Tag: Luke Stevenson

Three UNC baseball stars make preseason history with All-America honors

The Diamond Heels have a trio of All-Americans heading into the 2025 college baseball season.

The 2024 college baseball season was a magical ride for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who continued to show why they’re one of the sport’s best.

UNC compiled a 48-16 record, won its first regular season ACC Championship since 2013 and, to one-up those achievements, reached its first College World Series in six years.

The Diamond Heels won so much because everyone stepped up. North Carolina dealt with injuries, particularly to its pitching staff, but reserves rose to the occasion.

That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a few of those UNC stars earned preseason honors.

Starting pitcher Jason DeCaro, relief pitcher Matthew Matthijs and catcher Luke Stevenson each earned D1Baseball Preseason All-America honors.

DeCaro didn’t start 2024 as the Diamond Heels’ ace, but unofficially earned that title after Folger Boaz’ injury. DeCaro ended his freshman season with a 6-1 win-loss record, 3.81 earned run average and North Carolina-best 78 strikeouts.

At one point, Matthijs led all of Division-I in wins. Matthijs blossomed to become UNC’s top middle reliever, ending his year with a team-best 12 wins. Matthijs finished fourth amongst D-I pitchers in victories, while adding 49 strikeouts and allowing just 49 hits.

Stevenson emerged as one of the top catchers in college baseball during 2024, starting all but one of the Diamond Heels’ 64 games. While Stevenson is a solid defensive catcher, he really made his impact at the dish, compiling a .284 batting average with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs.

With all North Carolina’s departures in the offseason, headlined by MLB first round draftee Vance Honeycutt, its above trio of DeCaro, Matthijs and Stevenson will be heavily counted on for 2025 success.

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UNC baseball program earns a Top-10 spot in D1Baseball’s Preseason Rankings

Do the Diamond Heels deserve their preseason ranking?

The North Carolina Tar Heels continue to sport one of college baseball’s top programs, despite never winning a College World Series title.

Headlined by future MLB first-round draft pick Vance Honeycutt and a dominant bullpen, UNC made the 2024 CWS, its first appearance since 2018. North Carolina also won its first ACC Regular Season Championship since 2013 and, despite bowing out early in the ACC Tournament, was a good threat to go deep in Omaha.

The Diamond Heels beat Virginia to open up their CWS run, then lost to eventual champion Tennessee and Florida State.

Despite all the talent UNC lost to the MLB Draft, it still has a favorable outlook entering the 2025 college baseball season, which starts in February.

In D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings, released on Monday, January 13, North Carolina found itself sixth.

The Diamond Heels are a spot ahead of Oregon State, which beat them in the 2006 and 2007 CWS Finals, plus one slot behind Alabama.

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UNC will carry a particularly younger roster this coming season, but return arguably college baseball’s best catcher in Luke Stevenson, who is also amongst the 2025 MLB Draft’s top prospects. North Carolina doesn’t have to replace anyone in its pitching rotation, plus it gets 2024 wins leader Matthew Matthijs back, so there’s some excitement to build around.

The Diamond Heels will be tested significantly during their Opening Weekend, hosting Texas Tech in a 3-game series from February 14-16. The Red Raiders made the College World Series in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019, plus they have seven NCAA Tournament appearances since 2015.

Preseason projections are just that, but UNC is primed for another big season in 2025.

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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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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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UNC baseball team makes history in latest round of All-American rankings

Standout UNC baseball freshmen Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson are brewing something special in Chapel Hill.

Even weeks after the North Carolina Tar Heels exited the College World Series against fellow ACC rival Florida State, I still think about what a special group of players Scott Forbes had the opportunity to coach.

The unquestioned superstar on the 2024 UNC baseball team was center fielder Vance Honeycutt. Not only did Honeycutt win his second-consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, or become the first 50-70 player in ACC history, but he delivered multiple clutch walkoffs during North Carolina’s postseason run.

Another major part of the Diamond Heels’ success was their freshman class, headlined by freshman ace Jason DeCaro and starting catcher Luke Stevenson.

