The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/125393
■ pack past In 1993, The Wolfpack Reached No. 2 In The National Baseball Rankings By Tim Peeler here's something about the number three for NC State baseball — at least in seasons ending in the third year of the last three decades. In 1993, 2003 and 2013, the Wolfpack has made it into the top five of the national polls during the regular season, part of the program's long-standing quest to do something that hasn't happened in 45 years — qualify for the College World Series. There have been several opportunities for that to happen, including last season when the Wolfpack played in an NCAA Super Regional in Gainesville, Fla., and in 2008 when the Pack played in a Super Regional in Athens, Ga. But the season when it seemed most likely to happen was 20 years ago. Head coach Ray Tanner took his team into unprecedented territory by reaching a No. 2 ranking in one of the three major college baseball polls and earning the squad's firstever No. 1 seed in the old six-team regional format. The highest ranking in school history — which was matched by current head coach Elliott Avent's team in 2003 — happened shortly after sophomore pitcher Terry Harvey pitched one of the unlikeliest games of all time, a no-hitter against No. 5 Florida State, a program that had never been held hitless in its baseball history. That victory gave the Wolfpack a 24-2 record to open the regular season, including a winning streak of 14 in a row. Harvey, a right-hander, was the top starter in a solid rotation with senior lefthander Shawn Senior and right-hander Tommy Sports. "We had such a good team that year," Harvey said at his induction into the NC State Baseball Hall of Fame. "We had all the components to make it to the College World Series." The veteran pitching staff, which included senior closer David Allen, was handled by catcher Greg Almond, who might have been considered the best backstop in the ACC had future Boston Red Sox standout Jason Varitek not been at Georgia Tech. The offense was led by first baseman Pat Clougherty, who had 21 homers, 80 RBI and a .368 batting average to lead the team in all those categories. The team was solid on the corners with third baseman Tim Tracey and first baseman Andy Barkett, T In 1993, sophomore pitcher Terry Harvey threw a no-hitter against No. 5 Florida State, a program that had never been held hitless in its baseball history. photo courtesy nc state media relations 70 ■ the wolfpacker 70-72-73.Pack Past.indd 70 4/30/13 4:38 PM