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Stanford's Carter Graham makes highlight-reel catch, robs Wake Forest hitter

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•06/17/23•

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Stanford 1B Carter Graham
Photo courtesy of Stanford Athletics

The Stanford defense wasted no time making an impact Saturday during the College World Series. First baseman Carter Graham made an incredible catch to keep Wake Forest off the bases in the first inning.

Graham climbed the ladder and took away a base hit from Demon Deacons hitter Pierce Bennett. It wasn’t an easy play considering Bennett hit it to the opposite field, but Graham showed off his hops to help Joey Dixon to a 1-2-3 top of the first.

The play even amazed the announcers.

Stanford, the No. 8 seed, has quite the task ahead in No. 1 seed Wake Forest in its third consecutive College World Series. The Cardinal bring a 44-18 overall record into the matchup, including a 22-7 mark in Pac-12 play.

How experience could be on Stanford’s side in Omaha

Considering the Cardinal have been to Omaha the last two years, they have experience on their side. That’s why Quinn Matthews said Stanford might have an edge going up against a Wake Forest team which, despite coming in as the No. 1 seed, hasn’t been back to the College World Series since winning the 1955 national championship.

“I think the big advantage is that we’ve been here, we’ve played here,” Mathews said. “You know the ground, you know the field, you know the atmosphere and you know what it’s like to try and go to sleep at night, honestly, with the jitters, the energy, the adrenaline of being here. The excitement amongst the team, the practices. Everything is amplified a little bit.

“I also think there’s a little bit of a disadvantage because, as you said, you are so familiar with the things. You have a certain set of expectations as a team here for the third time.”

Charles Schwab Field isn’t the easiest place to play for the first time. The stakes are as high as they get in college baseball, which is why experience can be valuable. That’s the message left fielder Alberto Rios had, as well, pointing out how familiarity with the park can make an impact.

“I think we know what it takes,” Rios said earlier this week. “I think we’ve been here, gosh, three times for some people. It’s just a familiar territory. We know what it takes. We know what we need to do, and I think it’s just a matter of time before we just go out there, play our game and let the chips fall where they will.”