UNC Preseason Scrimmage Notes
Defensive gems, homers highlighted the Tar Heels' second spring scrimmage
After taking Saturday off due to inclement weather, North Carolina returned to the field Sunday for its second spring scrimmage at Boshamer Stadium.
Boshamer Bulletin was on hand for Navy’s 3-2 victory over Blue. Below are a few notes from the 5 1/2-inning scrimmage.
Plays of the day
One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Tar Heels is whether Vance Honeycutt or Angel Zarate will open the year as the starting center fielder. That decision didn’t get any easier Sunday, as Honeycutt – who started in center for Blue – and Zarate – who started in center for Navy – each turned in a great defensive play.
Down 2-1 with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the third, Johnny Castagnozzi hit what looked like a surefire double to right-center. But using his elite speed, Honeycutt chased the ball down near the warning track, recording the second out in what proved to be a scoreless inning.
After giving up two runs over the next two innings, Blue had the game-tying run on third with two outs in the fifth when Danny Serretti hit a shallow fly ball into center. For a moment, it appeared as if it was going to drop for an RBI single, but Zarate made a diving grab to essentially seal the win.
Five who stood out
Joe Jaconski: The true freshman has shown glimpses of being an impact left-handed bat, but Sunday was his best showing since arriving at UNC. Jaconski drove in the game’s first run with a double down the left-field line in the second. Two innings later, with Navy trailing 2-1, he hit a 367-foot solo homer to right. He ultimately finished 2-for-3, joining Mac Horvath as the only players with multiple hits, and played second base and right field.
Max Riemer: It didn’t take long for Blue to seize the lead after Jaconski’s homer, as Riemer hit a 382-foot, two-run blast to right-center in the bottom of the second. The homer capped an eventful inning for the catcher – who made a nice play with a runner coming home on a grounder in the top of the frame, sliding to his left to snag a throw by the shortstop, Serretti, and then diving back to his right to make the tag.
Alden Segui: The freshman righty only faced two batters, but he was impressive in striking out Honeycutt and getting Serretti to ground out to first on seven pitches. Equipped with a fastball that reaches 96 mph as well as a hard, tight slider and a changeup that he mixes in, Segui looks like he’ll make an immediate impact as a power arm out of the bullpen.
Davis Palermo: Making his second appearance in three days, Palermo came on in the sixth and retired the side in order. Across the two outings, the righty didn’t allow a runner to reach base over two innings, striking out two and throwing 16 of his 23 pitches for strikes.
Zarate: In addition to his diving catch and drawing a walk, the fifth-year outfielder drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in the fifth, lacing a single up the middle.
Other observations
Connor Bovair and Shaddon Peavyhouse drew the starts for Navy and Blue, respectively. Bovair allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking two. Peavyhouse surrendered one run across three innings while walking two. Combined, the two righties allowed just three hits, but those included Riemer’s homer off Bovair and Jaconski’s double off Peavyhouse.
Outside of Bovair, Palermo, Peavyhouse and Segui, four other pitchers took the mound Sunday. Caden O’Brien and Carson Starnes pitched for Navy, and Caleb Cozart and Kyle Mott threw for Blue. The six relievers combined for two walks and a hit-by-pitch in 5 2/3 innings. Through two scrimmages, UNC’s pitchers have issued 10 walks across 23 innings.
Mott – who along with Palermo was the only pitcher to appear in each of the first two scrimmages – has allowed only one runner to reach base (via a walk) over 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Following his 2-for-4 effort Sunday, Horvath is 4-for-7 through the first two scrimmages. Jaconski and Riemer are the only other players with multiple hits at two apiece.
Other defensive highlights Sunday included:
Tomas Frick making a great throw to nab Serretti trying to steal second in the first.
Alberto Osuna making a tough pick at first on a throw by third baseman Clemente Inclan for the final out in the top of the third.
Serretti receiving a throw from Reece Holbrook in shallow left field and firing a strike to home plate to throw out Brandon Eike trying to score from first on Colby Wilkerson’s two-out, fourth-inning double.