Onward to Omaha

Fans wish Tar Heels baseball team well on its third trip to CWS

CHAPEL HILL -- Tyler Tachman, 6, waited patiently for the UNC baseball team to emerge from the fieldhouse on the east end of Kenan Stadium.

"There's Chad," said Tachman, referring to the Heels third baseman Chad Flack, who knew Tyler by name.

Tyler wasn't the only one to see off the Tar Heels.

A crowd of more than 100 gathered in a hazy, smoky heat to see the team depart Wednesday afternoon for Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series.

After the players tucked their luggage into the storage compartment of the team bus, many mingled with the fans, signing autographs for kids, before loading up.

Walter Holt, 13, of Carrboro, was covered from head to toe in Tar Heels apparel, including his hat, which was signed by "just about" every member of the team.

"This is the year," said Holt, wearing a baseball glove of his own, as he slapped a baseball into the webbing.

Sophomore righty pitcher Alex White was carrying his glove and four different UNC baseball caps "to be prepared for any uniform combination," he said.

White was glad to see all the fans.

"It's great for us," he said. "They come out here and take time out of their day and just support us. It's a great feeling."

At several points, the crowd chanted various Tar Heels themes.

A throng of television news cameras navigated the crowd, as did UNC security officers.

Mark Tachman, Tyler's father, said he hoped to be able to go out to Omaha if the Heels made it far. He said he took his family last year.

"If we can get flights that don't send us to the poorhouse," Tachman said with a laugh.

As UNC coach Mike Fox made his way onto the bus -- one of the last to board -- he waved to the crowd, drawing applause.