How social media reacted to UNC's baseball season ending against Arizona in Super Regional
After an 18-2 explosion against Arizona on Friday afternoon, the North Carolina Tar Heels found themselves one victory away from a second-consecutive trip to the College World Series.
UNC led late in Game 2 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional Saturday, but its bullpen faltered late in a 10-8 loss. North Carolina held another late lead Sunday, leading 3-1, but that didn't last long.
Diamond Heels captain Jackson Van De Brake botched a would-be double play ball in the eighth inning, with Arizona soon after taking the lead by scoring three runs. UNC's offense remained stagnant after escaping the eighth, with UNC losing 4-3 – and watching its hopes of a second-straight CWS berth come to a screeching halt.
North Carolina (46-15) fell behind early in Game 3, just like it did on Saturday, but took the lead on more clutch hitting. Van De Brake, who walked four times against the Wildcats (44-19), smoked a 3-run, third-inning home run on a line drive just over the left field wall.
The Diamond Heels couldn't muster much after Van De Brake's bomb, though, minus a couple baserunners. UNC didn't get a single runner on base in the ninth inning, with Tyson Bass, Sam Angelo and Carter French all going hitless.
Ryan Lynch, typically a long-relief option for North Carolina out of the bullpen, pitched phenomenal on Sunday before being pulled in the eighth inning. Diamond Heels closer Walker McDuffie struggled again in relief, recording just one out, giving up a hit and walking one batter, while his lone unearned run was the eventual game-winning for Arizona.
Let's take a look at social media and see the college baseball world's reaction to UNC's loss, which was a heartbreaker considering how UNC was two innings away from Omaha:
Comparing UNC's choke to the Dallas Cowboys
Arizona is loving life right now
UNC didn't score enough...and the offense went cold
Van De Brake helped get UNC to Supers
Disagreement about the ending of Game 3
UNC couldn't cash in on its best team in years
This was supposed to be the year
Tar Heel Nation feels your pain
Don't jump to conclusions
Tyson Bass struggled Sunday after a big Game 2
Van De Brake gave UNC the lead...go easy on him
Did fielding and pitching cost UNC a chance at Omaha?
Thank you to the Diamond Heels' veterans
Mistakes came at the worst time
Remember...these kids are still in college
Ryan Lynch gave UNC a chance to win
If you just started watching UNC during the NCAA Tournament...be quiet
The talent was there...the result wasn't
Postseason baseball is weird
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
People Are Betting on Little League, Threatening 'Sanctity' of Youth Sports
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Protecting players should be a top concern for the Little League World Series amid the proliferation of gambling overseas, which represents the "erosion of the sanctity in youth sports," critics told Newsweek. Shawn French, host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University, denounced the rise of sites like BetOnline and Bovada as detrimental to young athletes, potentially creating a nightmare scenario. "Now we know that betting on youth sports, especially 10- to 12-year-olds, is against the law here," French told Newsweek. "But it doesn't necessarily keep the risk away regarding these overseas betting sites. The thing that really scares me is it proposes this massive ethical risk for these minors." Shawn French, founder/host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University. Shawn French, founder/host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University. Courtesy of Shawn French French warned of potential safety risks and threats to players and their parents due to wagers linked to Little League World Series (LLWS) matchups. "These people get very fanatical about their bets and how much money they lose," he said. "What's to say these families aren't going to get death threats if their 11-year-old kid doesn't play well? That is scary to me. It should be scary to the parents, it should be scary for the kids and it should be scary for the society we live in that these children are now being subject to people who may be more worried about their betting streak than the safety and sanctity of these children." French, who previously played in the College World Series and now coaches his 11-year-old son's team, said he was dismayed by LLWS gambling and the potential impact on young athletes. "It's a wild thing," he told Newsweek. "This is just an erosion of the sanctity in youth sports. It is scary." Little League officials, meanwhile, publicly condemned gambling on youth sports in a statement last week. "While Little League International continues to monitor the complexity and ever-evolving world of sports betting, we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any other youth sports competition," Little League International announced on August 14. Little League players learn the "fundamentals of the games" and vital life lessons, including teamwork and integrity, while on the diamond, organizers said. "And no one should be exploiting the successes and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain," the statement concluded. Some Little League managers are also angered that gamblers can wager on games involving boys as young as 10. "I'm not a fan," South Carolina manager Dave Bogan told the Associated Press. "It's just not appropriate, it feels dirty, quite honestly." Jimmy Taxiltaridis, of Fairfield, Connecticut, tags out Cutter Ricafort of Las Vegas at home plate during a Little League World Series game on August 20, 2025. Jimmy Taxiltaridis, of Fairfield, Connecticut, tags out Cutter Ricafort of Las Vegas at home plate during a Little League World Series game on August 20, 2025. AP Photo/Jared Freed Hawaii's manager, Gerald Oda, said placing a bet on young boys robs the "beauty" of Little League. "This