NC State baseball ready for Omaha after ‘surreal’ feeling of winning super regional

NC State relief pitcher Derrick Smith had just thrown his 46th pitch of the night as Georgia’s Tre Phelps heaved a ball to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Smith quickly turned around on the mound, only to see outfielder Eli Serrano III raise both arms with a celebratory “I got it, it’s over” kind of signal. Seconds later, Serrano III had the ball in his glove and the Wolfpack were on their way to the 2024 College World Series.

For the Pack, an 8-5 victory over Georgia on Monday, winning the Athens Super Regional, led to the usual dogpile and massive hugs that accompany it. The Wolfpack, seeded 10th nationally in the NCAA baseball tournament, took to the road and got the job done in all three games at dynamic Foley Field.

“A surreal moment,” first baseman Garrett Pennington said Tuesday. “It was time for all of us to go out there and celebrate.” We all passed out and don’t even remember dogpiling. Just an unreal experience.

All that remained was to pack her bags Tuesday morning for the bus ride to Raleigh – where another celebration awaited.

Many Wolfpack fans came to Doak Field to welcome the returning Athens team. Among them: Wolfpack women’s basketball coach Wes Moore and his staff.

Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent, spotting Moore waiting near the bus, said, “What are you doing here?” You should recruit.

Moore’s response: “You are all the best recruiters we have ever launched.” Winning on ESPN is the best recruiting you can do.

The scene was reminiscent of but also very different from another gathering at Doak Field in 2021.

This came after the Pack was forced to forfeit a game and abruptly sent by NCAA officials from the College World Series due to COVID-19 concerns. There was a lot of bad will.

Many Wolfpack fans were still angry when the team returned to Doak from Omaha, Nebraska. Coaches and players gathered on the infield, using a megaphone to speak to a large crowd on this day in 2021.

“It means as much to me as anything that’s ever happened in my baseball career,” Avent said of the reception.

The debacle of 2021 must also make this year’s accomplishment even sweeter for the Wolfpack. There is a chance to go to Omaha and right what the Pack saw as the wrongs of the NCAA and its decision.

“I’m not very keen on revenge or a chip on my shoulder,” Avent said. “I’m not that type of coach, that doesn’t mean I don’t have really bad feelings for a few guys over there. What happened in 2021 was a travesty.

“Revenge gets you nowhere except bitterness in your own feelings. But I’m sure for the 21 team, it’s special for them.

Pitcher Logan Whitaker, who left the bus clutching the Super Regional trophy, was a member of the 2021 team. He did not pitch in Omaha, but recovered this season from a serious illness for to start in the decisive matches of the NCAA Raleigh Regional then Monday in Athens.

Now he returns to Omaha.

“It’s sweet. It’s nice, man,” Whitaker said. “It’s something you manifest. It’s something I’ve dreamed of doing. Now that it’s coming to fruition, I’m definitely taking all of this and I savor it.

The Pack beat Georgia in the first game 18-1, scoring 11 runs in the second inning. It was all Georgia in the second game as the Bulldogs went on a 11-2 run to even the best-of-three series.

But Pennington hit a two-run homer Monday after the Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead. Eli Serrano III homered. Alex Sosa homered. Alec Makarewicz homered.

“That’s pretty much how it goes,” Pennington said. “Once one guy goes, everyone goes. Everything started to come together. We had the game in the bag and it was like, “Let’s go to Omaha.” »

The Pack’s first CWS game in Omaha is Saturday at 2 p.m. against Kentucky. North Carolina, Virginia and Florida State will also be there to represent the ACC.

Avent said he received about 475 text messages after Monday’s game — including one from Gov. Roy Cooper — and tried to respond to as many as possible during the long drive home. He noted that Wolfpack football coach Dave Doeren sent him a congratulatory video.

The Wolfpack will leave at 8 a.m. Wednesday for the College World Series.

” “What do you call it, the greatest show about dirt? I’m ready to have fun in Omaha.