UNC softball bench supplies confidence in Georgia Tech series

Anderson Softball Stadium waited quietly for the next pitch. With the bases loaded, Jordan Scarboro approached the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The eye was drawn to the mound, where Georgia Tech pitcher Emily Anderson prepared to let it fly.

But the ears were drawn elsewhere. With all else silent, one sound radiates through the stadium: the North Carolina dugout.

Most benches stand, rather sit, in anticipation for a spark — waiting for that 250-yard slug, or that smooth strikeout. But the North Carolina softball bench isn’t just any bench.

The Tar Heels had plenty of opportunities for cheering over the weekend, seeing their team score 12-1, 1-0, and 5-0 victories in a three-game series against Georgia Tech. But they made sure they were vocal throughout, no matter the situation.

“A lot of times, if you cheer loud enough, you can get the other pitcher raddled,” Coach Donna Papa said.

This time, the bench does its part to contribute.

Anderson leaves her pitch over the middle of her plate, and Scarboro, a redshirt senior, delivers on a grand slam. 

As she rounds the bases, eventually diving into the arms of her teammates, the whole stadium cheers Scarboro on. But it was the Tar Heels who made their presence felt and their voices heard.

Heading to the plate, confidence is as crucial as sound batting. For three games and almost six hours of gameplay, the bench supplied much of that confidence.

“I think it’s great,” said senior Jenna Kelly. “Just knowing that we have the support of our dugout is really important.”

While the bench’s vocal contribution can’t be shown statistically, players and coaches alike believe it holds profound significance during games.

“It was really important that our bench was involved, and they are a huge part of us being successful,” Papa said.

Much like its on-field success, the unmatched passion shown by the UNC bench does not exist as a coincidence.

Coaches and players have made it their mission to contribute to the game, even when they are not on the field.

“Something that we set as a goal this year was to have great energy on our bench,” Papa said, “and we get on them if they don’t do that.

“It’s about being locked in and being invested in your team.”

The UNC softball team has been a vocal, impassioned and close-knit team all season. But it felt special on Senior Day on Saturday. 

“This team in particular has been the most special of my four years hear,” said senior Amber Parrish.

For the five seniors who played their last ACC home game in a North Carolina uniform, the value of their bench’s contribution was immeasurable.

As they near the end of the season, the seniors said they felt grateful for their time with the team.

“The experience as a student-athlete is something that not a lot of people get to experience,” Kelly said. “I’m just grateful for that.”

With the Tar Heels near the top of the ACC, they look to move into the rest of their conference games with the consistency they showed this weekend.

And they can be sure to hear it from their bench the rest of the way.

sports@dailytarheel.com