For the first time since joining the ACC in 2005, the Canes finally have won an ACC title.

We knew it wouldn't happen in men's hoops anytime soon. We thought football would have produced some champions by now ... but the program fell on hard times.

And the baseball team had struggled in the ACC before this incredibly dominant season. They won the regular season title and swept through the postseason with a 4-0 record, including Sunday's 8-4 win over Virginia. The Canes had a 7-0 lead early and held on.

Left fielder Dave DiNatale, who had 2 homers and 7 RBI in the 4 games, was named the ACC Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

No. 4 starter David Gutierrez got the win Sunday to improve to 4-0. He pitched 5 shutout innings before struggling. He gave up 4 straight hits to start the sixth inning - Coach Jim Morris left him one or two batters too long - and middle reliever Anthony Nalepa was smacked around until star set-up man Kyle Bellamy got him out of the jam.

Instead of going to closer Carlos Gutierrez in the 9th, Morris left it up to Bellamy, who allowed the first two runners to reach. I would have gone to C-Goot there, but Morris left in Bellamy.

The move worked as the Canes got their fourth double play of the game - a season high - and got out of the jam to win the title.

The Canes will now host a regional, which is the 36th straight year they have made it to the NCAA playoffs, a college baseball record.

The Canes will find out today who they play in the regionals, but I look for the Canes to continue to win.

The North Carolina State coach said it best when he called this Canes team one of the best teams he has seen in 30 years of college coaching.