Four players are back from the 2021 North Carolina State team that was sent home from the College World Series because of a COVID-19 outbreak
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Sam Highfill jogged out of the right-field bullpen at the end of North Carolina State's practice Thursday, stopped to sign a few autographs for kids along the railing and finished his trek to the dugout to grab a drink and yuk it up with teammates.
No return trip to the College World Series was ever promised when the 2021 Wolfpack were sent home by the NCAA amid a COVID-19 outbreak on the team.
Four players from that team, including Highfill, have made it back, and they're savoring every moment. The Wolfpack play Kentucky in their opener Saturday.
“It’s so incredibly hard to get here, and we found that out the last couple years,” Highfill said. “Everybody you have to beat to get here is such a good team. The goal is always to be back and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”