UNC Reaches College World Series Final at 3-0, Chasing 1st Title Since 2007

Q: Can MLB prospect Gavin Kelly power underdog West Virginia to a stunning upset in their first CWS?

Yes — Gavin Kelly gives West Virginia a real chance to spring the upset, but he likely cannot do it alone. Kelly has been the Mountaineers’ most dangerous power bat and just showed why in Tuesday’s 12-0 elimination win over Troy, when he hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs. He now has 18 home runs and is the team’s RBI leader, making him the clearest candidate to change a game with one swing. As an MLB Draft prospect, he is exactly the kind of player who can carry an underdog for stretches in Omaha. But the challenge is steep. West Virginia must beat North Carolina twice, while the Tar Heels need only one win to reach their first national championship series since 2007. North Carolina also has a deeper pitching staff and already beat the Mountaineers 5-2 on Sunday. The Tar Heels’ decision to start Folger Boaz while keeping key bullpen arm Caden Glauber available underscores that depth. For West Virginia to pull it off in its first College World Series, Kelly’s power must be paired with pressure from Armani Guzman, whose speed and on-base ability can create scoring chances and disrupt North Carolina’s defense. The Mountaineers also need a strong pitching plan, whether that comes from Chansen Cole, Ian Korn or a bullpen mix. Kelly can absolutely be the centerpiece of a stunning upset. To finish it, West Virginia will need its star catcher to stay hot and the rest of the roster to match him.

3 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Jun 17

North Carolina moved into the College World Series final unbeaten in Omaha after beating West Virginia 12-7, leaving the Tar Heels two wins from a national title.
Gavin Gallaher’s bases-clearing triple broke a 2-2 tie, and UNC’s earlier 6-2 win over Ole Miss plus a 5-2 victory over West Virginia gave it a 3-0 start.
Scott Forbes, a pitching coach on UNC’s 2006 runner-up team, said he is downplaying title talk and sticking with the same postseason pitching plan despite the favorable position.
Folger Boaz is expected to start Wednesday, while the Tar Heels benefit from not having played since Sunday and from preserving arms such as Caden Glauber for the best-of-three final.
Oklahoma is the only other 2-0 team left; Georgia and Texas each have one loss, with the final opponent for UNC still to be decided from the other side of the bracket.