University of North Carolina Athletics
Omaha Reading List June 9
June 9, 2009 | Baseball
June 9, 2009
By Adam Lucas
Today might be the most absurd day of the college baseball season. On the one hand, you've got eight teams thrilled to be making plans for Omaha. On the other hand, many of the players that enabled their teams to reach the College World Series have the major league draft to think about tonight. That's especially true in Chapel Hill, where Dustin Ackley is projected as the number-two pick overall. He'll focus on the draft tonight and then turn his attention to Omaha. As always, baseball draft picks are driven more by money than talent. He is rated "unquestionably the best bat available" but there is still speculation in Seattle that the Mariners could be scared off by his pricetag.
The other current Tar Heel who will go in the first round is pitcher Alex White, who helped himself with a strong super-regional start. The Braves (#7) will be a pivotal pick for White. They may draft local, but if Zack Wheeler isn't available, Atlanta could take White. The Tar Heel righty is also being mentioned with the Reds and the Rockies. One Denver-area story compared White to former Georgia Tech star and current Reds starter Micah Owings.
The draft will also play a role in Tempe, where UNC's first CWS opponent, Arizona State, also has talented players who will be picked early. The best is pitcher Mike Leake, the pitcher the Tar Heels will likely face Sunday. It's hard not to be impressed with Leake after reading this profile. He's one of several Sun Devils who will be chosen. On the field, there are high expectations for ASU. One columnist thinks this might be the best pitching staff Pat Murphy has ever taken to Omaha.
Speaking of Omaha, there are a couple business notes from the site of the College World Series. If you're planning on heading out there without tickets, there's a new avenue to secure tickets this season. The CWS has joined the booming secondary ticket market. And if you've never made the journey to Rosenblatt Stadium, you better do it this year or next year. The city officially announced naming rights to the new home of the CWS, as in 2011 a new downtown stadium will be known as TD Ameritrade Park. Doesn't quite have the same ring as, "The 'Blatt," does it?
By the way, Fullerton isn't in Carolina's bracket in Omaha, but there is a Tar Heel connection--and a nice story--with the Titans. Former Fullerton catcher Jon Wilhite was riding with former UNC signee Nick Adenhart when their vehicle was struck by an alleged drunk driver. Adenhart was killed and Wilhite was seriously injured. But Wilhite's recovery has gone well enough that he was able to watch the Titans clinch their CWS slot, which provided a major emotional boost. That sounds like a story you'll hear more about on ESPN in the coming days.
Check back each morning leading up to and during the College World Series for all the day's best links.
