Tag: Johnny Castagnozzi

Diamond Heels announce rosters for Fall World Series

The UNC baseball squad, typically among the ACC’s best, just announced teams for its annual, Blue-Navy Fall World Series.

We’re still just under four months away from the start of college baseball season, but the excitement in Boshamer Stadium is already building.

The UNC baseball team, whose season ended at the hands of Iowa in the Terre Haute Regional earlier this year, is concluding its fall practice schedule later this week with an annual favorite – the Blue-Navy Fall World Series.

Team Blue, captained by starting infielder Johnny Castagnozzi and star pitcher Dalton Pence, will also include the likes of outfielder Casey Cook and power-hitting designated Alberto Osuna.

Team Navy, captained by starting first baseman Hunter Stokely, starting shortstop Colby Wilkerson and starting outfielder Patrick Alvarez, include the two Diamond Heels fans are likely itching to see the most – UGA transfer Parks Harber and projected 2024 MLB Draft first-round pick Vance Honeycutt.

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This best-of-three series should get Carolina baseball fans excited. Not only will they get a sneak peek at what should be one of the ACC’s top teams, but the weather is going to be gorgeous.

The temperature is projected to be 75 degrees at first pitch on Wednesday afternoon, 77 on Friday afternoon and a high of 82 on Saturday. Oh – it’s also going to be bright, sunny and FREE for all attendees.

While this is the only World Series that runs through Chapel Hill this fall, Carolina will have its sights set on the College World Series this coming Spring.

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Grand slam powers Diamond Heels past Notre Dame

The Diamond Heels steal game one of the three-game series thanks to a Johnny Castagnozzi grand slam.

The Diamond Heels traveled to South Bend to take on Notre Dame, and It ended in fireworks as junior in-fielder [autotag]Johnny Castagnozzi[/autotag] hit a grand slam in the ninth inning, leading to a comeback victory for UNC.

UNC took game one of the three-game series but it came with its sweats. Notre dame was in complete control before Castagnozzi knocked it out of the park, leading 8-4 heading into the ninth inning.

Colby Wilkerson got things going first for UNC in the inning with a 395-foot shot to bring UNC within three. Jackson Van De Brak helped the comeback efforts a few bats later with an RBI single.

The Tar Heels were within two with bases loaded when Castagnozzi approached the plate. Dramatically, Castagnozzi had three balls and two strikes on him before the in-fielder cracked the ball out to the scoreboard for a grand slam and eventual UNC victory.

Despite a dreadful pitching performance, the Diamond Heels stole game one, 10-8. North Carolina will be back on Saturday against Notre Dame for game two.

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Diamond Heels survive Georgia, will face VCU

The UNC Baseball program has kept its season alive with an elimination game win over Georgia on Sunday.

The Diamond Heels are still alive but there is work to be done.

UNC won their first game of the day on Sunday in the Chapel Hill Regional, outlasting a late run by Georgia to win 6-5. The win moves UNC into another “win or go home” game for the program on Sunday night against VCU, a team that beat them on Saturday night.

The Tar Heels got on the board early in this one, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning when [autotag]Johnny Castagnozzi[/autotag] had a two-out RBI single. UNC added three more runs in the third inning as Mikey Madej hit a two-run single with two outs. That was followed by a wild pitch that scored another run to give UNC a 4-1 lead.

Georgia added a run in the bottom half of the inning.

The Tar Heels and Bulldogs would each plate a run in the sixth inning and UNC’s seventh-inning run would be the deciding factor. Georgia scored three in the bottom of the ninth on a three-run home run with one out to make things very interesting.

And then [autotag]Vance Honeycutt[/autotag] saved the day.

The freshman outfielder robbed Georgia of a game-tying solo home run in the ninth, recording the second out of the inning. The play may have just saved UNC’s season:

The Tar Heels will now take on VCU at 6:06 p.m.  A win forces an elimination game on Monday night, while a loss ends the Tar Heels season.

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Eighth inning helps propel Diamond Heels past Notre Dame

The Diamond Heels run continues as they take down Notre Dame to advance to the Atlantic Coastal Conference Championship.

The No. 8 UNC baseball program used a three-run eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and eventually beat No. 8 Notre Dame 7-2 on Saturday, punching their tickets to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Sunday.

The Tar Heels bats cooled off a bit early after back-to-back blow out performances in the first two games of the tournament. UNC did match the Irish fight with solid fielding as both teams struggled to find their swing with a sluggish start.

UNC got on the board first in the top of the second inning with Mikey Madej reaching home plate off a fielder choice. Notre Dame tied it up in the third with Jack Branning blasting a 419-foot home run to left field.

In the fifth inning, Notre Dame’s Carter Putz hit a homer of his own to give Notre Dame the 2-1 lead. But UNC responded quickly.

In the sixth inning, the Tar Heels got an RBI double from [autotag]Hunter Stokely[/autotag] that brought Madej home to even up the score. After a shutout inning in the seventh for both teams, UNC used the eighth inning to punch their ticket.

The Tar Heels got three runs in the eighth, all with two outs, to grab the lead 5-2. Mac Horvath had the go-ahead RBI with a single and then Danny Serretti hit a two-run double toadd to the lead.

They then pitched a scoreless bottom half before adding two more insurance runs in the ninth when [autotag]Johnny Castagnozzi[/autotag] got a two-RBI single to drop, giving the UNC a 7-2 lead.

UNC will take on the winner of No.10 NC State vs. No.11 Pitt in the ACC Championship game. The Diamond Heels beat NC State in a series earlier this month 2-1 and swept the series against Pitt in early March.

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