It was a warm autumn day in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a Friday game, the leaves were just starting to turn and the air had a crispness to it that promised cooler days ahead. On this particular day, however, the temperature was still quite comfortable as fans filed into Doak Field to watch their beloved Wolfpack take on Duke in a key conference matchup.
As the game got underway, it quickly became clear that NC State was the better team. They jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, cruising to a 9-4 victory it was almost a no contest. But as the players and fans celebrated the win, they had no way of knowing that it would be the last time the Wolfpack would take the field as a team to potentially compete for the college world series.
Just days after the game, it was revealed that NC State had used an ineligible player and as a result, they were forced to forfeit the win and their spot in the ACC tournament. The news came as a shock to everyone involved with the program and sent the team into a tailspin, no different a shock first round lose. But we will look at other times the NC State baseball team’s season has hit a wall in pursuit of a college world series.
What is the College World Series?
Every Year from late spring to early summer, the NCAA Championship takes place featuring 64 teams. This culminates in an 8 team CWS finals tournament know as the College world series. Every year the CWS finals or college world series are held in Omaha, Nebraska at the Charles Schwab Field. The eventual finalists meet in a best of three finals series.
Who Has Won the College World Series The Most Times?
That honor goes to the University of Southern California, with a total of 12 wins. Coming in a second with 6 wins a piece is the University of Texas and LSU. By itself on 5 wins is Arizona State.
The Southern California Trojans dominated in the 1970’s, winning an unprecedented 5 years running between 1970 and 1974. The last championship was a few decades ago now, going back to 1998, almost 25 years ago.
Why was the Game against Vanderbilt Declared a No Contest
After a decision from the championship medical team and the Douglas county health department, the NC state baseball team were disqualified from their June 26th Matchup and Friday’s game against Vanderbilt, meaning Vanderbilt advances.
Although at the time they said they cannot provide further details, it was due to a series of Covid 19 positive tests and positive cases, Friday’s game against Vanderbilt was declared a no contest and Vanderbilt advances.
Although the young men of NC State baseball team had recently lost to the Commodores, thanks to multiple players and members of their baseball committee that tested positive and had to enter into covid 19 protocols, they still had high hopes. NC State’s student athletes being fully aware of their own history, already winning 3 NCAA Championships.
But it was the leadup to that game and their own decisions where things began to go wrong. If we track forward, it was here where not only the first player tested positive, but the first players tested positive, bringing covid 19 protocols, Mississippi State, NCAA officials, and NCAA President Mark Emmert into play.
When Was the First Positive Test for North Carolina State
On the 20th June The North Carolina State team as per College World Series and NCAA Division rules, had to undergo testing. The entire team and the entire roster returns no positive virus tests according to the championship medical team and the douglas county health department. Although one player reports being ill, the college world series was still very much on the right track and Covid 19 is yet to affect the team.
A few days later, the team receives the latest positive tests for Covid 19. On early Saturday morning, further details emerge from the athletes and coaching staff that they have two positive tests. Although coach Elliott Avent tests positive, later he returns a negative PCR test. The player who had originally felt ill, also tests positive, introducing Covid protocols, but his roommate brings back a negative test.
Unvaccinated Players Vs Vaccinated players
On the 25th June, after 3 more position players test positive, and more covid protocols are introduced for NC State’s game. Rob Murphy and other members announce their regret that NC State’s vaccinated players only with have the eligibility to play and not unvaccinated players.
According to the Capitol Broadcasting Company, with 13 players available, this meant only nine position players and four pitchers for their baseball team. This was all thanks to covid 19 protocols , not due to the fact the players tested positive, but to being unvaccinated according to, Mississippi State, NCAA officials, NCAA president Mark Emmert and Members of the Division i baseball committee. Although some said the committee regret the decision, it was necessary for the safety of student athletes involved in the National championship against the dangers of covid 19.
What did NC State Officials say about it?
According to state officials and sources from the capitol broadcasting company, some members had been showing symptoms prior to testing on early Saturday morning. After the 25th June game, test results showed that four more players tested positive. The NCAA then recommended that the student athletes and coaching of NC State be removed from the competition. Soon after it was announced that the committee regret that NC State would be disqualified for the safety of other teams.
What did the Coach Say when Asked about vaccinated individuals?
After the controversial decision, Coach Avent was asked about vaccinated individuals and if he was vaccinated. His reply was blunt and to the point
“If you want to talk baseball, we can,” he said. “If you want to talk politics or stuff like that, you can go talk to my head of sports medicine, Rob Murphy.”
Why Did NC State Baseball Get Disqualified
Another situation started with a player named Andrew Carraway. Carraway was a transfer from Liberty University and he had only been with the team for a few weeks when the Duke game was played.
Initially, there was no problem with his eligibility. But after further evaluation, it was determined that he had not met the criteria for a transfer student-athlete. Specifically, he had not spent enough time at his previous school before transferring to NC State.
As a result of using an ineligible player, the Wolfpack were forced to forfeit the game and they were also disqualified from the ACC tournament. It was a tough pill to swallow for a team that had worked so hard all season.
What Happened to NC State Baseball After the Disqualification?
The short answer is: not much. The team continued to play out the rest of their schedule and they even managed to win a few games. But the damage had been done and NC State was not going to be playing in the postseason.
It was a tough way to end the season for a team that had so much promise. But in the end, they handled the situation with class and they will be back next year to try and make things right.
The Unfair Decision to Disqualify NC State’s Baseball Team
When it was initially announced that NC State would be forfeiting their game against Duke and then later disqualified from the ACC tournament, many people were quick to criticize the decision. After all, it seemed like a harsh punishment for what was essentially a mistake by the coaching staff.
But upon further evaluation, it is clear that the disqualification was the right call. NC State knowingly used an ineligible player and as a result, they broke the rules.
There is no doubt that it was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved. But in the end, justice was served and the right decision was made.
