TECHNICIAN JU NE 30, 2021
VOL . 102 | NO. 1
THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPS 2021 PACK BASEBALL
Contents
2 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION page
04
06
LINEUP
07
1B CF LF DH SS C RF 3B 2B
“I love this team and this past month, many people that got to watch them, fell in love with them as well. Although we’re all heartbroken, this team will never be forgotten and will live in the hearts of Wolfpack and baseball fans forever.”
- ELLIOTT AVENT
Tresh walks Pack off against ranked FSU
“I am very proud to be a NC State Alum. Thank you @NCStateBaseball for taking us on the ride. Anything I say within this tweet will not do justice to these kids that worked their tails off to get where they’re at.”
REGULAR SEASON
page
BATTING ORDER
Reacting to the end of a great NC State baseball season
Return of the Pack
END OF SEASON
page
2021
STATEMENTS:
- CARLOS RODON
Reid Johnston’s stellar start propels NC State baseball into ACC Championship semifinals
STARTING PITCHERS RHP Junior Reid Johnston RHP Freshman Sam Highfill RHP Freshman Matt Willadsen GO-TO RELIEVERS LHP Junior Evan Justice LHP Freshman Chris Villaman
“You played like champions and the whole country fell in love with your team. Congratulations on a tremendous season.” - RAFAEL PALMEIRO
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP page
11 OMAHA BOUND
“This team fought through so much this year. To have a childhood dream snatched away like this is indescribable. 2021 National Champions”
- TERRELL TATUM
COACHES Head Coach Elliott Avent Associate Head Coach Chris Hart Pitching Coach Clint Chrysler Assistant Coach Joey Holcomb Student Coach Brett Kinneman Student Coach Josh Pike COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Lizzie Hattrich
SUPER REGIONAL
COVER BY JAYLAN HARRINGTON, NICHOLAS SCHNITTKER, AND ANN SALMAN Editor-in-Chief Jaylan Harrington
Assistant News Editor Avery Davis
Managing Editors Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen Tristan Tucker
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Asst. Culture Editor Myra Bari
Assistant Sports Editors Wade Bowman Bryan Pyrtle
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Junior Austin Murr Junior Tyler McDonough Junior Jonny Butler Junior Terrell Tatum Freshman Jose Torres Sophomore Luca Tresh Junior Devonte Brown Sophomore Vojtech Mensik Junior J.T. Jarrett
Copy Desk Chief Allie Remhof
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Technician (USPS 455-050) is the largest student newspaper of NC State University and is published every Thursday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on the Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC, Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.
Looking Back
TECHNICIAN 3
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Remarkable turnaround, CWS appearance, abrupt end highlight NC State baseball season Ben Ellis
heading into the tournament was whether or not the Pack would be able to bounce back after that heartbreaking ACC Championship loss, but the team seemed to have no hangover as it cruised through the regional, beating Alabama 8-1 and beating host Louisiana Tech in back-to-back games 8-3 and 14-7, respectively. With the sweep in Ruston, the Pack advanced to its first Super Regional since 2013 and was one of the last 16 teams remaining. However, the team had to travel to take on the No. 1 overall seed Arkansas, who had been the best team in college baseball the majority
braska, knocking off No. 9 Stanford in the first game 10-4 and No. 4 Vanderbilt 1-0 in the second game for its first 2-0 start in the College World Series in school history. The team was now one of the last four teams left and was one win away from the College World Series Final. That, of course, would all come to a crashing halt as the Pack was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to health and safety protocols, the most heartbreaking of heartbreaking endings. However, that did not occur before a shorthanded NC State squad took
the way it was made up. This team had no “one guy” that was the star and that every other team and MLB scout had its eye on, but it To say that the NC State baseball team had had a group of guys who played well together a crazy 2021 season would be an understateand made winning plays when it needed to. ment. Early in the season, Tresh was the hot hand, The Pack truly had a season unlike any hitting seven home runs in the first eight other team in college baseball in which it exgames. As the season went on, junior left perienced some of the highest of highs and fielder Jonny Butler became the team’s most the lowest of lows. consistent player, leading the ACC in batting It all began in late February when the Pack average and becoming a contender for ACC got off to one of its rockiest starts in school Player of the Year by the season’s end. history, starting 4-9 overall and 1-8 in ACC In the ACC Tournament, junior second play. Pitching was a big issue as the team was baseman J.T. Jargiving up an average of rett had some of 7.5 runs per game, and the team’s bigthe offense was struggest hits, hitting gling as well, having only go-ahead RBIs in scored more than four wins against Pitt runs in an ACC game and Georgia Tech. once during that stretch. In the NCAA ReThat all started to gional, it was all turn around at the perabout junior right fect time when the Pack fielder Devonte traveled to Chapel Hill Brown, who hit to take on North Carotwo home runs lina. The Pack swept against Alabama the three-game series and hit a go-ahead against the Tar Heels, grand slam in the outscoring them 23-6. Regional-clinchFrom that point on, ing win against the Pack caught fire, Louisiana Tech. winning 19 of its last 25 Freshman regular season games, shortstop Jose including a win on the Torres was the road at then-No. 7 Notre star in the Super Dame, two series sweeps Regional, hitting against ranked oppoa home run in all nents, and a series win three games, inover then-No. 9 Florida cluding the gameState to end the reguwinning home lar season. One of the run in the series highlights of that stretch finale. was a series-opening In the College win over Florida State World S er ies , in which sophomore Butler was once catcher Luca Tresh hit a again the star in walk-off home run. the opener against After starting the seaStanford, hitting son looking like one of a two-run home the worst teams in the run and tallying ACC, the Pack entered SARAH COCHRAN/TECHNICIAN five RBIs, while the ACC Tournament as The NC State baseball team locks arms before the game versus the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Doak Field at junior designated one of the hottest teams Dail Park. The Wolfpack lost to the Seminoles 15-11. hitter Terrell Tain the league and the No. tum hit a solo 3 seed, looking like the of the season. on Vanderbilt again in a performance that was home run against Vanderbilt, which was the team that many expected. With its fourth The Pack’s trip to Arkansas got off to a rocky so characteristic of the resilient nature of the game’s only run. win of the season over Pitt in pool play and a start as the team was throttled by the Razor- team, ultimately falling 3-1. If there’s a group on this team that has gone win over Georgia Tech in the semifinals, the backs 21-2 in one of the most lopsided losses The story of the 2021 NC State baseball team through more than perhaps any other, it’s the Pack found itself with a chance for its first in Super Regional history in the series opener. is one of resilience. Every time the team was pitching staff. From being perhaps the weakACC Championship in three decades in the Many may have written off the Pack after that, knocked down, it got back up. Whether it was est group on the team after the rocky start championship game against Duke. but the Pack did what it had done all season after the 1-8 start to ACC play, the heartbreak- to the season, the pitching staff underwent a However, the Pack fell 1-0 to the Blue Dev- long by responding to adversity. ing ACC Championship loss, the blowout loss massive transformation and became one of ils, mustering just five hits and leaving six After a strong start in the second game, the to Arkansas in the Super Regional, or even the strongest groups in the ACC, if not the runners on base. It was a heartbreaking loss Pack hung on to even the series with a 6-5 win. losing several players before the second game country. for a team that had such a great season turn- In the third game, the Pack shocked the whole against Vanderbilt, this team responded every The team ace was junior Reid Johnston, who around and was playing in front of a majority- country by pulling off a stunning 3-2 upset, time, and the only thing that stopped the Pack won six of his last eight starts, including a NC State crowd in Charlotte. sending the team to its first College World Se- from getting to the top was something that one-run performance against Alabama in The Pack entered the NCAA Tournament as ries since 2013 and the third in school history. was out of its control. the Regional. Freshman Sam Highfill won his a No. 2 seed and headed to Ruston, Louisiana The Pack kept it rolling in Omaha, NeWhat also made the 2021 team special was TURNAROUND continued page 4 for the NCAA Regional. One of the questions
