Two NC Teams Make College World Series: Cherryville Player Shines
By: Rusty Wise – Wise News Network
Omaha, NE (WNN) – Every college baseball player dreams of competing in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. For two teams from NC, that dream is coming true. The NC State Wolfpack and North Carolina Tar Heels are playing in the 2024 NCAA D1 Men’s College World Series in Omaha starting Friday, June 14th. The Series will feature 4 ACC and 4 SEC teams, marking the first occurrence since 1950.
One of the least likely teams to be in the Series is probably the Wolfpack (38-21). Their season started with a rocky start and strings of consecutive losses. Like the NC State Men’s 2024 basketball team, the State baseball team has gotten hot in the late season, winning 15 of their last 20 games. The Wolfpack also hit ten home runs in the Athens Super Regional against Georgia this past week. This will make the 4th overall appearance in history for the Wolfpack in the College World Series and the 3rd time since 2013. The last appearance was in 2021 when the NCAA decided to disqualify the Wolfpack because of the COVID rules at that time. NC State has a power ranking of 8th by BetMGM in the 2024 Series.
The North Carolina Tar Heels (47-14) enter the 2024 Series with a power ranking of #4 by BetMGM. The Tar Heels have performed well throughout the year and are on track for the Series, winning both games against West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. This trip will mark the 12th Series appearance for the Tar Heels, their first since 2018.
Dalton Pence, a native of Cherryville, NC, has played a crucial role in helping the Tar Heels reach Omaha this year. As a left-handed relief pitcher with a 2.04 ERA, Pence has been instrumental in securing outs during the postseason. His strikeouts in the closing innings against West Virginia helped the Tar Heels secure their Series berth. Pence, who graduated from Cherryville High School in 2021, previously played for the Ironmen and the Cherryville American Legion Post 100. An arm injury in the summer of 2021 delayed the pitching Tar Heel, but strength comes out of adversity, and it is showing now. Pence told WNN, “I have always dreamed of playing baseball with the Tar Heels and going to the College World Series. My dreams are finally coming true”.
Proud parents Mike and Lisa Pence of Cherryville stated, “To say we are proud of Dalton is an understatement. His dream has always been to play baseball at Carolina. His faith and trust in God has helped him become the person he is today,” per a recent Facebook Post.
The Wolfpack and Tar Heels have yet to win the College Baseball World Series Title, but they could play each other since they are in opposing brackets. It would be great to see NC State vs. Carolina in the final game. The great state of North Carolina wins either way and so does Cherryville, NC, which has a star player.
Carolina Tar Heels first game vs. Virginia – Friday, 6/14, 2 PM EST ESPN TV
NC State Wolfpack first game vs. Kentucky – Saturday, 6/15, 2 PM EST ESPN TV
Brackets, Times, and TV – Central Standard Time
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