is the only tournament where you're representing your local community," Oda told the AP. "It's that innocence, that pureness that these kids show on the field." The 12-year-old boys on Oda's team should cherish the memories from this summer more so than wins or losses, he added. "Gambling is here to stay, but I am thankful that Little League is very protective of what they have, and they should be." Oda continued. "You know that pure joy and emotion whether you win or you lose, that's the greatest thing." An Outsider's Perspective George Daniel, former commissioner of the National Lacrosse League, also called on LLWS officials to be more aggressive regarding ongoing efforts to protect young athletes as gambling thrives overseas. "Professional athletes face backlash from angry bettors in social media," Daniel told Newsweek. "For a young person to deal with that would be unbearable. Little League World Series needs to be proactive in limiting their data rights and being diligent in prohibiting gambling on their events." South Carolina's Preston Ware celebrates as he scores the winning run against South Dakota at the Little League World Series on August 20 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. South Carolina's Preston Ware celebrates as he scores the winning run against South Dakota at the Little League World Series on August 20 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. AP Photo/Jared Freed Daniel said he'd work to further highlight the collective sheer love of baseball if he oversaw the roughly two million boys and girls who play Little League worldwide. "Balancing the commercial aspects with sportsmanship of a youth sports property is always challenging," Daniel told Newsweek. "I would try to emphasize the joy of playing rather than the competitive aspects, but that's not easy to do when you are talking about an internationally televised event." Fond Memories Sixty-five percent of U.S. adults surveyed in 2022 said they played competitive or recreational youth sports — with basketball (24 percent) and baseball (23 percent) ranking as the most popular, according to the YouGov poll. Among former baseball players, 45 percent of Americans said they had "very positive" experiences, compared to just 2 percent who had "very negative" recollections from the diamond. More than 60 boys who played in the Little League World Series later went onto the majors, including Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson. In 1981, he starred as a catcher on a team from Barrington, Illinois, that lost in the final and ultimately finished third. Read more Push to move back mound as Little League pitchers hurl 80 mph fastballs Push to move back mound as Little League pitchers hurl 80 mph fastballs "I think at some point even when you lose that game and your hopes have sort of been dashed, that's when it starts to sink in that you played for the U.S. championship," Wilson told the Seattle Times on Saturday. "Even at 12, that means quite a bit." Despite the devastating 11-10 loss to a squad out of Tampa, Florida, Wilson fondly recalled the indelible experience he had decades earlier. "Just kind of a storybook kind of a scenario from beginning to end," Wilson told the newspaper. "But as a 12-year-old just realizing how much fun the game was, what a good team around you was all about and the whole experience of Williamsport was just so fun." Wilson, 56, returned to Pennsylvania on Sunday as the Seattle Mariners played the New York Mets in the MLB Little League Classic game. He also threw out the first pitch before a Little League World Series matchup between Panama and Mexico. "I'll probably feel 12 years old all over again," Wilson said prior to the trip. "I think in some ways I'm realistic in believing that it probably looks completely different than how I remembered it at 12. It's probably a lot smaller than I thought it was. But just kind of being able to see the Little Leaguers there and seeing that experience again through their eyes will bring back a lot more."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Humpy Wheeler, the 'P.T. Barnum of motorsports,' dies at 86
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Humpy Wheeler, a pioneering motorsports promoter and former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died, NASCAR said. He was 86. Charlotte Motor Speedway said Wheeler died of natural causes Wednesday in Charlotte, surrounded by his family. 'Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport,' said NASCAR chairman Jim France. 'During his decades leading Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion. His efforts helped expand NASCAR's national footprint, cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex.' Howard Augustine Wheeler Jr. was born in 1938 in Belmont, North Carolina, and gained his first major publicity job with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He held several other positions after Firestone shut down its racing program in 1970 and was hired at Charlotte Motor Speedway by owner Bruton Smith as president in 1975. He became a transformative figure in promoting racing and was known as the 'P.T. Barnum of motorsports' for flashy pre-race stunts, elaborate productions and sparing no expense in ensuring fans had the most enjoyable experience possible at his events. Wheeler earlier this year was named winner of NASCAR's prestigious Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, to which he'd have been inducted into the Hall of Fame next year. 'Humpy's contributions to and accomplishments in NASCAR are without parallel. The breadth and depth of his legacy, and those whom he influenced, assisted and mentored, cannot be overstated,' said Winston Kelley, executive director of the Hall of Fame. "Frequently adding new dynamics to the sport, Humpy's visionary leadership and creativity helped shape today's fan experience. 