Senior Sports Writer
End of Season
4 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Return of the Pack
THOUSANDS GREET THE TEAM AT DOAK
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
&
Ben Ellis
Senior Sports Writer
Returning home after its controversial exit from the 2021 College World Series, NC State baseball was greeted by thousands of fans outside Doak Stadium. Fans began gathering outside hours before the team arrived and were eventually allowed into the stadium. With signs ranging from an NCAA logo in full clown attire to “America’s Team,” fans poured into the Doak to offer their support for the Wolfpack and their displeasure with the NCAA. After the team arrived at the stadium, head coach Elliott Avent and the players took to the field with Avent addressing the crowd. “Words cannot express how much this means to us, our staff and our players,” Avent said. “I’ve loved all our teams. I hate to use the word ‘best,’ but I don’t think we’ve ever had a group of players that showed so much heart and character and fought through so many things. To not only bring so much joy to all the Wolfpack fans, but they captured the heart of the whole nation.” That last part sparked cheers from the
many fans in attendance, as the Wolfpack faithful voiced their pride to have made such an impact on a national level. Two of those at Doak were 2020 graduates Grant Jacob and Vance Sawrey, who spoke of their appreciation for the Pack. “It’s been incredible,” Sawrey said. “The things that our guys have been able to accomplish this year, it’s downright incredible. The teams that we’ve been able to beat, rightly so, when we’re given a chance speaks for itself.” Earlier in the morning on June 26, the NCAA dropped a 2 a.m. bombshell on Twitter, declaring the final game between NC State and Vanderbilt a no contest. This announcement shocked many NC State fans, including Jacob. “Came out of nowhere, I felt like,” Jacob said. “Super surprised. I thought we would just play out the second game [of the weekend].” Given that a Pack squad of 13 players took Vanderbilt down to the wire in a 3-1 loss on the day prior to the announcement, some were confused and even blindsided by the no-contest decision. NC State was just one win away from the College World Series finals, and expected to face an ace it had already beaten once in Jack Leiter. “We were in the driver’s seat and kind of just got our feet swept out from under us,” Sawrey said. “We really thought we had it.”
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
last five starts of the season and played continued from page 3 his best at the end of the season with wins against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament, Louisiana Tech in the Regional, Arkansas in the Super Regional and a shutout against Vanderbilt in the College World Series that will go down as one of the best pitching performances in NC State history. Plus, Highfill tallied three hits in the next game against Vanderbilt. Freshman Matt Willadsen pitched a gem in the ACC Championship, allowing just one run, and helped deliver round-clinching wins in the NCAA Tournament against Louisiana Tech and Arkansas. Freshman Chris Villaman bounced back from a couple of tough outings in the middle of ACC play to become a very effective relief pitcher, posting 4.1 shutout innings in the ACC Championship, tagteaming with Willadsen to help deliver the win against Arkansas and getting the final out in the Regional-clinching win against Louisiana Tech. After starting a couple of ACC games at the beginning of the season, junior Evan Justice became NC State’s version of Mariano Rivera as one of the best closing pitchers in college baseball, delivering the final outs in his last eight consecutive appearances. Even two guys who were not in the regular rotation of pitchers, freshman Garrett Payne and redshirt junior Dalton Feeney, stepped up to hold a full-strength Vanderbilt to three runs
in the third game of the College World Series. The Pack was also a phenomenal fielding team, making web-gem plays throughout the season. Junior first baseman Austin Murr even won the 2021 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for the nation’s best first baseman. This NC State team was a true giant killer, beating some of the best teams and pitchers in the country. In four consecutive games, the Pack knocked off No. 1 Arkansas twice on the road, including a win over national player of the year Kevin Kopps, Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Brendan Beck and No. 9 Stanford, and top-5 MLB prospect Jack Leiter and Vanderbilt. The giant-killing nature of this team was in a way reminiscent of the legendary 1983 NC State men’s basketball team that won the national championship. The NC State baseball team also resembled the 1983 team in the amount of excitement that it created throughout the fanbase. Every NC State fan from far and wide came together to support the baseball team, including 1974 national champion and greatest basketball player in school history David Thompson, 1983 national champion Dereck Whittenburg and women’s basketball coach and backto-back ACC Champion Wes Moore, all of whom made the trip to Omaha, alongside countless others. The NC State baseball team showed resilience unlike any other this season, bringing out the best in both itself and, by season’s end, the NC State fanbase, giving fans so much joy and so many memories. There is nothing that can take that away.
When the team touched down in Raleigh, a multitude of fans made their way to Doak to welcome the Wolfpack home. Given the season that State had, some felt that the homecoming was well deserved. “I think the guys needed our support,” Sawrey said. “It’s kind of unfortunate that we’re left to our own devices. We can’t re-
ally do anything. It’s out of our control, unfortunately. The least we can do is support our guys.” The players were thankful for the fans’ support, including sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik, who came to NC State from the Czech Republic. “I just wanted to say thank you guys,” Mensik said. “Coming from another country, I feel as much pride over the Wolfpack as anybody here.” Junior right-handed pitcher Reid Johnston was also appreciative of the outpouring of support at Doak. “I wanted to say thank y’all for coming out,” Johnston said. “This means more to us than y’all will ever know. This is why y’all are the best damn fans in the country right here.” Avent gave some final remarks to close the ceremony by reciprocating the support that the team received from NC State fans all season. “Another thing that will never be forgotten is tonight, … and this memory will be etched in our minds forever, is the appreciation and the respect and the passion of the great Wolfpack fans,” Avent said. With the collegiate baseball season coming to a close, many Wolfpack fans will soon turn their attention to the upcoming football season, but the story of the 2021 NC State baseball team will live on for years in the memories of all who witnessed what the Pack was able to accomplish.
TURNAROUND
MARISSA MCHUGH
Head coach Elliott Avent addresses the Wolfpack fans on Friday, June 26, 2021 after the team’s return from the College World Series to Doak Field at Dail Park.
