University of North Carolina Athletics
Diamond Heels Open Fall Practice Monday
September 22, 2008 | Baseball
Sept. 22, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball program opens fall team practice Monday with 22 letterwinners, including three All-America selections, back in the fold from last season's College World Series squad. With the new Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium still under construction, the Tar Heels will split fall practice between Cary's USA Baseball National Training Complex and East Chapel Hill High School.
At the conclusion of fall practice, UNC will hold its annual Fall World Series, Nov. 3-5, in Cary.
Leading the way for Carolina next spring will be juniors Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager and Alex White, who each claimed All-America honors a year ago. With this trio back in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels will have multiple returning All-Americas for the first time in program history.
Ackley, who will be limited in the fall due to offseason elbow surgery, hit .417 with seven home runs, 51 RBI, 82 runs scored and 19 stolen bases a year ago at first base. A second baseman, Seager batted .347 with nine homers, 75 RBI and a school-record 30 doubles.
Senior Garrett Gore and juniors Mike Cavasinni, Mark Fleury and Ryan Graepel also figure to be key contributors offensively for the Tar Heels.
White will anchor a pitching staff that returns all three weekend starters from last season. The 2008 ACC Pitcher of the Year, White was 13-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings a year ago.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Harvey (7-2, 2.79 ERA) and senior righty Adam Warren (9-2, 4.23 ERA) round out the returning weekend starters.
Right-handed reliever Colin Bates (6-1, 2.78 ERA in 27 games) joined Harvey as a freshman All-America a year ago, and he teams with lefty Brian Moran (1-2, 2.76 ERA in 40 games) as the Tar Heels' top returning relievers.
The Tar Heels led the nation in several pitching categories last season, including ERA and strikeouts.
The team returns many familiar faces, and another joins the coaching staff as an undergraduate assistant. Chad Flack, who set career records for hits, games played, at-bats and total bases, will be a member of the coaching staff this season while he finishes his degree in sports administration.
Additionally, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Jackson, who joined the coaching staff in July, will open his first fall with the Tar Heels.
Mike Fox, the 2008 Baseball America National Coach of the Year, is in his 11th season at his alma mater. He has guided the Tar Heels to three straight trips to Omaha and the most wins in the nation over this period.