DeCaro ended his first collegiate season with a 6-1 win-loss record, 3.81 earned run average and a team-high 78 strikeouts, while Stevenson hit .284 with 14 home runs, 58 runs batted in and recorded a team-best 511 putouts.

Not only are DeCaro and Stevenson playing with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team right now, but they were also named D1Baseball Freshman All-Americans.

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Out of 300 Division I baseball teams, it’s pretty amazing to think UNC is the only one with two First Team Freshman All-Americans.

If you thought this season was special, wait until next year. North Carolina returns most of its roster, with the notable exceptions of Honeycutt, Alberto Osuna and Alex Madera.

If Stevenson and DeCaro play like their 2024 selves next season, they’ll form one of the country’s premier batteries.

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Several Diamond Heels earn All-America Honors ahead of College World Series

How many UNC baseball players were named All-Americans on Wednesday?

There is talent sprinkled across the UNC baseball roster.

All of that talent helped North Carolina advance to it first College World Series appearance since 2018, as it looks for national title number one this season.

The Diamond Heels’ most recognizable name is Vance Honeycutt, the only player in ACC baseball history to make the 50-70 club. There’s also Casey Cook, Parks Harber, Alberto Osuna and Luke Stevenson, but those are only a few of many stars at the plate.

On the mound, UNC carries the likes of freshman ace Jason DeCaro, 12-game winner Matthew Matthijs and star closer Dalton Pence. These three are easily North Carolina’s best pitchers, but you don’t have to look far for more stars.

Speaking of talent, several Diamond Heels earned All-America honors ahead of their CWS opener on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m. ET.

Honeycutt (First Team), Pence (Second Team), DeCaro (Freshman First Team), starting catcher Luke Stevenson (Freshman First Team) and starting third baseman Gavin Gallaher (Freshman Second Team) all nabbed Perfect Game All-America Honors on Wednesday afternoon.

Honeycutt (Second Team), Matthijs (Third Team) and starting UNC first baseman Parks Harber (Second Team) all NCBWA All-America Honors.

Honeycutt leads the Diamond Heels with 26 home runs and 28 stolen bases, Stevenson has a North Carolina-high 484 putouts behind the plate, Gallaher broke into the starting lineup and is fourth on UNC with a .337 batting average, while Harber leads the Diamond Heels with a .341 average and is one of two players with 60 RBIs (Honeycutt).

Pence carries a team-high 71 strikeouts into the CWS and, among qualified pitchers, a team-best 2.04 earned run average. DeCaro’s six wins are most amongst starters (and second on North Carolina), while Matthijs’ 12 victories lead UNC and has him tied for second in Division I.

Will the Diamond Heels’ All-Americans continue their superstar-level play in Omaha?

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Luke Stevenson delivers more freshman heroics for UNC baseball in Friday night victory

Luke Stevenson is a stud behind the plate for UNC. He’s also quite the hitter – check out what he did in the Super Regionals Friday night.

Gavin Gallaher unofficially earned the nickname “Galla-HIM” after the UNC baseball team walked off Long Island University, 11-8, on Friday, May 31 to end Day 1 of the Chapel Hill Regional.

Gallaher, North Carolina’s freshman starting third baseman, blasted a walk-off grand slam in that 11-8 victory. The Diamond Heels trailed 8-5 coming into the ninth, but never quit at the plate.

Enter Luke Stevenson, another star freshman for UNC. Stevenson, a former Top-10 high school prospect who now starts behind the dish for North Carolina, could’ve easily chosen to enter his name in the 2023 MLB Draft.

As a result of Stevenson opting for college ball in Chapel Hill, the Diamond Heels are one victory away from their first College World Series trip in six years, beating West Virginia 8-6 on Friday night.

On the first pitch during the home half of the ninth inning, during Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional between UNC and West Virginia, Stevenson tied the game at six with a clutch home run – just over the center field fence.

Friday’s blast also snapped a cold streak for Stevenson, who entered the game 2-for-13 in the NCAA Tournament.

Four batters after Stevenson tied the game, Vance Honeycutt won it with a moonshot, walk-off home run over the left field netting.

How will Stevenson follow up his clutch antics in a potential series-clincher Saturday night?