TECHNICIAN 5
Regular Season TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Baseball takeaways: Fix the bullpen, offense is doing its part ROUGH START EARLY FOR THE WOLFPACK BUT PLENTY OF TIME TO FIX THE ISSUES
Originally published March 8
Will Thornhill Staff Writer
The NC State baseball team came into the season ranked in the top 15 in several preseason polls; however, things have not panned out so far. The Wolfpack (4-6, 1-5 ACC) was swept by Georgia Tech and then lost two of three to Miami to begin conference play. That being said, the ACC season is 36 games long and things can change by then for the Wolfpack if it fixes some things. Here are my takeaways from the first 10 games of the season. Catcher is not a problem for the Wolfpack NC State sophomore catcher Luca Tresh came into this year with a difficult job. That was to somehow replace Patrick Bailey, who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round. Not surprising to many in the program, he has stepped into this role with ease. His bat has proved to be a problem for opposing pitchers as he leads the ACC with seven home runs. Tresh also leads his team in the two other major offensive statistical categories with a .400 batting average and 15 RBIs. Tresh has solidified himself as the power hitter in the NC State lineup. I do not see this changing anytime soon considering how hot he is offensively. Bullpen needs a “go-to” guy If NC State wants to be the team it was predicted to be, finding a solid option late in the game out of the bullpen is a must. Coming into the season, NC State was expected to rely on veteran pitchers such as redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Dalton Feeney
the late inning pitching problem is imperative. Defensively, NC State is solid Despite some problems with the pitching staff at times, the defense behind the mound has been rock solid. In 10 games, NC State has a fielding percentage of .989 and only four errors. Both are good enough for second place in the ACC. With defensive standouts such as freshman shortstop Jose Torres and junior left fielder Jonny Butler, it is no surprise that the Wolfpack is around the top of the ACC in this part of the game. Long way to go As was mentioned earlier, the ACC conference schedule is 36 games long. Though it might not look SARAH COCHRAN/TECHNICIAN pretty now, this is a reJunior outfielder Jonny Bulter hits a home run during the game versus the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday, ally talented and veteran March 7, 2021 in Doak Field at Dail Park. Butler scored one run for the Wolfpack. The Hurricanes beat the group that is going to do Wolfpack 6-4. all it takes to try and turn things around. NC State as a team ranks second in batand senior lefty Kent Klyman. Things have handed pitcher Cooper King has been argunot panned out for them so far; each currently ably the most consistent guy out of the bull- ting average in the conference at .296. NC pen thus far. He has only allowed two hits in State fans knew before the season that this has ERAs above 11. This gives NC State head coach Elliott Avent four innings on the mound with a 2.25 ERA. team was going to score runs. This is positive Whether it’s one of the veteran pieces of that the team can take and build on moving the opportunity to give younger relievers a chance to prove their worth. Freshman right- the bullpen or a young arm like King, fixing forward.
Sweeping rival, starting a turnaround Originally published March 29
Will Thornhill Staff Writer
The NC State baseball team completed the three-game sweep of archrival UNC-Chapel Hill with a 8-3 win May 24 after rain delayed the final game. All series, the Wolfpack (8-9, 4-8 ACC) got great starting pitching, and it was no different in game three. Freshman right-handed pitcher Matt Willadsen (7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 K) kept the Tar Heel (13-9, 8-7 ACC) batters off balance all day. He also pitched the last two innings of game two that was finished before game three started. Offensively, NC State had two players with two hits, junior first baseman Austin Murr (2-4, 3 RBI, HR) and junior right fielder Devonte Brown (2-3, BB). The Wolfpack had eight hits total in the series finale.
The Wolfpack wasted no time in getting started offensively scoring two runs in the first inning. First, sophomore catcher Luca Tresh (1-5, RBI) scored Murr with a single to left field. Later in the inning, junior left fielder Jonny Butler (0-4, RBI) scored sophomore center fielder Tyler McDonough (1-5) with an RBI fielder’s choice to second base. NC State kept it going in the second inning with three more runs. One was on an RBI double to right-center field from Murr that scored Brown. The other two runs were given to NC State on a wild pitch and a throwing error from the pitcher that scored Murr and then later junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett (1-2, BB) to give the Wolfpack a 4-0 lead. The Tar Heels got in on the scoring with a run of their own in the second inning with an RBI single to center field from Eric Grintz.
The Wolfpack answered with an immediate response in the third inning as freshman shortstop Jose Torres (1-3, RBI, HR) smoked a solo home run to right-center field. In the fifth inning, UNC responded with its second home run of the game. This time it was from Hunter Stokely to right field. NC State got its last runs of the game on a smoked two-run home run from Murr to right field that scored Jarrett. The Tar Heels got their last run of the game on another RBI single to center field from Grintz. Junior left-handed pitcher Evan Justice (1.2 IP, 2 K, 0 ER) came into the game in the middle of the eighth inning and shut down the Tar Heels to close out the sweep for the Wolfpack. MINH PHAM/TECHNICIAN
Freshman shortstop Jose Torres bats on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Doak Field. Torres finished with 2 hits and 2 RBIs in the Wolfpack’s 11-5 win over the Miami Hurricanes.
Regular Season
6 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
Tresh walks Pack off against ranked FSU Originally published April 25
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
The No. 23 NC State baseball team defeated the No. 16 Florida State Seminoles in style with a 6-4 walk-off win. Sophomore catcher Luca Tresh (2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI) sealed the deal with a two-run shot to center field in the bottom of the ninth, ensuring that a stellar performance from junior right-handed pitcher Reid Johnston (6.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 13 K) ended in a win despite giving up a game-tying grand slam. “He threw really well,” Tresh said. “I honestly think he could have stayed in there and finished it. [Florida State third baseman Logan Lacey] hit a great pitch out, but [Johnston] threw really well, and I think we all gave him the support he got.” The Pack (27-14, 18-13 ACC) sent out Johnston to face Bryce Hubbart of the Seminoles (28-20, 18-13 ACC). The two starters lit it up in the early innings, combining for 11 strikeouts in the first three innings. Johnston continued to throw gas well into the evening, punching out a career-high 13 batters by the time he exited the game.
“I told the locker room before I came out here, ‘Reid Johnston was unbelievable,’” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Reid Johnston pitches with so much heart; his performance tonight was outstanding.” In addition to ending the game with a walk-off homer, Tresh also opened the scoring with a first-pitch solo bomb to lead off the bottom of the second inning. With both pitchers dealing from the mound up to that point, it was important for the Pack to draw first blood. “Both of the pitchers threw really well, especially Reid who I thought was dominant out there,” Tresh said. “Obviously, a four-run lead is not going to do a lot for you when a grand slam puts them right back in the ballgame, but it was huge.” The Pack owned the middle game, extending its lead to 4-0 by the end of the fifth. Freshman shortstop Jose Torres (1-5) scored on a passed ball in the fourth and junior left fielder Jonny Butler (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB) hammered a two-run shot in the fifth to double NC State’s lead. Both of these instances occurred with two outs, a situation that the Wolfpack thrived in by
going 4-for-12 with two outs. “That’s just a belief in each other,” Avent said. “They don’t try to do too much at the plate. They know one through nine they can do things that can contribute to runs. They don’t try to do much, they just try to get it to the next guy. We did have some great two-out at-bats tonight, but on the other side of that coin, I think we left a few guys on base. You can contribute that to Florida State, who’s got an unbelievable pitching staff.” Johnston’s 13-strikeout performance was dominant early on, but the righty showed signs of cracking towards the end of his night. The Seminoles put a pair of runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings, but it was the seventh that saw his shutout come to an end. With two on and two out, Johnston’s payoff pitch missed, loading the bases for Lacey, who knocked the 0-1 pitch over the center field wall for a game-tying grand slam. Even though its lead had just been erased with one swing of the bat, the Wolfpack dugout was as cool as the other side of the pillow.
