NC State Baseball
NC State’s Fans and New Batting Helmet Tradition, Are Just the Best
I love the Little League World Series. Not only can I not fathom how good 12 years olds can be at baseball, but the environment is incredible. You’re witnessing dreams being achieved in real-time. Beyond the players, one of the best parts, and actually fairly underrated, is the fact parents, siblings and friends are a part of those magical moments.
The College World Series goes one level up. Take that 12 year old and go through 8 more years of travel ball, high school, more travel ball and college. So the fact that I get to see parents rocking a ‘Homer Helmet’, is beyond awesome to me. (Not sure if that’s the official name, but it should 100000% be called the ‘Homer Helmet’.)
Homer Helmet
Here’s the backstory. Jonny Butler hits an insane home run against Arkansas, after a fan makes a literal “Jonny Butler Sucks” shirt. It’s then decided that the helmet is given to a parent who’s kid hit the last dinger. They then wear it until the next home run. So now we have folks rocking double hat helmets and living it up in the stands. It’s BEAUTIFUL.
Pack Leaders in Loudness
State’s fandom has been well documented this CWS run. Whether in Fayetteville or Omaha, the fact “Wolf-Pack” chants can be EASILY heard is beyond amazing. Days before the CWS even started, the city of Omaha was covered in Red (and not that dull crimson red). We take pride in our team and have a hell of a lot of fun doing it.
So if there are any questions on which school has the most rapid fanbase, know this…If you don’t list State, you’re a loser and absolutely dead to me. Furthermore, if you don’t think WPN would support a baseball team and fill a new ballpark, GTFO. The love of everything State is strong and its pride in teams massive.
GO PACK!
After sweeping Ball State this past weekend, NC State jumped up in almost all of the Top-25 polls.
Baseball America – 13th (+4)
RPI – 20th (+9)
D1Baseball – 20th (+1)
USAToday Coaches Poll – 20th (+3)
Perfect Game – 25th (-)
#21 NC State defeated Ball St. 11-3 this afternoon, completing the sweep of the Cardinals.
Freshman Cooper Consiglio got the start, and pitched a career high 85 pitches, giving up 2 earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched. He struck out 3, and walked 3.
Junior Carson Kelly came in for an inning of relief after Consiglio’s exodus, and even though he gave up a run, he was credited with the win.
Junior’s Jacob Cozart (C) and Brandon Butterworth (SS) each hit Home Runs, and each had 3 RBI’s. Cozart was a double shy of hitting for the Cycle. He is on a torrid streak, hitting Home Runs in 6 of the last 7 games.
Hot start from ‘Zart 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2inPsZfFnZ
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 28, 2024
Two-out, two-run damage from Butters 🧈#Pack9 | @SlippinOnButter pic.twitter.com/K2raWgWISa
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 28, 2024
SIX homers in SEVEN games for No. 14 💪 pic.twitter.com/4oEBC93N6H
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 28, 2024
Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 5 with 2 Runs, and Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makerewicz had a 2 RBI Double.
The Wolfpack will host UNCW this Tuesday at 5pm.
Sophomore Dom Fritton was solid this afternoon in NC State’s 9-3 win over Ball State, securing the series victory. He gave up 1 earned run in 5.2 innings, striking out 4 (3 walks). The bullpen was solid, with Freshman Jaxon Lucas pitching 1 inning with no earned runs (1 unearned run), while Sophomore Shane Van Dam gave up 1 run in 2.1 innings, striking out 3. Fritton is now 3-3 on the year with a 6.89 ERA.
Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III had a 2 RBI Single in the Bottom of the 2nd, which gave the Wolfpack their 3rd run of the inning after Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz scored off a wild pitch.
Up the middle for ✌️#Pack9 | @eliserrano__ pic.twitter.com/baS1ozuV9D
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 27, 2024
In the Bottom of the 3rd, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit a solo shot, his 11th Home Run of the year, which is a new career high.
Into the trees 🌳💣 pic.twitter.com/3STnCOYvux
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 27, 2024
In the Bottom of the 5th, the Wolfpack would tack on 3 more runs. A-Mak had an RBI groundout, Junior Left Fielder Chase Nixon had an RBI Single, and then he scored when his brother Luke was caught stealing.
In the Bottom of the 7th, Chase Nixon knocked in 2 more with an RBI Double. He also had this web gem in the Top of the 8th, which would have surely scored 2 runs without his diving effort.
What a play by C-Nix 🤯#Pack9 x #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/rNonhH4kCY
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 27, 2024
The Wolfpack and the Cardinals will close out the series tomorrow at 1pm at Doak Field.