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UNC baseball’s offense amongst best in the country

Can any college baseball team stop the North Carolina Tar Heels?

Just a week out from postseason play, the North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball team is exactly where it wants to be.

UNC is atop the ACC with a 39-11 (20-7) mark. North Carolina has won its past six games – three mid-week victories and a sweep of Louisville – and begins its final regular-season series with Duke on Thursday night.

The Diamond Heels‘ pitching staff is performing adequately, but their offense is the reason behind an outstanding regular season. Eight players, led by Gavin Gallagher (.367) are hitting at least .300. Five players, anchored by star center fielder Vance Honeycutt (22), sport double-digit home run totals.

Thanks to their starting lineup, UNC is ranked Top-25 nationally in nine different categories.

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North Carolina is stringing together strong performances at the plate due to its balanced roster, which includes a slew of returners and several talented freshmen, such as starting catcher Luke Stevenson. Casey Cook (66) is the lone Diamond Heels with 60 RBI, but Honeycutt, Parks Harber and Stevenson all have 50 RBIs.

UNC is no stranger to close losses, but when it wins, it wins BIG. North Carolina already has 24 games in which it scored double-digit runs, including a season-high 20 against Wagner College on Feb. 18.

Pitching is only going to get tougher in the postseason. Can the Diamond Heels continue to hit this hot?

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UNC baseball’s star freshman catcher records first career 4-hit game

Luke Stevenson’s 4-hit performance isn’t talked about enough in UNC’s 16-10 Tuesday win over Campbell.

Despite a little scare from Campbell University on Tuesday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels came back to down the Camels, 16-10.

Virtually every position player found ways to produce for UNC (36-11, 17-7), whether it came from home runs, RBIs, runs scored or simply just base hits. Six different Diamond Heels drove in multiple runs, led by three apiece from right fielder Anthony Donofrio and shortstop Colby Wilkerson.

An underrated story of the night for North Carolina was freshman catcher Luke Stevenson, who’s started in 46/47 games.

Stevenson led UNC with four hits in five plate appearances, his first career 4-hit outing at the collegiate level.

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All four Stevenson hits helped the Diamond Heels compete on Tuesday night, but his most important one came in the sixth inning.

With North Carolina winning just 11-10, Stevenson singled through the right side of the infield to score Donofrio. Stevenson’s RBI was part of a 6-run inning in which UNC turned a 9-9 tie into a 15-9 advantage.

Stevenson increased his overall batting average to .285 with Tuesday’s offensive burst, part of a Diamond Heels squad that ranks 24th in the nation at .310.

Next up for Stevenson and his North Carolina teammates is their final home series of the regular season, with the Louisville Cardinals coming to town. Louisville (29-19, 13-11), which lost on Tuesday at #25 Vanderbilt, has won four of its past five games.

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Freshman fever? Diamond Heels carry D1Baseball’s third-ranked Freshman class.

It’s tough replacing players who’ve been mainstays on your team. Luckily for the UNC baseball, it has a highly-ranked Freshman class.

I can practically smell the popcorn at Boshamer Stadium.

Less than a month from today (Thursday, Jan. 18), the UNC baseball team kicks off its season against Wagner College. As is commonly seen across college baseball, a cold-weather team in Wagner (Staten Island, NY) travels south to open its season.

Expectations are high in Chapel Hill, in large part due to reigning ACC Defensive Player Vance Honeycutt, who is also a projected Top-10 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Carolina replaces the production of 2023 MLB Draftee Mac Horvath, its former star third baseman, with University of Georgia transfer Parks Harber.

UNC also sports 15 freshmen on its incoming roster, including in-state catcher Luke Stevenson, a highly-touted recruit who generated some MLB Draft buzz himself.

D1Baseball ranked the Tar Heels’ freshman class third in the entire country, behind top-ranked Arkansas and UCLA.

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Most of Carolina’s freshman come in the pitching department, which has been up-and-down over the past several years. UNC’s had a pitcher drafted in each of the past three seasons, but no one who was considered a clear-cut ace.

Stevenson should lead the incoming freshman class on the field this season, as he’s just one of two catchers listed on the roster (Parker Haskin).

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