“We really all believe in each other,” Tresh said. “If someone’s not bringing it to the table today, there’s someone there that’s going to be able to pick us up. I think everyone just trusts everyone. They didn’t panic or let things speed up, and that was the key: just slowing things down.” After a scoreless eighth inning, the ninth brought one last explosive play to end the ballgame. Butler led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left center, putting the winning run on base. Butler did not have to hustle home though, as Tresh smashed a walk-off two-run dinger to seal the 6-4 victory for the Pack. “Honestly, I wasn’t trying to do too much,” Tresh said. “Just focus on my breathing and slow things down. I got what I was looking for and I took advantage of it.” DAVID TRACEY/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore catcher Luca Tresh celebrates his walk-off home run against No. 16 Florida State on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Doak Field. Tresh went 2-5 with two home runs and three runs batted in as the Wolfpack won 6-4.
TECHNICIAN 7
ACC Championship TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Reid Johnston’s stellar start propels NC State baseball into ACC Championship semifinals Originally published May 28
Will Thornhill Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE — The No. 16 NC State baseball team secured its spot in the ACC Championship semifinals with a 3-2 win over Pitt, Thursday, May 27, at Truist Field in Charlotte. As the top seed in Pool C, all the Wolfpack had to do to advance from the group was beat the winner of May 25’s Pittsburgh and UNC-Chapel Hill game, and that is exactly what the Wolfpack did in front of a pro-Pack crowd in uptown Charlotte. “This has been one of the more remarkable teams that I can remember in my tenure at NC State,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “It was nice to see the crowd out here tonight.” NC State can thank junior right-handed pitcher Reid Johnston (8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K) as he was a workhorse on the mound for his team. Johnston retired the last 13 batters he faced before being pulled after eight innings. “Something clicked and I was feeling it for a while,” Johnston said. “I think it was my mindset that changed after that third or fourth inning.” All five runs were scored in the first three innings of the game, with all of NC State’s runs coming in the second inning. The Wolfpack only needed four hits on the night to win the game. The Panthers opened the scoring in the first inning on a two-out RBI double down the left field line from Ron Washington Jr. NC State responded in the second inning with a little bit of two-out magic that resulted in three runs. With two runners on, junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett (1-3, 2 RBI) ripped a triple down the left field line
that cleared the bases. Jarrett then scored on a wild pitch from Pitt starter Matt Gilbertson during the next at-bat. “I’m just happy that we could get three runs there,” Jarrett said. “Then Reid started cruising, and it felt pretty good.” In the third inning, Pitt scratched a run across on an RBI-fielder’s choice from Washington Jr., who narrowly beat out a
double-play attempt that would have ended the inning. The starting pitchers for both teams cruised as the game went along, giving us a pitchers’ duel that looked unlikely in the early stages of the game. Gilbertson faced the minimum over the final five innings of the game as Pitt’s ace went the full nine innings.
“I think it’s just great to win a game like this,” Avent said. “Their guy for Pitt, I just think he pitched his absolute tail off.” With the game on the line, junior lefthanded pitcher Evan Justice (1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) came into the game to close it out in the ninth. After yielding a leadoff walk, Justice retired the next three batters in order, including two strikeouts, to close the game.
LAURA WOLFF/ACC
Junior pitcher Reid Johnston pitches during the ACC Baseball Championship against Pitt on Thursday, May 27, 2021 in Charlotte at Truist Field. The Wolfpack beat the Panthers 3-2.
Wolfpack baseball crushes Georgia Tech, advances to ACC Championship game Originally published May 29
Will Thornhill Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE — The No. 16 NC State baseball team clinched its spot in the ACC Championship game with an 8-1 win over No. 17 Georgia Tech May 29 in Charlotte. Once again, the Wolfpack got terrific starting pitching from freshman righthanded pitcher Sam Highfill (6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). He set the tone on the mound for the rest of the team in the semi-
final matchup. “Sam Highfill was really good, and we played a pretty good ball game,” said head coach Elliott Avent. Sophomore catcher Luca Tresh (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB) had two hits on the night to lead the Wolfpack offensively, including a mammoth home run in the fourth inning. In the second inning, with two outs, the Wolfpack got a massive hit from its nine-hole hitter, junior second baseman
J.T. Jarrett (1-2, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP), with the bases loaded. The Greensboro native cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double down the left field line to give NC State a 3-0 lead. “[Jarrett] might be in the nine hole, but he’s not a nine-hole hitter,” Avent said. “He’s just a competitor and when you compete, good things happen.” Georgia Tech got on the board in the third inning when Luke Waddell hit an RBI fielder’s choice to first base to score the runner from third base. Little did the
Yellow Jackets know, this would be their only run of the evening. NC State responded immediately in the fourth inning as Tresh led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. It was his second extra-base hit of the game. In the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets thought they had gotten within one run after Kevin Parada smoked a ball over the fence down the left field line with a
WOLFPACK continued page 10
8 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
“The third thing that will never be forgotten is the 2021 Wolfpack team that won the national championship that was never played.” - Elliott Avent
Gallery TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
TECHNICIAN 9
Gallery TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
On June 26, the day that the NCAA declared that NC State could not finish the College World Series, the team flew home and was greeted by a packed stadium at Doak field. As part of the fans’ celebration of the 2021 Wolfpack baseball team, head coach Elliott Avent and various players addressed the crowd. PHOTOS BY MARISSA MCHUGH
10 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
ACC Championship
A heartbreaking championship loss
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
Originally published May 30
Will Thornhill Staff Writer
MAGGIE BOULTON/NCAA
Sophomore catcher Luca Tresh celebrates during NC State baseball’s semifinal showdown with Georgia Tech on May 29, 2021. The Wolfpack won the game 8-1, advancing to the championship game.
runner on base. It was originally ruled a home run, continued from page 7 but after a video re v i e w it w a s overturned and ruled foul, keeping NC State’s three-run lead intact. In the seventh inning, junior left-handed pitcher Evan Justice (2.2 IP, K) came into the game with one out and a runner on first after Highfill was pulled. On his second pitch, he got a double-play ball to get out of the inning. It was one of three that the NC State infield rolled throughout the game. “It’s a lot easier as a pitcher going out there competing knowing you got [NC State’s infield] behind you,” Justice said. “They’re always capable of [rolling double plays].” The Wolfpack added an insurance run in the eighth inning with an RBI single from freshman shortstop Jose Torres (1-4, RBI) that scored junior left fielder Jonny Butler (1-4, BB). The pitch before the single, Butler advanced to second base on a balk to get into scoring position for Torres. NC State wasn’t done as it added three more runs in the ninth inning. Sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik (0-3, BB) got on with a walk, then on back-to-back pitches stole second and third. A throwing error from the catcher on the second attempt allowed Mensik to score. To cap things off, sophomore center fielder Tyler McDonough (1-5, 2 RBI, HR) launched a two-run homer off the left field foul pole to give NC State a 8-1 lead. “I think it’s more a testament to Duke University and our guys at NC State and what both teams did,” Avent said. “Started out a little rough, stick with things, and good things usually happen if you stick with it for a long period of time, especially in baseball.”
