It was a raw, drizzly day for No. 11 Virginia baseball’s home opener, as one spectator wrapped in his orange and blue jacket so aptly put it, “What’s the matter with that groundhog?” He’d anticipated a sun-drenched diamond in the weeks ahead of Tuesday’s game, yet neither the rain nor cold could keep him and other Cavalier fans from showing up to see their team exact sweet revenge on VMI.
Almost a year ago, the Keydets came to Charlottesville and defeated then-No. 12 Virginia 7-6. The Cavaliers weren’t about to let VMI upset them again at Davenport Field.
Tuesday afternoon, Virginia put up a crooked number in the bottom of the third en route to an 18-1 win. Cavalier baserunners crossed home plate 11 times during that marathon frame, more than the scoreboard could handle.
It all spiraled out of control for the Keydets after their shortstop’s fielding error allowed Virginia sophomore designated hitter and starting pitcher Adam Haseley, who led off the inning, to reach base safely. Three walks and six hits — the big one, a grand slam coming off the bat of sophomore first baseman Pavin Smith — followed up Haseley’s at bat.
Smith added four more RBIs to total six on the day; he’d driven in the first of two Cavalier runs in the first inning with a double to right and produced a sacrifice fly earlier in the third. Smith had Tommy John surgery following the 2015 season and missed time all summer in a sling, but he has returned against live pitching as strong as ever. Smith is hitting .692 through four games.
“I was really proud of Pavin through the fall he was really really engaged,” coach Brian O’Connor said. “He didn’t look at it like one of those injured or rehab guys who was just going to go through the motions… His mind was on the game, and he was continuing to learn and get better.”
Smith exited the game after the three plate appearances but remained enthusiastic in the dugout — especially quick to smack the helmets of his freshmen protégés who tore the cover off the baseball Tuesday. A year removed from their first Virginia seasons, he and Haseley now have those youngsters who look up to them as leaders.
“You know, whenever I feel lost or any other freshmen kind of seem to not know what’s going on, we look to guys like Adam Haseley and Pavin Smith,” freshman centerfielder Jake McCarthy said. “They always seem to be doing things the right way, even if they’re not contributing on the field.”
McCarthy was one of those impressive rookie hitters, in addition to left fielder Cam Simmons and right fielder Doak Dozier.
In five trips to the plate, McCarthy collected three hits, two runs and two RBIs. His batting average now stands at .417. A four-year letterwinner in baseball, football and basketball at Scranton High School — holding school records on the gridiron in both rushing yards and touchdowns — McCarthy fits O’Connor’s mold in the field, batter’s box and on the base paths.
“It’s no surprise to me that Jake McCarthy is having success, because he’s a tough hard-nosed kid who plays this game like a game of football,” O’Connor said. “And I love it. When you do that, when you play the game tough, the game rewards you.”
A player who can adjust to adversity and embrace a role is equally valuable to O’Connor. This is why over the offseason he and the Virginia coaching staff challenged senior reserve catcher Robbie Coman, whose playing time was sure to be cut even thinner in 2016, to get back on the mound.
Although Coman hadn’t pitched since his high school days in Florida, O’Connor believed in his player’s resolve, arm strength and muscle memory. Coman recorded his first appearance Tuesday in relief of Haseley, who made fools of hitters before reaching his pitch limit, and struck out two in two and a third shutout innings.
“Robbie’s still going to catch for us,” O’Connor said. “Nothing has changed from that standpoint, but I think that he has the talent and skillset to help us on the mound. So it’ll be something that we continue to try and develop… It’s got a chance to turn into something significant for us.”
O’Connor has to be pleased with the way his Virginia team bounced back Tuesday from the loss to No. 24 Coastal Carolina. When empty seats, gloomy skies and an adjusted start all could have caused the Cavaliers to come out flat in their home opener, they found their respective motivations, just as the fans had found theirs, and routed VMI.
“Regardless of the attendance, the weather, what day it is or who we are playing, it’s always exciting coming out here and playing at the Dav,” McCarthy said. “You know, I’ve been looking forward to this all fall and through the winter. Our hard work finally paid off.”
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