Boshamer Stadium was almost empty on a balmy Saturday night.

About 30 minutes earlier, North Carolina beat Coastal Carolina 14-5 in an NCAA Regional game that lasted close to four hours.

Most of the sky-blue clad Carolina fans that had packed the Bosh had filed out – satisfied after the home team took care of business.

The only audible sounds came from the pounding of a steel baseball tamp in the batter’s box used by a groundskeeper on the field and the chatter of a few of the workers on the field and on the stadium concourse

After a brief Carolina team meeting, Dustin Ackley quietly came out of the locker room and sat down in the Heels’ dugout for a brief interview.

It’s just another day for the Heels’ superstar.

Ackley doesn’t say much. His baseball bat takes care of that.

What would be defined a great performance for the average ballplayer is the norm for Ackley.

Ask the media.

A day after breaking the school’s all-time career base hits record, Ackley follows up by becoming Carolina’s all-time leader in runs.

He wasn’t even requested by the any of the 20 some-odd members of the media on hand for the post game press conference.

Are you kidding?

This guy is good.

Really good.

His coach confirmed what most baseball experts are saying right now.

He is the best college baseball player in the nation.

Bar none.

Ackley’s knack for hitting the ball is unparalleled in the college game.

On Tuesday, the former South Stokes and North Forsyth baseball star will likely put the small town of Walnut Cove on the map.

It will be draft day for Major League Baseball and he could go as high as the second pick overall.

But there’s no rah-rah from Ackley, who politely answered questions ranging from Carolina baseball and the upcoming draft to his family and hometown.

Most kids who grew up playing baseball can only dream of being in this guy’s shoes.

Playing postseason collegiate baseball and possibly less than a year away from swinging the bat in major league ballparks.

Ackley is already drawing comparisons to some of the big leaguers.

In all likelihood, he’ll be hauling in the big bucks very soon.

Sounds great right?

Mucho dinero!

But there is nothing rah-rah about Ackley, who is well aware of the golden opportunity to play pro ball, but is more concerned with helping the Heels get back to Rosenblatt Stadium for the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Like so many youngsters, Ackley is living in the moment.

He sees what is happening right now.

Carolina has been to the College World Series three straight years and Ackley is playing his best ball at the most opportune time of the season as the Tar Heels are in a bid to make a return trip to Omaha.

Carolina swept through the NCAA Regional and begins the Super Regional against East Carolina on Saturday in Chapel Hill.

They say money and fame changes people.

Professional athletes making millions often still think they deserve more.

Outside of a national championship, Ackley has accomplished just about everything you can do at the college level.

He’s getting tons of attention from major league scouts and national media as well as opposing coaches and players trying to figure out how to pitch to him.

Yet still he remains down to earth and humble at the core.

Coach Mike Fox of Carolina, like many of Ackley’s former baseball coaches, credits his parents for building such high character.

The same guy from the days of the Germanton Yankees, Kernersville Cardinals, Rockingham Rockets, South Stokes Sauras, Winston-Salem Dirtbags and Walnut Cove Little League is the same guy in the prime of an amazing career with high-profile Carolina.

Ackley looks like he’ll have this pro thing down pat.

Asked about the upcoming draft, he responded with the statement that the Heels’ postseason run will only last so long. Ackley wants to savor the moment.

Draft day will come soon enough.

The now surreal atmosphere at Boshamer Stadium will be charged up for another weekend of intense baseball beginning Friday when the Heels’ hated nearby rivals, the Pirates, make the trip from Greenville to Chapel Hill.

Carolina faithful will get their final chance this weekend to see one of the Heels’ all-time greats, the mighty Ackley step into the batter’s box at the Bosh.

Then again it shouldn’t be long before Ackley will be stepping up to the plate at a major league ballpark.

You won’t hear Ackley talk much about that though.

Ackley is living out the college baseball dream.

The draft can wait … until Tuesday.