OMAHA, Neb. - Whenever Rob Wooten throws a perfect slider, Alex White whizzes a fastball or Adam Warren strikes someone out looking, North Carolina sophomore Chase Jones feels a bit of pride.

As bullpen catcher, he isn't on the Tar Heels' active roster for the College World Series, but he has an active role in preparing the pitchers for every outing.

"It's not really glamorous or anything, but any pitcher that goes out there, I'm a piece of that,'' said Jones, who is from Greensboro. "They've developed something in the bullpen I've helped out with. I know what they're throwing out there, because they've thrown it to me. And that's a pretty cool feeling."

Jones, a second baseman in high school, joined the Carolina program as a student manager last season. He volunteered to take over catching duties in the bullpen to take some of the wear and tear off the regulars.

Having never even donned catching gear before, he quickly learned his new role could be painful.

His first time in the bullpen, Wooten threw him a couple of fastballs before giving him the signal for his slider.

"I was so nervous I was shaking,'' Jones said laughing. "I went for it, and hit me straight in the face [mask]."

Ouch.

Jones' worst injury (so far), though, came when a pitch by Warren bounced in the dirt then caught up under Jones' chin and slammed his teeth together -- chipping a top tooth.

But he said his experience has been worth any pain.

"When I put on the equipment for the first time, I thought, 'This is weird,' " he said. "But I've learned to love it. I wish I did it my whole life, now."