UNC baseball builds chemistry in Fall World Series

As the fall season begins and baseball teams across the country begin intrasquad competition, teams are pitted against themselves in an attempt to enhance talent and evaluate performance. For many programs, this can cause animosity among players who are battling against one another and vying for playing time.

But in the case of the North Carolina baseball team, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

As the Blue team opened up UNC's Fall World Series this weekend at Boshamer Stadium with 7-3, 9-2 and 7-1 victories over Navy, there was no apparent rift between the two squads. 

“The chemistry is the best it has been in three years,” said junior center fielder Skye Bolt. “I don’t think there is any separation between the pitching staff and the position players. Everybody sort of hangs out with everybody.”

Even the incoming freshmen have found themselves a part of the collective unit.

“I think we’ve developed a good bond,” said freshman pitcher Jackson Bellenkes. “We’re just getting along and we’re having fun playing baseball, so it’s been great.”

Team cohesion is a focal point for the coaches, but natural camaraderie must be born from within.

“A lot of that is out my control, how the guys get along,” Coach Mike Fox said. “We preach that, but there’s only so much I can do. The rest of that they do themselves.”

Despite most of the responsibility falling on the players, the coaching staff has devised their own clever methods, as well. 

The system tracks how many miles a player must run based on a multitude of factors. Fox has set aside a specific day at the end of the offseason for when the number of miles each athlete will run is finalized. 

“The losing team of the Fall World Series starts at 10 miles, and the winning team starts at five miles,” said freshman pitcher Hansen Butler. “That difference between that beginning five and 10 miles is a big deal.”

Players can add or subtract miles from their total count through individual performances, as well. 

“As a pitcher, if you get less hits than innings pitched, it’s minus one mile. Everything you do on the field can help you as well,” Fox said. “I put (the chart) up about once a week, so they get to track where they are. Constant reminder.”

The performance-based rewards extend beyond the field, promoting competitive spirit in every team setting.

“Everything we do from here on out is competitive,” Fox said. “We could go have a fun day and play paintball, for example, and the winning team gets minus (miles). We take the whole team fishing, whoever catches the most fish gets negative miles. We go swimming, who treads water the longest — it’s all a big huge game.”

Notable fashion statements can also determine a player’s running tally. Fox said the players can even gain or lose miles based on their Halloween costumes.

In addition to encouraging competition amongst the players, the system also incentivizes good teamwork.

“If you have negative miles, you can give them to a teammate,” Fox said. “And you can give them anonymously. That means you want to be a good teammate.”

Ultimately, the mile-running program is implemented with the intention to strengthen team chemistry. 

Whether a result of the system or internal motivations, the team is fueled by a fire of competition that was lacking last season.

“I think we’ve recaptured that identity where there is a competitive spirit within the team itself,” Bolt said.

Despite the team’s desire for success, competition isn’t to be mistaken with contention.

“There has been a lot of competition against each other,” Butler said, “but at the end of it we all are one team.”

sports@dailytarheel.com