Monday Musings: Rally in Raleigh; Canes hoops (mercifully) wrapping up a long season

Once again, it’s time to re-visit the random, Canes-related tidbits floating around in the recesses of my brain…

1) For the second time of this young season, the Canes bounced back from a Friday night loss to win a series on the road. That, my young padawans, is not an easy feat to accomplish. That takes some serious intestinal fortitude to pull off, and this team is showing it is not want in that department. I admittedly caught bits and pieces of the series as we dealt with transporting a sick pet to a specialist over the weekend and entertaining three wild youts, but what I saw was once again more of the same: solid efforts on the bump to keep Miami in the game, coupled with late, but timely hitting. The result is a 5-4 mark and an even 3-3 in ACC play. This season is going to be a battle (and without early fluff games to reach the mid-to-upper-40s win totals of most seasons), so buckle up, buttercups. Cue Dokken, because Into the Fire we go.

2) I am justifiably concerned about Friday starter Daniel Federman, as anyone who’s watched a Friday night game this season should be. The control hasn’t been off as far as handing over runs (only 3 walks in 13.1 innings pitched), but he isn’t fooling anyone, allowing a .298 batting average to opposing hitters so far. His line through 3 starts: 0-2, 8.10 ERA, 13.1 IP, 17 H, 14 R (12 ER). Transitioning into a starting role isn’t an easy ask of a reliever, but how many Friday stinkers can Miami weather before Gino DiMare has to do something about it? Here’s hoping Federman figures it out, and fast.

3) The star in Miami’s series-clinching win Sunday was Yohandy Morales, who smacked two dingers Pa’ La Calle in Miami’s six-run middle innings resurgence. He tied the game in the sixth with a solo shot during a back-to-back-to-back home run streak with Anthony Vilar and Adrian Del Castillo (which is always fun to watch). He gave the Canes an important insurance run in the seventh with another solo blast to center. For the season, Morales is hitting .359 with three HRs. Heck of a start to the season from the freshman.

4) Canes Hoops actually won another basketball game over the weekend, 80-76 over floundering Boston College (insert the “it’s been 84 years” Titanic .gif). So yay for that. Isaiah Wong received third team All-ACC honors for his solid (and very necessary) contributions this season. So congrats to him for that well deserved honor.

5) You know…it doesn’t matter if my team is the 1-seed or the 13^th. I’m watching them play in their conference tourney every year, no matter what. I love college hoops tourneys, and while the ever-undermanned Canes have a snowball’s chance in hell with their personnel shortcomings and comically unfair luck, I’m still gonna watch them take on Pitt tomorrow at 2:00 pm in the opening round of the ACC tourney. Good luck, fellas!