Tag: Matthew Matthijs

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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Two UNC baseball standouts named Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists

Not one – but two – UNC baseball stars are in consideration for the best player in college baseball.

If you follow the North Carolina Tar Heels intently on the baseball diamond, chances are you know about star center fielder Vance Honeycutt.

Not only is Honeycutt the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the year, but he’s a top-rate hitter. He currently leads UNC with 22 home runs, is second with 57 RBIs, plus he’s one of eight Diamond Heels (.333) with a .300 average.

On the pitcher’s mound, Matthew Matthijs is a name you should familiarize yourself with. Matthijs is one of the top starts in an up-and-down bullpen, as his 11 wins tie himself atop Division I with Samford’s Michael Ross.

When either Honeycutt or Matthijs plays well, typically so does North Carolina. UNC is atop the ACC with 39 wins, but a Thursday win at archrival Duke could make it one of just four 40-game winners in the country (Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M).

Honeycutt and Matthijs are being recognized for their efforts on the baseball diamond this season, as they were recently named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

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If that award sounds pretty prestigious, that’s because it is.

The Dick Howser Trophy is awarded annually to the top player in college baseball. Current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes won the award last season, while former Texas Longhorn Ivan Melendez did so the season before.

The Diamond Heels have two of the sport’s best on their roster. Can they help lead UNC to its first College World Series title?

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Diamond Heels carry first 10-game winner across college baseball

Just how good has UNC relief pitcher Matthew Matthijs been this year? Try best in college baseball.

Just one game out of first place in the ACC Coastal Division, the UNC baseball team is having a successful start to its 2024 season.

North Carolina (22-4, 7-2) is winners of its last six games, including Tuesday’s come-from behind, 10-5 stomping of North Carolina A&T. Nine regulars in UNC’s starting lineup are hitting at least .300, while the Diamond Heels sport one of the nation’s best young pitching groups.

North Carolina’s bullpen, in particular, is dominant. So dominant that UNC actually carries college baseball’s wins leader, Matthew Matthijs, on its roster.

Matthijs (10-1) just picked up his 10th win against NC A&T on Tuesday, becoming the first pitcher in college baseball to reach that mark.

Matthijs has come out of the bullpen in all 14 of his appearances, striking out 22 batters, allowing just 16 hits and six earned runs across 23 1/3 innings pitched. He has a team-leading .81 WHIP, which means he doesn’t give up lots of hits or walks.

Having a strong pitching group to rely on is super beneficial for the Diamond Heels, as that was a glaring weakness in 2023. Most of UNC’s pitchers are young, such as freshman starter Folger Boaz.

If North Carolina can keep delivering balanced games, there’s no reason to see why it shouldn’t be able to host and win a Regional in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

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