University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Juniors Provide Leadership For Baseball Team
October 16, 2001 | Baseball
Oct. 16, 2001
By Jeremy Hoffman
UNC Athletic Communications
As the fall baseball season comes to an end with the annual Fall World Series, it is apparent that this year's UNC baseball team closely resembles the team from two years ago. The 2000 Tar Heels, a team which won 21 games in a row to begin the season, advanced to the NCAA Regionals before ending its season with a record of 46-17. This team was successful because of strong leadership from its older players and also major contributions from a talented group of freshmen. Now two years later, those talented freshmen have become experienced juniors who find themselves in the position of leaders on another young Carolina baseball team.
Six of the juniors on this season's roster have been at Carolina since the beginning, when they came in as head coach Mike Fox's first recruiting class. "We've asked them to do a lot of things, and they've responded. They're all really great kids and obviously a special group to me because they are my first class," Fox says. These players who will be vital to the success of this year's team include infielders Russ Adams and Chad Prosser, outfielders Adam Greenberg and Sean Farrell, and pitchers Scott Autrey and Jason King. There were high expectations for each player coming into Carolina, and they have not disappointed.
A big part of the development of these players as freshmen was the fact that the 2000 team had many experienced upper classmen, nine of whom are now playing professional baseball. "It's real helpful to have guys that are going to go to the next level. As a freshman, you're going to look up to the older guys. You just watch everything they do," says King, a pitcher from Charlotte, N.C. who was named the Mecklenburg County and Charlotte Observer Player of the Year as a high school senior.
Prosser, who led last year's team with a .357 batting average, feels that the older players helped the younger ones make the transition from high school to college baseball. "I think for the most part, they taught us how to come out here every day, get after it and work hard," Prosser says. "They were the leaders on that team, so they taught us how we need to step it up and be leaders after they left."
After two years together now, these players probably know each other as well as anyone does. Greenberg, who led the Tar Heels in six offensive categories in 2000 and was named ACC Rookie of the Year, understands the importance of teamwork in the game of baseball.
"We work hard together and have really grown over these past two years," Greenberg says "We've seen ups and downs and have just grown as a unit and as a class. Working together is what's going to get us through and lead this team."
ut Autrey, a starting pitcher who recorded seven wins without a loss as a freshman, appreciates the lighter side of the game. "I think what we've learned the most is just how to come out here and have fun everyday," he says. "As juniors, we've bonded very well. I think we're all probably the closest of friends on and off the field, so that has made it real easy."
A lot of positive things have come out of the fall, which has both coaches and players looking forward to the regular season. Carolina has a solid team which looks to be a contender in the ACC this year right along with perennial powerhouses like Florida State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Clemson.
"I like what I've seen this fall. It's important we get off to a good start in the ACC. I think we'll be right in the mix, I really do," says Fox.
In order for the Tar Heels to win games this season though, everyone needs to play well and work as a team. Carolina has a tough schedule ahead of them this season, with games against teams like UC Berkley, Auburn and Miami in addition to the fierce competition of ACC play. The younger players will benefit from playing with the upperclassmen on the team, especially the group of talented juniors.
Adams, a first-team All-ACC selection last season and named the most outstanding professional prospect in the Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer, is comfortable being a leader on this team, but knows that every player has responsibilities. "I think that is a role that most of us are looked up to for, but we've got a lot of younger guys who are going to have to step up as well," he says. "I'm just excited about how things have worked out in the fall and I'm ready to get it going in the spring."
Standards are always set high for UNC athletic teams, and baseball is no exception. Farrell was twice named ACC Player of the Week as a freshman and is proud to wear Carolina Blue.
"With the talent we have this year, we're looking forward to having a really good season and not coming up short this time," Farrell says. "Our goals are to be at the top of our game, be ranked high in the nation and make it into the College World Series which would give this program the national respect it deserves."
ecause each of these outstanding players is draft eligible after the season, this will probably be the last year in which they all play together. Many years may pass before the Tar Heels have a class of players as talented and respected as this one. And nothing would be more satisfying for these six juniors than to end their careers at Carolina together on top of the college baseball world.
