After losing a deep core of players to graduation and last year’s MLB Draft, UNC is leaning on its younger players to maintain its spot in the top ranks of college baseball. The No. 17 North Carolina baseball team only had one senior in Wednesday’s starting lineup against High Point, but that didn't stop them from taking a 14-0 victory.
The lack of upperclassmen in the Tar Heel lineup has led sophomores Danny Serretti and Aaron Sabato to become stand-in veterans at the top of UNC's lineup.
The duo highlighted the top of the North Carolina lineup for the second straight season and were particularly impressive in the victory over High Point.
Sabato, who led the team in home runs as a first-year, finally hit his first shot of the season. With UNC already leading 12-0 in the seventh inning, the sophomore skied a deep two-run home run over the left field wall to add insult to injury.
Serretti also had a big day for the Tar Heels. The shortstop, who hit .299 last season, went 2-3 at the plate, scored twice and knocked in a run of his own.
But it can't just be those two that produce — a handful of young talent has to make major contributions in order for UNC to have another successful campaign.
“I think it just starts with showing the younger guys how to go about their business,” Serretti said. “Get them coming in every day, doing their job and helping the team win. That’s the difference.”
Throughout North Carolina’s first four games, the first-years on the team have stepped up, and that continued on Wednesday afternoon.
First-year catcher Will Stewart had a major impact for the Tar Heels. The substitute came in to hit for fellow first-year Eric Grintz in the fifth inning and made the most out of his three plate appearances, knocking in three runs on two hits and scoring a run of his own.
