The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
66 ■ THE WOLFPACKER The game doesn't bother him, no matter what the situation is. "He is one of the best competitors we have." The emergence of junior southpaw Nick Swiney down the stretch last year also has the coach excited. In Swiney's final 13 games, he threw 36 1 ⁄3 innings and gave up only 15 hits, walked 18 and struck out 60 while registering a 2.23 ERA. "I don't think people have any idea how good he is," Avent said. "He is so good. … We've had so many guys that have put up big numbers. There was a time at the end of last year that he was throwing so well." Also back are redshirt junior righty Dal- ton Feeney (1-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 23 games, including three starts, in 2019), junior lefty David Harrison (2.67 ERA in 21 games, including three starts), redshirt sophomore righty Cameron Cotter (5-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 22 games, including three starts), senior lefty Kent Klyman (career 2.60 ERA in 72 relief appear- ances) and junior lefty Evan Justice, who chose not to sign with the Miami Marlins after they drafted him the 39th round this summer. James A. Lucas and Company, LLP Certified Public Accountants 4909 Western Boulevard, Suite 200 Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Telephone: 919-851-4696 Serving the community since 1966 www.jalucas.com Offering a wide variety of services: Personal Corporations Accounting/Bookkeeping Small Business Non-Profit Organizations Trusts Partnerships Estate & Financial Planning Payroll Services Tax Planning Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com Noting The Pack • NC State head coach Elliott Avent had a chance to go to game seven of the World Series in Houston to watch his former star Trea Turner help the Washington Nationals win the title over the Astros, but he could not make the trip work. That did not diminish Avent's pride in Turner having the chance to hoist the World Series trophy. "That was a heck of a ball game," Avent said. "I probably have never been more proud of Trea Turner, even though I have been proud of him from the first day he stepped on campus. He played probably 130 consecutive games with two fingers he couldn't even straighten out. The mental tough - ness that it took for him to play, I was never more proud of him than watching him what he did." Avent also loved seeing Turner routinely wear a NC State football helmet or rugby hat during the traditional champagne-spraying celebrations. "For a kid from West Palm Beach, Fla., to be so loyal to NC State, that's a great feeling," Avent added. • One of the challenges Avent faces this spring is identifying leaders on a team that has just three seniors (left-handed reliever Kent Klyman, outfielder Lawson McArthur and catcher/desig - nated hitter Brad Debo). The longtime skipper noted that leadership is best found in how a team handles the ebbs and flows of a season, especially navigating the ACC. "Leadership is so vital on a team," Avent noted. "Usually leadership comes from guys that are playing and play a big part in the success that you are having. You hope the best nine people are your best nine players. That's how you win. "I think we got some outstanding juniors that are going to provide great leadership."