'Through his innovative promotions and stunts, Wheeler's contributions expanded NASCAR's national and international presence during the 1990s and early 2000s, solidifying Charlotte as 'NASCAR's Home for Racing.'' Wheeler mentored 'hundreds, if not thousands,' of people throughout his life, Kelley said, including inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt and Landmark Award recipient Janet Guthrie. Wheeler spent 33 years running Charlotte Motor Speedway. His innovation and pre-race extravaganzas recreated numerous military operations — including the invasion of Grenada — that made the facility a gold standard in NASCAR. He promoted school-bus races during the week, grassroots series for young aspiring racers, stunts and even the 'Robosaurus,' a towering, fire-breathing, car-crunching mechanical robot. Wheeler and his boss, the late Smith, grew Charlotte Motor Speedway into the ownership group Speedway Motorsports Inc., which acquired multiple race tracks that play a pivotal role in American motorsports today. Charlotte was the first track to build condominiums on site, built a restaurant overlooking the race track and was the first speedway of its size to install lights for night racing. 'Charlotte Motor Speedway was blessed to have a leader in Humpy Wheeler who can only be described as ONE of a kind,' the speedway said in a statement. ' For more than 30 years, Humpy was a promoter's promoter at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alongside our founder Bruton Smith, Humpy pushed the speedway to new and greater heights — establishing the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway as not only the most innovative facility in NASCAR for fan, partner and competitor amenities, but also one of the most progressive in all of sports. 'Humpy's engaging smile and flair for promotion were legendary, and his impact on every stakeholder in motorsports will be long-lasting. Humpy not only made his mark with publicity, but also with a laser-focus toward the fans," the speedway continued. 'He would often tell his staff to pay attention to 'the three Ts — tickets, traffic and toilets,' in order to ensure fans have the best possible experience. He would also say it was our job to put a little 'technicolor in people's black-and-white lives.'" Wheeler retired from Charlotte Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports in 2008 after a bitter falling out with Smith, but remained active in motorsports through his own consulting company and was on the voting panel for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Pat; daughters, Traci and Patti; son, Trip; and four grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending and the family request donations be made in Wheeler's name to the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Management Program, which Wheeler was instrumental in launching more than 20 years ago. ___ AP auto racing: Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Humpy Wheeler, NASCAR showman who helped races run under the lights, dies at 86
H.A. 'Humpy' Wheeler, the longtime head of Charlotte Motor Speedway whose showmanship and innovation played an integral role in NASCAR's rise in popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s, died on Wednesday. He was 86. Known as the 'P.T. Barnum of race promoters,' Wheeler was credited with bringing night races to speedways. He also orchestrated wild pre-race shows and crazy stunts like staging dramatic military reenactments (the Battle of Grenada was one example) on the frontstretch, luring fans to the racetrack hours early in an attempt to alleviate traffic jams. Advertisement Wheeler was such a notable figure in NASCAR, he had a role in Pixar's 'Cars' and 'Cars 3' as the character Tex Dinoco. In May, he was named the 2026 winner of NASCAR's Landmark Award for outstanding contributions to the sport and was set to officially receive the honor in January. He is also a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. 'Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport,' NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement Thursday. 'During his decades leading Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion. His efforts helped expand NASCAR's national footprint (and) cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex.' Wheeler's most significant contributions to NASCAR during its period of growth may have been illumination — both literally and figuratively. His idea to light Charlotte for the famous 1992 All-Star Race (known as 'One Hot Night') permanently changed the at-track fan experience. But he also helped NASCAR grab the spotlight with his attention-grabbing, unpredictable ideas, which were fostered through a lifetime of unique experiences. Wheeler organized and promoted bicycle races as a 13-year-old. He played college football at the University of South Carolina until he broke three vertebrae and was temporarily paralyzed and was also a semi-professional boxer who posted a 40-2 record. But his tenure at the Charlotte track, which he ran from 1976-2008, gave him the opportunity to be a showman while focusing on the fan experience. (His 'three Ts' were tickets, traffic and toilets). He was considered a mentor to many in the NASCAR industry, including Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Alan Kulwicki. He was progressive for his time, arranging for Janet Guthrie to drive in the 1976 World 600 — making her the first woman to compete in a NASCAR superspeedway race. Advertisement Under Wheeler's supervision, Charlotte expanded to 167,000 seats and became the first track to build condominiums as part of the facility. He was also instrumental in developing the Legend car scene, which is still a key cog for young drivers on their way up the racing ladder. 'Humpy's contributions to and accomplishments in NASCAR are without parallel,' NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley said. 'The breadth and depth of his legacy, and those whom he influenced, assisted and mentored, cannot be overstated.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
