The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Baseball: Heavy rain Saturday keeps UNC baseball at Boshamer Stadium for 12 hours

No. 3 North Carolina's Saturday matchup with Seton Hall already had been declared a staff day for its pitchers with several relievers expected to make appearances.

In the end only four UNC hurlers wound up throwing — officially.

In the latter stages of the game's 1-hour and 26-minute rain delay Garrett Gore figured he would show coach Mike Fox what kind of gem he had hidden out in right field.

With first baseman Dustin Ackley catching and second baseman Levi Michael calling balls and strikes Gore got in a quick" on-the-field bullpen session.

""I was just messing around. I didn't really have any reason why I was doing it"" said Gore, who was critical of his performance. I think my arm was kind of hanging a bit"" and I was missing up in the zone. … I think I walked three batters.""

And what of Ackley's ability behind the (imaginary) plate?

""When his arm gets there" I think he could possibly be a good big-league catcher Gore joked. All of us just like messing around pitching and stuff. You know" ‘What if?'""

But the nearly horizontal rain did more than help anoint 2009's team jokester.

The Pirates committed five errors"" and Seton Hall center fielder Matt Smedberg let another seemingly routine fly ball drop for a Kyle Seager RBI double.

""It was hard"" UNC right fielder Ben Bunting said. I know it was tough for all outfielders on both sides tonight.

""Not only was it raining"" but the wind was swirling. And you had no idea where the ball was. You just had to rely on your teammates to tell you where it was.""

The Tar Heel outfield also got a little help fielding those towering fly balls in the third inning when Seton Hall's A.J. Rusbarsky skied a foul ball toward seats in shallow right.

With Gore charging and the rain pouring down" it looked as though it just might end up a strike. But out of nowhere came Michael flying in to slide onto the track" making the game's most memorable catch.

""That probably was my ball" Gore said. But I was running full speed and the way the wind was blowing and the rain" I really wasn't seeing it too well. It was pretty tough.""

When all was said and done"" UNC had spent more than 12 hours at ""The Bosh"" from their pregame meal at 10:30 a.m. — when the plan was for a 2 p.m. start — to the final out at 10:48 p.m.

But even with the rain imminent, neither Fox nor his players wanted to call off the Saturday affair.

It's like I told the umpires — I think they thought I was crazy — but you just don't ever know when something spectacular's going to happen on the field" Fox said. If you don't play the game" you never know.""



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.


To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.