Tar Heels fall in College World Series

Playing in the College World Series has become a familiar experience for North Carolina.

But unfortunately for the Tar Heels, so has leaving without a national championship in hand.

In its fifth appearance in six years, UNC was eliminated from the College World Series with a 5-1 loss to Vanderbilt on June 22 at TD Ameritrade Park.

Although UNC (51-16) once again fell short of the ultimate prize, coach Mike Fox said he was nothing but grateful for a team that worked so hard to defy the odds.

“I don’t think anybody expected us to be here, to end our season here or to even be here at the start of the season,” Fox said. “So (it’s) such a great credit to our players and how committed they were just to make it this far. It’s obviously very difficult to win the national championship.”

Missed opportunities plagued the Tar Heels during their College World Series stint, as UNC left a total of 34 men on base in its three games.

“You’re thinking to yourself, one swing of the bat, ball in the gap and we’re right back in the game and we get the momentum in our dugout,” Fox said. “They were in that situation several times while we were out here, and it just didn’t happen for us.”

The Tar Heels struggled offensively against Vanderbilt and were fueled by defense all season long.

UNC ended the season with a .979 fielding percentage — the highest mark in school history.

The Tar Heels will lose five to graduation, and possibly junior Levi Michael, who was selected No. 30 overall in the Major League Baseball draft.

UNC will miss several key players, including senior pitcher Patrick Johnson, but the Tar Heels are set to gain new talent to replace them in 2011.

North Carolina’s newest class includes pitcher Dillon Maples, who was selected in the 14th round by the Chicago Cubs. Maples, who might also play football for UNC, has yet to make a decision about his athletic future.

But whoever is on North Carolina’s roster next season, Fox and the Tar Heels are determined to pick up right where they left off.

Though the sting of disappointment weighed heavy on the Tar Heels after their season-ending game, Fox didn’t have to look very far for a silver lining.

Fox wasn’t going back to Chapel Hill with a national championship. But he wasn’t leaving Omaha empty-handed, he said.

“As a young coach… you know, you wallow in self pity that you didn’t win, you know, and everybody talks about you didn’t win it again.

“The heck with that. I take these memories of these kids… But we’re going to keep trying to come back and win this thing, all that aside.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.