Scott Forbes ‘Thankful to Lead’ as UNC baseball season ends

The UNC baseball team (28-27, 18-18 ACC) played its final game of the 2021 season as the Tar Heels lost to 12-2 Sunday against UCLA in the Lubbock Regional Tournament.

With a 5-4 win Friday against the Bruins, the Tar Heels looked to build momentum, but a loss to Texas Tech and another against this same UCLA team kept the team from advancing any further.

Despite a season that did not produce the desired results, there is a bigger picture to see, a silver lining, or another metaphor that represents optimism in less than ideal times.

Head Coach Scott Forbes felt appreciative of the team, and the opportunity to lead the UNC baseball team.

” I would say the biggest word is thankfulness, Forbes said. “Just being thankful to be able to lead the University of North Carolina’s baseball program, but more a group of guys that really bought in to everything that we did to be able to make this season possible.”

Forbes later said it is also about the fans and people off the diamond that made this possible despite how difficult it was this particular season.

UNC faced setbacks in the 2021 campaign, swept by NC State in late March, a five-game losing streak that included a crucial weekend series against Notre Dame in late April, and various injuries. With COVID-19 protocols, veteran pitcher Caden O’Brien missed two weeks, and the team lost Joey Lancellotti in March due to injury.

With a top-10 rated strength of schedule, UNC faced some of the top tier teams in college baseball and managed a winning record in the 2021 season.

The Tar Heels lost tough games like both games against Liberty, an extra inning loss to ECU, and against UNCG in mid May.

But the team saw an emergence of new players like Mac Horvath, who provided the team with a solid bat that produced runs in the bottom of the order. Behind the plate, Tomas Frick provided solid defense and called a great game while being a solid hitter at the plate. In his first season at UNC, graduate student Brett Centracchio was another solid hitter North Carolina plugged in near the top of the order.

Veteran players also broke out this season too— Austin Love pitched solid outings on the mound repeatedly as he compiled a 10-4 record with a 3.71 ERA and struck out 129 batters in 102 innings. Justice Thompson, a remarkable hitter at the top of the order hit .304 while providing many defensive highlights in center field. The leadoff man, Angel Zarate hit .324 with 32 RBI and a .424 on-base percentage (OBP).

Just as there were tough losses, UNC picked up crucial wins in the season as well. UNC started the season 6-0 with two wins over Virginia. The Tar Heels picked up an 8-1 win over ECU as well, and a series win over archrival Duke. A sweep of Louisville late in the season also helped UNC build momentum toward the ACC Tournament.

While the season ended, UNC can look ahead feeling confident of the young talent they posses and the coaching staff.

Coach Forbes said everyone deals with challenges, but it is  how a team responds to the challenges that is more important.

“No matter what you’re going to be dealt with some adversity, and you just have to keep plugging.”

For more on the UNC Baseball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.