What Lincoln is Thinkin’ - Cary Preview

The Coastal baseball team are winners all ready. By advancing farther then any other team has before them, CCU is all ready going to go down as the best team in school history. But they don't feel like they're done yet. Beating the second best team in the country is not going to be a walk in the park, but I think they have a chance. They just need to do the following things:

1. Do not let the UNC starters dominate

The Tar Heels lead the country in strikeouts and runs allowed. UNC's Saturday and Sunday starters (Alex White and Adam Warren) combined to go 17-4 this year, striking out 170 batters. The Coastal bats need to work long counts, and get batters on early. They need to get these guys out of the game. Which leads to point two:

2. Get to the Heel bullpen

It may be UNC's Achilles' heel (yes I went there). In the ACC tournament, UNC went three games and out.. and gave up 12 runs in 8 plus innings out of their bullpen. The way the Chants can come back in games, I like CCU to be able to score late.

3. Play "Small Ball"

This one may be the most obvious. A few of the Coastal players told me on Tuesday that "Coastal Carolina Baseball IS Small Ball" (even though they blasted 7 home runs in the regional.) The Team USA baseball complex is a humongous field. Coastal will not be crushing balls out of the ballpark. They need to get back to hit-and-runs, plenty of stolen bases, and being productive with their outs. For anyone who thinks that CCU baseball is NOT "Small Ball" - they were 6th in the country this year in sacrifice bunts. Meanwhile UNC was 196th.

4. Don't drain the 'pen

Coastal exhibited over the past few weeks that their own bullpen can be on and off. There's no doubt that Joey Haug and Pete Andrelczyk are very dependable. But after that, things get dicey. Freshman Cody Wheeler started the finale of the Regional and didn't get out of the first inning. Seeing David Anderson beat the Heels earlier this year, I'm expecting him to get the call for the start on Monday. That means Wheeler will move to the bullpen and give them a good, live extra arm. I don't think Coastal will win the series if their starters do not go deep into games.

5. Keep playing loose

I can't see CCU having a problem with this one. The Chants SHOULD have felt pressure to win their first regional on their home field. But they never played like they had a weight on their chest or a monkey on their back. This team has always played loose, and played like they have nothing to lose. Because they play UNC every year, and because they beat them this year on the field they're playing at this weekend, I think they will go into this weekend without feeling or playing tight. There's nothing more dangerous than a team that has nothing to lose.

I'm not going to make any predictions for this weekend. I think the Chants are perfectly capable of doing the five things above, and advancing to Omaha. We'll just have to see who goes out and takes ahold of their own destiny.

Do you think the Chants will beat the Heels this weekend? Make sure to read Chris Fischer's blog (The Fisch Tank) for his take on the Cary Super Regional.

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