Orioles agreed to an over-slot deal of $4 million with Honeycutt,” MLB.com staff wrote. The college outfielder sports some of the strongest tools in the class, but needs to cut down his strikeout rate.”

Honeycutt’s summer got even better after his lucrative signing, as he spoke to media in his first interview as a professional player.

Though he’s a young, 22-year-old rookie, I like to think Honeycutt interviewed like a pro. He just signed, so he hasn’t been assigned to one of Baltimore’s minor league affiliates yet, but I’d imagine he starts with the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds – like his former teammate Mac Horvath.

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Diamond Heels nab yet another Liberty baseball standout in transfer portal

UNC baseball starting catcher Luke Stevenson will have some help behind the plate in 2025.

If the 2024 college baseball offseason has told Tar Heel Nation anything, it’s that UNC appears to be a hot destination for former Liberty University coaches and players.

Back on July 11, North Carolina added former Liberty head coach Scott Jackson to its staff. Jackson, who previously was an assistant coach and the Diamond Heels’ recruiting coordinator from 2009-2016, will have those same duties again.

Shortly after Jackson announced he’d be returning to Chapel Hill, two of his former players – Kane Kepley and Cale Bolton – followed suit. Kepley, an outfielder and Bolton, a pitcher, give UNC some much-needed reinforcements after several players were chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft.

If you thought that Jackson, Kepley and Bolton were the only Flames to become Diamond Heels, think again.

North Carolina snagged some much-needed help for starting catcher Luke Stevenson on Saturday, July 27, as former Liberty starting catcher Macaddin Dye announced he’d be coming to Chapel Hill.

Dye, entering his sophomore season like Stevenson, was a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman team last year. Dye also hit .274 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs, plus he sported a strong .992 fielding percentage.

Stevenson started 63 of the Diamond Heels’ 64 games behind the plate last season. Though Stevenson continued to produce and will start a bunch in 2025, Dye gives him a nice complement and break when needed.

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Former UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath traded to Tampa Bay Rays

Mac Horvath put together quite the career at UNC. He was a second-round 2023 MLB Draft Pick, but was recently traded to a new team on Friday.

Before Vance Honeycutt became the featured star on UNC’s baseball roster, there was a promising third baseman by the name of Mac Horvath, who came from Minnesota but played his high school baseball at IMG Academy in Florida.

Horvath actually didn’t play too well in his 2021 freshman campaign, hitting just .227 with only five home runs and 22 RBIs. He started to gain some MLB Draft attention in 2023, though, leading North Carolina to an ACC Tournament Championship by improving to register a .268 batting average, 18 home runs, 53 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

Horvath saved his best season for 2023, which the Diamond Heels really needed, as he set career highs with a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 66 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. The Baltimore Orioles were impressed by Horvath’s junior campaign, taking him 53rd overall (second round) in the 2023 MLB Draft.

As the sports world today goes, though, players are constantly moving teams via free agency and trades.

Horvath was subjected to the latter on Friday, July 26, as Baltimore traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Horvath, who was hitting .232 (63-for-271) with nine home runs and 41 RBIs with the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, will now suit up for the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. He joins a team currently tied for first place in the South Atlantic League’s South Division.

If Horvath rises quickly through Tampa Bay’s farm system, which is consistently ranked amongst baseball’s best, he’ll be playing minutes from Boshamer Stadium with the Durham Bulls.

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Where is the UNC Baseball team ranked in the 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25?

Four rising sophomores have the Diamond Heels ranked pretty highly in these 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings.

It’ll be tough to forget the North Carolina Tar Heels’ run to the 2024 College World Series.

UNC compiled one of its best teams in recent memory, headlined by 5-tool center fielder Vance Honeycutt and the ACC’s top recruiting class. As the year progressed, North Carolina learned it had one of the country’s most dangerous batting orders – thank you, Casey Cook and Parks Harber – plus an exceptional bullpen led by Matthew Matthijs and Dalton Pence.

The Diamond Heels faced plenty of drama in the NCAA Tournament: almost losing the first game of their Regional, then facing elimination against LSU heading into the Regional Final. UNC also trailed West Virginia late in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, plus ACC rival Virginia late in both teams’ CWS opener, but came back to win all four contests – on walk-offs.

North Carolina lost a lot of talent from its 2024 run. Honeycutt, Cook, Pence, Anthony Donofrio, Shea Sprague and Aidan Haugh – all starters – were picked in the 2024 MLB Draft, while bullpen arm Cameron Padgett and starting first baseman Park Harber signed free agent deals.

Despite all this, UNC returns a lot of young talent from. That’s why the Diamond Heels are ranked 12th in Baseball America’s 2025 “Way Too Early” Top 25 rankings.

“UNC, this spring, won the ACC and advanced to the College World Series,” Baseball America’s Tommy Cahill wrote. “It has a solid core returning, built around Freshmen All-Americans Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson. Third baseman Gavin Gallaher is also back and getting starter Folger Boaz back to full health would be big. But UNC also has a lot to replace. Vance Honeycutt was arguably the best player in program history and must be replaced. UNC also lost All-American closer Dalton Pence, starter Shea Sprague and outfielder Casey Cook, its leading hitter.”

When an April elbow injury forced Boaz to miss the rest of his freshman season, Jason DeCaro became the pitching staff’s ace, finishing his freshman campaign with a 6-1 win-loss record, 3.81 earned run average and a team-best 78 strikeouts.

Power-hitting catcher Luke Stevenson returns a .281 batting average, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, while Gavin Gallaher – best known for his walk-off in the North Carolina-Long Island University clash during the Chapel Hill Regional – hit .314, mashed eight home runs and drove in 38 runners last season.

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Chapel Hill Regional star Gavin Gallaher highlights the joys of playing summer baseball

UNC baseball fans remember the name Gavin Gallaher well. What famous league is he playing in this summer?

Even a month removed from college baseball season, I still have flashbacks to the North Carolina Tar Heels’ memorable run.

UNC was the fourth national seed heading into the NCAA Tournament, but nearly fell into the elimination bracket of its own regional. North Carolina trailed by three runs heading into its half of the ninth inning, then walked off Long Island University on Gavin Gallaher’s grand slam.

After the season ends, it’s common to see players spending July and August playing in summer collegiate baseball leagues. There’s a variety of these leagues across the country, from the California Collegiate League to the Appalachian League.

One of the most famous collegiate summer leagues is the Cape Cod Baseball League, with all 10 teams in Massachusetts. This league typically carries the top collegiate players, including several former and current UNC standouts.

There’s one current UNC standout playing in the CCBL you might recognize from 2024 heroics – Gallaher himself.

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In 19 games with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Gallaher is hitting .226 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Believe it or not, Gallaher began his freshman season coming off the bench. That didn’t last long, as Gallaher compiled a .314 batting average, while hitting eight home runs and driving in 38 runners. He was one of six Diamond Heels to hit a minimum .300, a major reason they made their 13th College World Series in program history.

Gallaher will be one of few returning starters on North Carolina’s 2025 baseball squad.

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