University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: More Than Omaha
February 13, 2019 | Baseball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
This time last year, before the start of the North Carolina baseball team's 2018 campaign, Omaha was a destination that Austin Bergner had long heard stories about but had never been before.
He was far from alone, though.
Not a single player on UNC's roster had reached the College World Series. Only Mike Fox, Scott Forbes, Jesse Wierzbicki and Robert Woodard, as well as a few support staff members, previously had. And although each of the coaches could cite specific examples of what's required to make it to Omaha – and also win there – experience serves as the best teacher.
That's at least what the Tar Heels are hoping for in 2019 after returning to college baseball's grandest stage last season for the first time in five years.
"I think that's something that makes us a little more prepared for this year than we were last year," Bergner said. "Last year, Omaha was kind of a dream and an idea. We didn't realize what it really took to get there because none of us on that team had actually been there.Â
"So having a bunch of guys who were there last year and realize what it takes individually from each player, to know their role and play that role, (will be) a huge part of our success if that's going to happen this year."
Of the 35 players on this year's roster, 19 lettered last season. Sixteen played in at least one NCAA Tournament game. And 13 saw the field in the College World Series, the seventh Carolina has appeared in under Fox.
No team that Fox has led to Omaha shared more similarities with last season's than the first squad in 2006. Before then, UNC hadn't reached the College World Series since 1989. But behind the likes of Chad Flack, Andrew Miller and Woodard, the Tar Heels made their much-anticipated return to the city on the Nebraska-Iowa border.
The lessons taken from that initial voyage served as Carolina's foundation for the next seven years, during which it went back to Omaha five times. The importance of having that experience was then further magnified as UNC lost in the regional round in 2014 and 2017 and missed the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and 2016.
But the Tar Heels finally broke through again in 2018. And if history is any indication, they should find it easier to return to the College World Series this season, which begins with Friday's 3 p.m. tilt against Xavier at Boshamer Stadium.
"I think it changes everything because we can tell them (what it takes to get to Omaha), but it's not the same as them experiencing it themselves," Fox said. "Last year's team I think just had such a resolve about it where I think 2017 helped 2018. So I'm hoping 2018 will do the same thing … and help us in 2019."
In some ways, it already has.
After the departures of J.B. Bukauskas, Brian Miller and Logan Warmoth, among others, following the 2017 season, Bergner said it took some time for Carolina to mesh last season. Its 7-7 start could be considered evidence of that.
But although UNC is without four positional starters and as many key pitchers from last season's squad and has added 16 new players, Bergner said the team started developing chemistry early in the fall. That's continued into the spring. And it's been largely because the newcomers have strived to live up to the standard set last season.Â
"I just think the new guys coming in this year," Bergner said, "knowing we were in Omaha last year and having more of a precedent, showed up and realized, 'OK, there are going to be expectations from these upperclassmen. We're going to have to lock it in as soon as we show up and match that kind of vibe.' I feel like that has brought us a lot closer."
That's a positive first step. But the Tar Heels know several others will have to be taken in order for them to return to the College World Series and build off last year's finish.
Carolina's returning players remember exactly how they felt after the 2018 season ended with an 11-6 loss against eventual national champion Oregon State. Many of them have thought about what happened in Omaha every week, if not every day. It's driven them all offseason.
Last season, the Tar Heels wanted to make it to Omaha to see what it was like, to see if the stories were true. This season, they want to make it to Omaha because they already know what it's like. And they want more.
"We are excited to get to Omaha, but I think we're more excited to kind of compete for a national championship, if that's what this season entails for us," Michael Busch said. "Just that experience of being there I think helps this team a lot because we went to Omaha and we want something better than that, not only for us, but just for this program."
