CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Connor Ollio was the No. 2 ranked shortstop by Perfect Game in his graduating class in Pennsylvania only a year ago.

During his freshman year at North Carolina this spring, the Butler graduate never played an inning there — never even had an at-bat.

Go figure?

That's what can happen when you join a national power in collegiate baseball.

“I had goals coming down here this year. I met some of them and didn't meet some others,” Ollio said.

“Our shortstop this year was a freshman and he's very good. All of the starting infielders were underclassmen.”

So the Tar Heels' interest in Ollio this season was in what he could do for them on the mound. And he did plenty.

Ollio made 22 mound appearances — five starts — for a North Carolina team that fell a win short of returning to the College World Series. The team finished 46-19 and Ollio started the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, a 10-2 victory over Georgia Tech.

“I only pitched two and a third innings,” he said. “Coach (Mike) Fox didn't want anybody pitching too long in that game. I struck out three, gave up two hits and no runs.

“They got what they wanted out of me.”

Overall, Ollio was 3-1 this season with a 4.58 earned run average, 44 strikeouts and 16 walks in 37.1 innings pitched.

“My slider became my strikeout pitch,” he said. “I only started throwing a slider my senior year in high school. It's really come along.”

North Carolina had four seniors in its lineup this season — a pitcher, catcher and two outfielders. The Tar Heels also had nine players on their roster selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft earlier this month.

The team had a school-record 10 players selected last year. Fox has had 96 players drafted during his 21-year career as UNC baseball coach.

“Our first, second and third baseman were all drafted,” Ollio said. “I can play third base, first base, even the outfield, wherever they need me to play.

“I'd love to play an every-day position. I missed not playing every day.”

That decision, of course, is up to the coach.

Fox is 936-399 at North Carolina and has taken the Tar Heels to the College World Series seven times since 2006.

“If I approached (Fox) and asked to try out at a certain position, I'm sure he'd give me a fair look there,” Ollio said. “That's the way he is. But, ultimately, he's going to put the team on the field every day that gives him the best chance to win.

“Coach Fox knows when to have fun practices and knows when it's time for us to buckle down and go. His philosophy is that every day is adding a new layer. Your career is a stack of papers. Add a quality sheet. Make that day's sheet count.

When I got here ... All the team wanted was to make a return trip to Omaha (for the CWS). When we didn't get there — despite the great season — it felt like we under-achieved,” Ollio added.

UNC hosted an NCAA Regional and Super Regional this year in Boshamer Stadium, a $25.6 million facility built 10 years ago.

After winning the Regional, losses of 14-7 and 11-7 to Auburn ended the Tar Heels' season in the Super Regional.

“The atmosphere at those tournaments was fantastic,” Ollio said. “Short of playing in Mexico representing our country, this has been my greatest baseball experience.

“Our stadium was sold out for the NCAA tournaments and were pretty full during the regular season games. The community is passionate about the program.”

Majoring in statistics, Ollio carried a 3.2 grade point average his freshman year.

“Definitely different,” he said of college. “The biggest change was being on my own. I think I made the adjustment pretty well.”

Ollio is playing for the Forest City Owls, based in Asheville (N.C.), in the Coastal Plains League this summer. He expects to see action in the infield and get his share of at-bats, along with pitching.

“I just love playing every day,” he said. “But I'd be lying if I said they (Tar Heels) are looking at me as a position player. I think they view me as a pitcher and that's OK.”