WOLFPACK
CHARLOTTE — With a chance to win its first ACC championship game since 1992, the No. 16 NC State baseball team fell to Duke in a pitchers’ duel 1-0. The Wolfpack could not quite figure out the Blue Devils pitching staff. Starting right-handed pitcher Cooper Stinson led the way for Duke, throwing six innings of scoreless baseball. As a team, NC State was held to just five hits. “As much as we would have liked to have gotten this ACC Championship, there is a bigger prize out there,” said head coach Elliott Avent “If we can ref lect on this game, learn from not only this game, but this tournament and have a good week of practice, were looking forward to playing next week.” The championship marked the first time all season that the Wolfpack bats were held scoreless and unfortunately for NC State, it happened during its biggest game of the season so far. In the third inning, Duke tried to push across a run from first base on a double off the right field wall. To keep the Blue Devils off the board, junior right fielder Devonte
Brown (0-3, 2 K) and junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett (1-3) ran a nice relay play to get the runner out at home. However, in the fourth inning, Duke did get the run it was looking for. With a runner on third base, Peter Matt hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to give his team the lead. That one run would end up winning the ACC Championship for the Blue Devils. With two runners on in the fifth inning, NC State went to its bullpen, bringing in freshman left-handed pitcher Chris Villaman (4.1 IP, BB, 6 K). Villaman was able to register a fly out to right field and get his team out of the jam. NC State starting freshman right-handed pitcher Matt Willadsen (4.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 6 K) pitched well, but was starting to get hard contact off him towards the end of his start. The combined effort of Willadsen and Villaman was massive in giving NC State a chance to win the game in the late innings. “I just wanted to throw strikes and get ahead in the count and let my defense work,” Villaman said. “Try to stay efficient.” In the sixth inning, Duke gifted NC State a runner on third base and just one out
with two infield errors. Junior left fielder Jonny Butler (1-4) hit a fly ball that appeared deep enough to allow junior first baseman Austin Murr (1-4) to score on a sacrifice fly. However, miscommunication from Murr and associate head coach Chris Hart saw Murr leave early forcing him to retag and not advance. “[Murr] may have misread the fly ball and wanted to get a better jump than he probably needed to get,” Avent said. “He realized he left early, went back to retag and knew he shouldn’t chance it.” The Wolfpack got another runner on base in the eighth inning via a one-out single from Jarrett. After the single, Duke closer Marcus Johnson entered the game and got both Murr and McDonough to pop out to end the inning. Butler tried to start a ninth inning rally with a leadoff single, but Johnson retired the next three batters in order to end the ballgame. The Wolfpack will look to Selection Monday to find out where it will travel for the NCAA Regionals. “We have a big week next week, so we just tried to keep our heads up and stay the task at hand,” Villaman said.
LAURA WOLFF/ACC
Sophomore catcher Luca Tresh tags Duke player Graham Pauley during the ACC Championship game at Truist Field Sunday, May 30, 2021. NC State fell 1-0 as Duke captured the championship.
TECHNICIAN 11
Super Regional TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
OMAHA BOUND
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
PACK TOPS KOPPS, TORRES BOMB SEALS COMEBACK SERIES WIN
Originally published June 13
Ben Ellis
Senior Sports Writer
The NC State baseball team beat the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks 3-2 on Sunday, June 13 in the tiebreaker game of the Fayetteville Super Regional to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 2013. The Wolfpack (35-18) and the Razorbacks (50-13) were tied 2-2 heading into the ninth inning when freshman shortstop Jose Torres (1-4, RBI, HR) hit a solo home run in the top of the inning to make it 3-2, and junior pitcher Evan Justice (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K) closed it out in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the win. “I’m so happy for these players,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “It’s all about these players who have worked so hard and committed to one another, and understand how you can overcome adver-
sity, which will help them the rest of their life.” After a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Razorbacks got on the board first in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to make the score 1-0. However, freshman starting pitcher Matt Willadsen (4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K) was able to prevent any further damage in the inning despite the Razorbacks loading the bases. The Pack then got on the board in the top of the third as junior left fielder Jonny Butler (1-3, 2 RBI, HR) hit a two-run home run that scored junior first baseman Austin Murr (0-2 BB) to make the score 2-1. The home run was especially impressive considering it came against the Razorbacks’ starting pitcher Kevin Kopps, who won 2021 SEC Pitcher of the Year and is known as one of the best pitchers in the country. “[Kopps] is just an incredible pitcher,
an incredible competitor,” Butler said. “We had a good scouting report… I was able to piece a couple of balls together and get one out of there, and it felt really good.” The next three innings were scoreless before the Razorbacks hit a solo home run off freshman pitcher Chris Villaman (3 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K) in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score 2-2. Villaman finished the inning and was replaced by Justice in the bottom of the eighth after the Pack didn’t score in the top of the inning. In the first at-bat of the top of the ninth, Torres put the Pack ahead 3-2 with a solo home run, his third home run of the Super Regional and fourth of the postseason. “It was a feeling you’ll never forget,” Torres said. “It was awesome to experience that.”
Justice then retired all three batters in the bottom of the ninth, clinching the win and sending the Pack to the College World Series. “In between innings, I just asked those guys to give me one run,” Justice said. “I was gonna go out there and give them my best, give them everything I have to try and put this team to Omaha. I knew our offense could do it. [Torres] came in clutch.” With the win, NC State advances to its third College World Series in the program’s history and the first since 2013.
COURTESY OF THE SEC
NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent gets doused in Gatorade as the Wolfpack celebrates advancing to the College World Series on June 13, 2021. The Wolfpack won game three against No. 1 Arkansas 3-2.
