Now midway through the college baseball season, we have seen a number of impressive performances across the nation. But few have been more impressive than senior Patrick McColl who currently leads the nation with a .459 batting average and has helped Harvard stay atop a competitive Ivy League.

The perfect game club is one of the most exclusive groups in all of sports, especially in college baseball. Only 27 players in Division I baseball history had ever achieved the illustrious feat, but Sunday that number grew to 28 as East Carolina lefthander Jake Kuchmaner sat down 27 Maryland batters in a row to give his team the 3-0 win and a perfect stat line. 

Sitting in the visitors dugout at rival North Carolina State University, senior Zack Gahagan took a moment to look out on the field after what was the final ACC series game he would play in for his career. His team had just upset the second ranked Wolfpack to complete a three-game sweep on the road. The first time in Chapel Hill baseball history. 

Part 1: Who Am I?

For most people, college is where you figure it all out. I thought I had it all figured out coming into Chapel Hill. I’m the son of two professional athletes, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and had a chance to play professionally. Everything seemed to be coming into line. But I quickly learned through a battle with injuries and self-doubt that life can take everything away from you just as fast as it was given to you. So cherish your highs, because there’s no telling where our lows will take us.

To understand my story, you have to first understand where I come from.