Winners of five of its last six conference games, the University of North Carolina Wilmington baseball program heads to this week’s Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship on a tear. The Seahawks earned the No. 2 seed to this year’s league tournament and open play Thursday at 7 p.m. from Latham Park in Elon, N.C.
Many UNCW alumni know, and fondly remember, hot streaks as nothing new for head coach Randy Hood’s program. Hood, in his 21st year with the Seahawks and third as head coach, has seen the program capture six CAA tournament crowns and play in six straight league title games.
“We have this aura about us this time of year, for whatever reason,” Hood said. “The consistency we’ve had as a program ever since [the 2004 CAA championship, the program’s first], of putting ourselves in position to win championships, be in the mix and be one of the top two or three seeds every year is pretty special.”
2012 CAA Champions
Earlier this spring, UNCW’s 2012 CAA title team returned to campus to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the championship, which the Seahawks won 10-8 against Delaware.
“That group is special to me because I had a piece in recruiting all of them,” Hood said of the 2012 squad. “From the moment I saw them in high school or junior college, I was talking to those guys and their families. The ultimate for me is to see the kids enjoy the success. To see how they act, become little children and jump all over each other with a dogpile celebration is awesome."
"Anytime we have a chance to recognize any of those past championship teams is neat. So many of those guys are still tied to our program, follow us, stay in touch and communicate with some of our current players.”
While the looks of the 2012 teammates may have changed since Hood recruited them, their bond has not.
“A lot has changed since 2012,” pitcher Justin Livengood posted on Twitter. “It sure doesn’t feel like 10 years have gone by, but they have! The one constant that has remained the same over that time is the love and passion that myself, and all my former teammates still have for UNCW baseball and the University.”
The 2012 team set the standard, one that many Seahawk teams have followed.
“There are a lot of expectations from Day One of living up to what the other people in this program have done in the past,” Hood said. “I tell our players, ‘Because of what other people have done, you are the class of the league year in and year out. Everybody else raises their level to play against us.’”
UNCW baseball teams have benefited from alumni who turned into future Major League Baseball players, including a trio of current big leaguers in Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips and Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Austin Warren ’20.
“We’ve had a history of being fortunate enough to develop a lot of guys to have that chance to pursue a baseball career,” Hood said. “If guys get in here, trust us as coaches, work and do what they’re supposed to do, they have a chance to really develop their tools and become really good baseball players. Seeing guys like Austin Warren, Ryan Jeffers and Evan Phillips, they all have such great stories, tools and development. We have some more Seahawks in the minor leagues and some on our team right now who will have those professional opportunities."
"It’s pretty neat to have the type of program who can put guys in position to live out their dream.”
The Seahawks are the CAA’s lone program to have made all 36 editions of the league’s baseball tournament, thanks to all those who have left their mark on the program, and now have eyes set on the 2022 version.
“I’m excited to see what this group does,” Hood said of his club. “I think the tournament is wide open. If we go out and play solidly in three phases, we’ll be somewhere Saturday that has a chance to win a championship.”
Hood also knows Seahawk baseball alums, supporters and fans will be following along with every pitch from Elon.
“We’ve had a lot of success over the last 20 years,” Hood said. “The fan base of really strong supporters shows up all the time. Having that support when we’re on the road, or even if it’s just on social media, you see it and feel it. It’s special. It gives you that affirmation of people following and supporting you, through thick and thin.”
Hood’s Seahawks look to stay hot on their quest for a seventh straight title game appearance and CAA crown number seven this weekend. Seahawk baseball alumni and fans will be eagerly awaiting another chance to celebrate alongside this year’s squad.