College World Series
12 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
Opening Omaha with a bang
WOLFPACK OPENS COLLEGE WORLD SERIES WITH VICTORY OVER STANFORD
Originally published June 19
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
Although NC State piled up an early six-run lead, Beck made his team’s first seven outs via the strikeout. Beck finished the day with 10 strikeouts and only three earned runs. That latter number is due to some poor fielding from the defense behind Beck, as
gears in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Pack had enjoyed a lead of at least five runs for most of the ballgame, but Johnston began to waver after six innings of one-run pitching. A leadoff single by catcher Kody Huff was
OMAHA, Neb. — The NC State baseball team came out on top in the opening game of the 2021 College World Series with a 10-4 win over the Stanford Cardinal. An early Wolfpack lead began to wane in the later innings, but a four-run ninth inning sealed the deal for State. Junior first baseman Austin Murr (2-4, 2 R, 2 BB) led off the action with a first-pitch single in the top of the first. That hit made him the first batter to record a hit on the first pitch of the College World Series since 2010. The Wolfpack offense kept up the early pace when junior left fielder Jonny Butler (3-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, HR, BB) sent a ball over the fence in right-center field to give the Pack an early 2-0 lead over the Cardinal. State kept its foot on the gas in the ensuing few innings, scoring one more run in the second inning on an RBI single by sophomore center fielder Tyler McDonough (2-6, RBI). The Pack added three more runs to its tally in the top of the fourth with a solo dinger by junior right fielder Devonte Brown (1-4, HR, MARK KUHLMAN/NCAA BB) and a two-out Texas leaguer by Butler NC State against Stanford during the Division I Baseball Championship held at TD Amerito bring the Wolfpack’s lead to 6-0 by the trade Park on June 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska middle of the fourth inning. Junior right-handed pitcher Reid Johnston the Cardinal committed two errors while followed by a two-run shot to right that tight(6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, BB, 5 K) also hit the ground Beck was pitching. With the Wolfpack hit- roped its way down the line for a home run, running from the mound, allowing only one ting the ball well early in the game, the spotty bringing the Cardinal within three. After base runner through the first three innings Stanford defense only made matters worse Johnston gave up two more singles, junior southpaw Evan Justice (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 in the form of a two-out walk in the bottom for the Cardinal. The main bat that led the charge for NC K) entered the game in relief. of the third. Justice gained the Pack two crucial strike“I think we played well,” said head coach State’s offense was that of Butler, who became Elliott Avent. “We were fortunate to get off the first player in NC State history to drive outs but a single to left in between them loadto a good start against a pitcher of the quality in more than two runs in a College World ed the bases for Stanford. When sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik (2-5, 2 RBI) of [Stanford right-handed pitcher Brendan Series game. “I had a lot of confidence coming in here,” was unable to handle a hot grounder, the Beck]. I think that was good for Reid, not Butler said. “I thought I played really, really Cardinal scored another run to make it 6-4. that anything bothers Reid.” Stanford finally got on the board in the well in the last game against Arkansas. Also Mensik made good on his second chance to bottom of the fourth when second baseman there was a lot of pressure on the pitchers all end the inning the next at-bat, securing the Tim Tawa hit a leadoff solo homer to left, the game, because every time I was up I think pop fly to third for the third out. “That’s something I always try to do is just Cardinal’s first hit of any kind in the game. there were runners in scoring position. I’m Johnston was unfazed by his mistake how- always comfortable in those situations know- pick up the guy in front of me,” Justice said. ever, as he went on to retire nine of the next ing that the pressure is on the pitcher; he has “We’ve got some great starting pitching here, especially Reid. He’s one of my good buddies to come to me.” 10 Stanford batters. The game’s dynamic quickly switched ... I thought he did a great job today, and I Beck’s outing starkly contrasted Johnston’s.
wanted him to get him out of the jam. And fortunately, I was able to.” A scoreless eighth inning relieved some of the tension of the game, but that tension returned with a vengeance in the ninth. McDonough hit a leadoff double to left center field and was immediately driven home by Butler to pad the Pack’s lead at 7-4. NC State continued to increase its lead in the top of the ninth, thanks to a pair of in-game turnarounds by junior designated hitter Terrell Tatum (0-5, 3 K) and sophomore catcher Luca Tresh (1-5, RBI, 3 K). Both State batters entered the ninth with three strikeouts to their name, but Tatum reached base on an errant throw to second base, and Tresh ripped an RBI double to left center that brought Butler home. Brown then drew a walk to load the bases for Mensik, who snuck a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a two-RBI single, making it a 10-4 Wolfpack lead. “It’s all just to take pressure off of Evan,” Butler said. “We knew he was going to go in there and finish the game, and there’s a big difference between two runs and three runs. We were just scratching off one run at a time, and we were able to put together a big inning.” Junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett (0-3, 2 BB) drew another base-loading walk in the next at-bat, but a strikeout by Murr and a flyout by McDonough ended the rally. A single and an error by freshman shortstop Jose Torres (1-5) put two on with nobody out for the Cardinal, but Justice rebounded by forcing a flyout to left before a ground ball to Jarrett was called a double play on runner’s interference, ending the game. It was a veritable team effort from the Wolfpack, as each batter in the lineup reached base at least once. “It’s always been a team win with us, that’s the way it’s been all year,” Avent said. “For the last three months, it’s no secret we’ve played pretty much nine guys every day. Murr likes to say it’s ‘nine guys from nine states’ ... This is a team that, throughout the lineup, can figure out how to be productive and score runs.”
Tater Tatum busts pitchers’ duel Originally published June 21
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
OMAHA, Neb. — The NC State baseball team took down the Vanderbilt Commodores 1-0 in a nail-biting pitchers’ duel Monday, June 21. Freshman right-handed pitcher Sam
Highfill (7.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) came out on top against Vanderbilt right-hander Jack Leiter, arguably the best pitcher in the nation. “We have a lot of [confidence],” Highfill said. “We’ve beaten, in the last five or six weeks, we beat the ACC pitcher of the year; the SEC pitcher of the year, Kevin Kopps;
we beat Jack Leiter tonight; we beat Brendan Beck on, whatever, two days ago. And we’ve got a lot of confidence. We’ve slayed a lot of giants, and we’re trying to carry it forward.” The showdown between Highfill and Leiter got off to an exciting start, as the Commodores’ leadoff man, and arguably the fastest
player in the nation, center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., laid an almost perfect bunt down the third base line. Sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik (1-3) made an even better play, making the bare-handed throw to first for the game’s first out. “When he bunted that ball with one
TECHNICIAN 13
College World Series TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
COURTESY OF THE NCAA
NC State against Vanderbilt during the Division I Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 21, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. NC State beat No. 4 Vanderbilt 1-0 in game six of the College World Series.
strike,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “I’m not screaming, but I’m just thinking, ‘Let it go foul, let it go foul,’ because I thought it was right on the line and no way he could make that play. But, boy howdy, did he make an unbelievable play.” Highfill and Leiter would trade blows well into the evening, but it was Leiter that held the edge for all of the first half of the game. The Commodores’ ace tossed a perfect game
through four innings with nine strikeouts to boot. Highfill put on a show of his own during that span, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out four. “I knew I was going to have to be good tonight,” Highfill said. “[Leiter’s] really good, and you’ll see his name called in the first, if not first five, 10 picks, he might be the first pitcher taken this year. I knew I was going to have to go out and be good.”
