UNC Baseball: Tar Heels Look Primed To Do Some Damage This Season On The Diamond

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As the college baseball season rapidly approaches the ratings are starting to come out from some of baseball’s top insiders. The Tar Heels are rated as the top team in the ACC in a vote by 12 of the leagues head coaches this off season. This marked the fourth time in the last six years the Heels have been given the distinction. UNC is also recognized as one of the best teams in the entire nation. The Tar Heels are expected to be a top contender to win the college world series.

Photo Credit: Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE

Closer Michael Moran was named to the stopper of the year watch list after collecting 10 saves in 32 appearances last season. Moran went 4-2 in 64 innings striking out 66. Moran became the first Tar Heel with 10 or more saves since Andrew Carignan in 2007, Carignan set the single season school mark with 18 saves that year. What made the accomplishment even more remarkable was that Moran spent only part of the year in the bullpen after making six starts to open the season. Moran was masterful over his last nine appearances he gave up just one run in 11.2 innings pitched. The right handed Moran, just a junior, looks to have a chance to become one of the all time great Tar Heel closers before he’s finished in Chapel Hill.

With the Tar Heels soccer team bringing home the title. And the basketball team as one of the top contenders, this could be a special year capped off by the baseball team in Chapel Hill. Carolina is ranked #4 in the nation in the USA Today/Coaches Poll and fell just two points behind third place Stanford. They are ranked #9 by Baseball America.

After collecting 51 victories last season and finishing with a final ranking of #5 nationally, UNC has one goal for this season. The team returns 18 lettermen players and with five college world series appearances in the last six years, expectations are at an all time high in Carolina.

North Carolina coach Mike Fox is trying to temper the expectations here’s what he had to say:

“It is a long season and we are trying to manage the ebb and flow, ups and downs as well as the good and the bad,” Fox said. “We are just excited to get started here.”

“All these polls have us rated way too high,” he continued. “I hope we will be there at the end and meet all these expectations.”

Want more Carolina baseball? We’re just getting started here at Keeping It Heel. We’ll be covering the Heels on the diamond all season long. Look for our season preview coming soon.

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