Less than two weeks until the start of college baseball season, I still reminisce about UNC’s dream run to the 2024 College World Series.
Sporting a deep, experienced lineup that included the likes of MLB Draftees Vance Honeycutt and Dalton Pence, North Carolina showcased one of its best teams in recent memory.
The Diamond Heels won their first regular season ACC Championship since 2013, walked off LIU and came back to end 2023 CWS champion LSU‘s season in the Chapel Hill Regional, then walked off West Virginia and won a close 2-1 battle to make the CWS. Upon making it to Omaha, Honeycutt delivered another clutch walk-off of his own – in UNC’s CWS opener against ACC rival Virginia.
Despite crashing out in consecutive games against eventual champion Tennessee and another fellow ACC rival, Florida State, North Carolina is poised to continue making noise in 2025 – even with a younger team.
In what is expected to be another deep ACC this season, the Diamond Heels were picked to finish third in the ACC Baseball Preseason Poll.
UNC gets to put its preseason ranking to the test on Friday, February 14 with a 4 p.m. first pitch against Texas Tech, which missed last year’s NCAA Tournament, for the first time since 2015.
The strength of UNC’s 2025 roster will undoubtedly be pitching, headlined by the return of sophomore starting pitchers Jason DeCaro and Folger Boaz. North Carolina also returns pitcher Jake Knapp, who missed all of 2024 with a UCL tear.
Offensively and in the field, the Diamond Heels are led by catcher Luke Stevenson, who earned some offseason MLB Draft attention. UNC also reinforced its outfield, which needs replacements at all three positions, with the addition of Liberty transfer Kane Kepley.
Are you as excited for college baseball season as we are?
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