The two right-handers were in a 0-0 deadlock heading into the bottom of the fifth, but it was Leiter that cracked first. Junior designated hitter Terrell Tatum (1-2, RBI, HR, BB) broke up Leiter’s perfect game with authority, sending the 0-1 pitch well into the right field stands to give the Pack a 1-0 lead. “My first at-bat, he started me off with an off-speed pitch then continued the trend, threw another one,” Tatum said. “And the
second at-bat when I hit the home run, it was off-speed pitch that was a strike. And I completely sold out for the next pitch to be a fastball. And it just happened to be a fastball in and I put a good swing on it.” Highfill maintained his form through the seventh inning, but he seemed to reach his limit in the eighth, walking the leadoff batter. After Vanderbilt pulled off a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second base, junior left-handed pitcher Evan Justice (1.2 IP, BB, 2 K) entered the game in relief for the Pack. In the bottom of the seventh, the Pack had a chance to add to its lead, but failed to score with the bases loaded. Sophomore center fielder Tyler McDonough (1-4) got it started with a leadoff single, and after junior left fielder Jonny Butler (0-3, 2 K) flew out to right, Leiter gave up a walk and an infield single to load up the bases. Leiter quickly collected himself though, gaining two more strikeouts to end the inning and bring his strikeout total to 14. Justice was unfazed by this missed opportunity for insurance runs though, as he forced a groundout to second to advance the Vanderbilt runner to third base before getting a crucial strike-three call for the third out, stranding that tying run in the eighth. The Pack missed another opportunity to extend its lead in the eighth. Mensik hit a leadoff single, and two quick outs later, advanced to third on a passed ball. McDonough was unable to cash in the scoring chance though, flying out to center field to send the game to the ninth. It was in the ninth that Justice secured the win. After allowing a leadoff walk, the southpaw induced a 4-6-3 double play that put the Pack one out away from victory. Justice, with ice in his veins, struck out the last batter looking to win it for the Wolfpack.
The Legend of Sam Highfill Nicholas Schnittker Sports Editor
There are some performances so special, so memorable that they become ingrained in the history of a program or institution, and Sam Highfill’s 2021 College World Series was one of those performances. An NC State fan from a young age, he gave it his all in two games against the reigning champs. “It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid,” Highfill said. “I remember going to NC State baseball games when I was 6, 8, 10 years old and wishing I was able to be out there with them. I watched them come to the College World Series in 2013. And it’s been a lot of fun.” In game two of the Pack’s CWS run, Highfill went toe-to-toe with one of the top pitchers in the country, Jack Leiter, and not only held his own, but kept Vandy off the board, leading the Wolfpack to a 1-0 win. In 7.2 innings of work, Highfill struck
out seven and allowed just four total baserunners. “Jack Leiter was really, really good tonight,” said NC State head coach Elliott Avent. “[Sam] could tell that [Leiter] was really on tonight and we weren’t going to get anything. So for Sam to keep this offense at Vanderbilt at bay to allow us a chance, it was just unbelievable what he did tonight.” While that performance alone might have been enough for Highfill to cement himself in the hearts of Wolfpack fans for years to come, he wasn’t done just yet. With the second game against Vanderbilt delayed for over an hour and the Pack forced to play with just 13 players, Highfill changed positions. “I found out… probably around 1:00, that there was a chance I was going to play first base today.” Highfill said after the second Vanderbilt game. “And I wanted to. I looked at it as more of an opportunity than a problem that we had half our team. But
I wanted to be a guy who stepped up.” Prior to the Pack 13 game, Highfill had just five collegiate at-bats to his name and hadn’t stepped into the batter’s box in a game since March 4, 2020. “First of all, he’s gotten zero work as a hitter,” Avent said. “We went to him and we found out we were going to play and see if he wanted to go up to the cage and take a couple swings. He was excited.” Hitting leadoff in the third inning, Highfill was the first Wolfpack batter to not strikeout swinging
HIGHFILL continued page 14
COURTESY OF THE NCAA
NC State freshman Sam Highfill pitches during NC State’s game against Vanderbilt during the College World Series on June 21, 2021. The Wolfpack won 1-0.
College World Series
14 TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Pack 13 Originally published June 25
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
OMAHA, Neb. — Though the Wolfpack had only 13 players, it did not go down without a fight in its second game against Vanderbilt. Freshman right-handed pitcher Garrett Payne (5.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 3 K) gave up just one earned run over the course of five innings against the Commodores while right-handed pitcher/infielder Sam Highfill (3-4) did his best Shohei Ohtani impression, getting a knock in all but one of his at-bats while playing at first base. “I looked at it as more of an opportunity than a problem,” Highfill said. “I wanted to be a guy who stepped up, so I was happy. I was excited for the opportunity.” Vanderbilt was able to keep the Wolfpack off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth. Freshman second baseman Carson Falsken (1-3, BB, 2 K) led off that frame with a bunt single down the third base line, and Highfill singled immediately after him to put two on for the Pack with no one out. Freshman designated hitter Eddie Eisert (0-4) then grounded out to first to advance both runners, prompting freshman third baseman DeAngelo Giles (0-2, RBI, 2 K) to
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
hit a deep fly ball to left to score Falsken on the sacrifice fly. Junior first baseman Austin Murr (1-4, BB), playing in left field, hit an infield single, but junior center fielder Jonny Butler (1-4, 2 K) struck out swinging to end the fifth. The Commodores quickly extended their lead back to two runs in the top of the sixth, starting with a leadoff walk that signaled the end of Payne’s day. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Dalton Feeney (4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) took over on the mound for NC State. “You couldn’t be more COURTESY OF THE NCAA proud of [Payne] and his Freshman pitcher Sam Highfill claps after reaching base effort,” said head coach El- against Vanderbilt on June 25, 2021. Highfill, playing at first base due to NC State’s limited roster, recorded three liott Avent. “But he’s done hits from four plate appearances. that a few times this year, seventh and eighth innings, respectively. it’s not the first time he’s done that… If we’ve done things the right With Feeney keeping the Commodores at way and you can lock into the game itself, bay during that span, it was one missed which obviously he was able to do, and Fee- opportunity after another for the Pack. Vanderbilt threatened to extend its lead ney as well, then this stage doesn’t seem too different than the past places we’ve been on further in the top of the ninth, but a one-out running catch by Murr left the two Comour ascent to get here.” One major struggle for the team was modore baserunners crossed up, making it getting base runners home. NC State left easy for Murr to make the throw to Highfill runners on first and second in the sixth, at first base for the double play. The bottom
HIGHFILL
continued from page 13
against Rocker, knocking a single down the right field line. One hit wasn’t enough for Highfill, though. Going against one of the best pitchers in the country, Highfill, who entered the game with fewer collegiate at bats than he had strikeouts in the previous game, went 3 for 4 with three singles. “He’s just a baseball player,” Avent said after the second Vanderbilt game. “Baseball players do things in baseball games. And Sam Highfill is a baseball player. And if we would have taken the lead there he was going to close the game. If this game would have got extended going to extras, then he would have been at third base. He’s just a baseball player. And he’s smart.” While Highfill and the rest of the Pack 13 couldn’t get the win, this performance firmly secured their place in not only the history of the Wolfpack, but the history of the College World Series. Wolfpack fans won’t soon forget The Legend of Sam Highfill. half was more of the same for the Pack, as a two-out rally was quashed as junior right fielder Devonte Brown (2-5) grounded into a game-ending fielder’s choice to seal the deal.
