Legendary coach Jim Morris has jersey retired as UM opens ACC play with extra innings
Jim Morris’ illustrious coaching career at his home stadium for 25 years ended last May 19 with torrents of rain blanketing Mark Light Field and the game called with his University of Miami Hurricanes trailing in the bottom of the third.
“I hated that rainout and not being able to finish,’’ Morris said Friday night in his return to The Light.
This time it was a much happier occasion — at least for Morris — as his jersey No. 3 was retired in a pregame ceremony and unveiled on the outfield wall before the Hurricanes (10-3) opened their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule against Georgia Tech (10-4), the team Morris coached for 12 years.
The Hurricanes, however, didn’t leave Alex Rodriguez Park smiling after Georgia Tech catcher Kyle McCann ripped a home run to right field in the top of the 10th inning to break a 4-4 tie and give the Yellow Jackets the eventual 5-4 victory in front of a crowd of 2,729.
UM had runners on first and second in their half of the 10th when Freddy Zamora doubled to left-center and Alex Toral was intentionally walked. Raymond Gil then hit a hard shot to Yellow Jackets’ right fielder Colin Hall (the son of Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall), whose body slammed against the wall as he made the acrobatic catch to end the game.
It was UM’s first loss of the season at Mark Light Field.
“I thought I had a chance,’’ said Gil, who also hit a game-tying home run in the third, of the final out. “I hit it hard. It happened to be that he was playing deep and made a really good play. It’s hard. I’m trying to come through for my teammates. My heart sinks a little bit...but there’s another day tomorrow.’’
Said UM coach Gino DiMare: “It was a good game. I’m sure it was a fun game for a fan to watch. Overall, our pitchers, we’ve got to do a better job with their leadoff hitters. We only got three leadoff hitters out the whole night out of 10 innings, which is not good.’’
UM also had some “base-running blunders that really hurt us,’’ DiMare said, referring in one instance to Alex Toral’s “clutch hit that knocked in two runs’’ in the fourth, after which Toral kept running when he clearly should have stayed at first. The next batter, Gil, hit the home run that would have given UM the extra run had Toral not gone for second base.
UM ace Evan McKendry (3-1) had his worst outing of the season, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in six innings. He struck out five and gave up two home runs.
Jonathan Hughes (1-0) kept UM scoreless in pitching 3 2/3 innings of relief for the victory.
Before the game-time excitement, Morris became the 12th Hurricanes great to get his number retired. On hand for the ceremony were Miami pitching coach J.D. Arteaga and fellow former greats Doug Shields, Orlando Gonzalez, Mike Fiore, Charles Johnson and the families representing the late Randy Guerra and coaching great Ron Fraser — all of whom showed up for the ceremony and got a chance to throw a “first pitch’’ before the game.
Morris, who was accompanied by his wife Nhan and their 7-year-old son Will, called it “a very special night.’’ He even got a chance to work for one inning on the ACC Network Extra television broadcast.
“My son said, ‘Dad, you’re not famous. You’re retired,’ Morris said. “I said, ‘Wait till we walk in the stadium. Everyone still calls me ‘Coach.’’’
Morris’ life now revolves around his family and frequent lunches with baseball alums. He and his wife volunteer at Will’s school at lunchtime, helping little ones open cartons or with anything they need. “I’m referred to now as the guy who works in the cafeteria,’’ he said.
As for the 2019 Canes, who came into Friday leading the ACC in hitting, Morris said he’s thrilled with the job DiMare — his assistant coach for 19 years — is doing. “Gino is a Miami guy. He’s paid the price. He’s very knowledgeable, works very hard and is going to be very successful. I’m happy for him and proud of that.’’
Said DiMare: “Coach Morris and Coach Fraser are the two icons of this program. Certainly for me, I owe my career to him. He gave me an opportunity. He gave J.D. an opportunity. He gave all of us on the staff an opportunity. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.
“Special night, it was a shame we couldn’t win the game.’’
This story was originally published March 8, 2019 at 10:52 PM.
