Stanley: A Different Atmosphere At The Ballpark

Catcher Nick Stanley came to NC State last fall after hitting an amazing .491 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs during his sophomore season at South Florida Junior College. Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent calls Stanley a "consummate ball player who loves to play and understands the game." He's also an English major who will write a daily blog for GoPack.com during this weekend's NCAA Raleigh Regional. Stanley has been a solid contributor during his first season with the Wolfpack, making 30 starts behind the plate and hitting .310 with two home runs an 22 RBIs. "Nick is a real gamer, someone who always plays better in a game than he does at practice," Avent says. "He steps up. I think it comes from his confidence in his abilities and and how much he loves the game. He is always talking in the dugout and saying funny things. He gives us that looseness that is necessary." Here is Stanley's first entry.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Hey, this is Nick Stanley reporting from the first-ever NCAA Baseball Championship Regional at Doak Field at Dail Park. Needless to say, everyone is very excited about the opportunity to host a regional. We feel that this gives us the best opportunity to advance to a super-regional on the way to our ultimate goal of going to the college world series in Omaha.

Things have been a little different around the ballpark this week. First off, there are many more cameras, reporters, and media people hanging around. Aside from the normal daily practices and workouts, we find ourselves being asked to do interviews, sign autographs and even write blogs. I think it’s been a little hectic but also fun for everyone. It’s cool to see exactly how excited people around the country are about this weekend. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find cool to have so much attention being paid to this team.

All of this attention and excitement is a world of difference from the atmosphere I’ve played in the previous two years. I spent the last two years of my career playing at South Florida Community College in a tiny town called Avon Park, Fla. In junior college baseball, there is no media attention, no highlights on ESPN and certainly no sold-out stadiums. The best way I can describe it is as baseball in its most bare, stripped-down form. I think coming from this type environment really makes me appreciate playing in the ACC and here at NC State. As far as adjusting to the level of play, I think the biggest difference is the talent level across the board. There are many extremely talented players in junior college in Florida, but every single team is good in the ACC. Even the last place team has a chance to beat the first place team on any given day. Every game is a dogfight, that’s just the way it is, and that’s why it’s so much fun.

The season so far has been filled with memorable moments. For me the highlight of the year came when our right fielder and my roommate Matt Payne hit a walk-off home run in the final game of the series against Miami. It had been a high-intensity, highly emotional series from the beginning so beating them on Sunday the way we did felt good. Plus, it’s always nice to beat the No. 1 ranked team in the country and make people take notice. Another highlight that sticks out in my mind is beating ECU 7-6 in front of a sold-out crowd at Doak Field at Dail Park. Jimmy Gillheeney came in and closed the game by freezing a guy with a curveball with the bases loaded and the tying run on third base.

Hopefully my next blog will come to you after a win on Friday night against JMU. Thanks to everyone in the NC State community for all their support this season and this weekend.

GO PACK!

North Carolina State University Athletics

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