Loud and proud Wolfpack baseball fans making a difference in College World Series Originally published June 24
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
OMAHA, Neb. — The NC State baseball team is one win away from the College World Series Finals, and it has had plenty of support from its fanbase to get to that point. Out of all the fans of the eight competing teams, Wolfpack nation has made its presence well known in Omaha. “Our fans travel so well,” said junior left fielder Jonny Butler after the Stanford win. “I know, me, I have a ton of friends and family here, former teammates came to support me. I had a lot of energy coming into this. It was just so exciting.” Everyone has taken note of the multitude of NC State fans in attendance, from coaches to players to reporters and fans. Even the local Creighton fans have started to warm up to the Pack. “It’s been amazing,” said head coach Elliott Avent after the Vanderbilt win. “Former players have come out. Fans that have come out. Boosters — and it’s not cheap to get out here. I’ve been amazed at how many people found their way to Omaha.” This fervent support has been unwavering
COURTESY OF THE NCAA
NC State against Vanderbilt during the Division I Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 21, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. NC State beat No. 4 Vanderbilt 1-0 in game six of the College World Series.
in Omaha as well, as the Wolfpack fans have stuck with their team through thick and thin. For example, Vanderbilt right-hand-
ed pitcher Jack Leiter had a perfect game going into the bottom of the fourth, but nevertheless, the “WOLF-PACK!” chants
can be heard loud and clear on the ESPN broadcast. That connection has been well reciprocated too, as the Wolfpack has put on a show for its fans that made the trip to Omaha and those watching at home. The opening game between State and Stanford saw the Pack put up double-digit runs on the Cardinal in a 10-4 win. This thumping was followed by a 1-0 victory in an absolute nail-biter over Vanderbilt. With the team doing well and the Pack’s fans cheering it on every step of the way, the fans and their team are unsurprisingly very appreciative of each other. “[Junior first baseman Austin Murr] thanked everybody, and he said ‘you know how great it is to be at a venue like this with 22,000 people,’ but it’s obvious how many Wolfpack — ‘it feels like a home game,’ he says, ‘with the support we’ve had,’” Avent said. Whether this relationship between team and fan will continue into the College World Series Finals remains to be seen, but it certainly doesn’t hurt NC State to have so many people backing the Pack in Omaha.
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College World Series TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
Fans left wondering ‘What if?’ Originally published June 26
Bryan Pyrtle
Assistant Sports Editor
OMAHA, Neb. — The NC State baseball team was primed to earn a berth to the College World Series Finals, but a controversial COVID-19 debacle derailed those championship hopes as the Wolfpack was eliminated on a no-decision in its final game. It was initially a fruitful trip to Omaha for the Wolfpack. The Stanford Cardinal fell to State in the opening game of the College World Series 10-4, putting the Pack in the winner’s bracket to face off against Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter in NC State’s second game. What happened next made freshman right-handed pitcher Sam Highfill into something of a folk hero. Highfill matched Leiter, who is arguably the best college pitcher in the country, pitch-for-pitch as the Wolfpack battled its way to a 1-0 victory over the Commodores. Junior designated hitter Terrell Tatum also played a key role in that game, just about sending a Leiter fastball into orbit before it settled down just short of the concourse in right center field at TD Ameritrade Park. After a three-day break from play, NC State suited up for a rematch with Vanderbilt. The Wolfpack was one win away from sending the Commodores home and heading to the College World Series Finals, but the events that transpired resulted in the Wolfpack being sent home. As the originally scheduled start time of 1 p.m. CT approached, thousands of fans filed into the stadium as they had for each game prior. However, as the pre-game warmups progressed without NC State submitting a starting lineup, it became less and less clear whether a game would even be played and why. At 12:55 p.m. CT, the NCAA announced
the game was being delayed due to “health and safety protocols” and that a start time was TBD. Less than 30 minutes later, the game was set to start at 2:07 CT, but more than half of the 27 NC State players in Omaha did not return to the field. As it turned out, “several” Wolfpack players were put
eight hits. Despite the efforts of Highfill and freshman right-handed pitcher Garrett Payne, among others, NC State lost that game 3-1, setting up an elimination game the next day against Vanderbilt. That game would not happen, however, as the NCAA announced
COURTESY OF THE SEC
Freshman pitcher Garrett Payne heads off the mound after throwing 2.1 innings of relief in the first game of the Fayetteville Super Regional on June 11, 2021. Payne started well, striking out the side in the fourth, but gave up three in the fifth.
into COVID-19 protocol and were unavailable to play. The Pack fielded 13 players against right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker, another top pitcher, and the Commodores. The “Pack 13” put up a surprisingly good fight against Vanderbilt despite Rocker notching eight strikeouts on his first time through the order. The “Legend of Sam Highfill” also continued, as he willed a single past the Vanderbilt first baseman, making Highfill only Wolfpack batter to not strikeout in his first at-bat against Rocker. He finished the game with three of State’s
early on June 26 that the game was to be declared a no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols, eliminating NC State from the tournament. This announcement prompted a plethora of reactions from several players and alumni, especially in the Twitterverse, but most were just appreciative of having made it to Omaha in the first place. However, multiple NC State players took to Twitter to voice their frustrations regarding the situation and the team’s subsequent exit from the College World Series.
Regardless of the final result, the 2021 NC State baseball team will go down as arguably the best in school history. Neither of the school’s previous trips to Omaha in 1968 and 2013 saw the Pack win both of its first two games. The 2013 pairing of Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón and Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner probably beats out the 2021 roster in terms of star power, plus the 1968 squad included left-handed pitcher Mike Caldwell, who accumulated 939 strikeouts and just over 2400 IP in the majors over 14 seasons. That being said, none of the current Wolfpack players have had the chance to progress through the professional ranks. Freshman shortstop Jose Torres is slated as the No. 68 prospect in this year’s MLB draft, with the sophomore duo of catcher Luca Tresh and center fielder Tyler McDonough also ranking at No. 84 and No. 110, respectively, so the jury is still out on how good the 2021 roster really is. With many players projected to go pro this summer, it begs the question: Where will Wolfpack baseball go from here? Three NC State baseball commits, shortstop Khalil Watson, third baseman Tommy White and shortstop Payton Green also rank in the top 250 prospects for this year’s MLB draft at No. 4, No. 103 and No. 156, respectively. It would bode well for NC State if it can hold on to those three, especially instead of any or all of them electing to sign a pro contract, but only time will tell how that will play out. In the meantime, head coach Elliott Avent and his staff will need to shift their focus to next season, whatever that may bring. The heartbreak that ended the 2021 NC State baseball season will not soon be forgotten, but with multiple starters likely leaving for the pros this summer, the path forward is clear for the Pack: reload and run it back, ideally all the way to Omaha in 2022.
NC State baseball mid and postseason awards All-ACC Honors ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ
All-American Honors
LF Jonny Butler (First team) ÌÌ DH Terrell Tatum (First team) SS Jose Torres (First team) CF Tyler McDonough (Second team) ÌÌ 1B Austin Murr (Second team) RHP Reid Johnston (Third team) ÌÌ LHP Evan Justice (Third team)
LF Jonny Butler (Second team: NCBWA, DI Baseball; Third team: Baseball America) LHP Evan Justice (Third team: Perfect Game, DI Baseball) CF Tyler McDonough (Third team: DI Baseball)
Other Honors ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ
1B Austin Murr - Golden Glove RF Devonte Brown - NCAA Ruston Regional MVP RHP Sam Highfill - USA Collegiate National Team selection LHP Chris Villaman - USA Collegiate National Team selection LF Jonny Butler - ACBA All-Region CF Tyler McDonough - ACBA AllRegion