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NC State Baseball

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Raleigh Regional Unveiled

May 27, 2024
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No. 10 seed NC State will host South Carolina, James Madison, and Bryant in the 2024 NCAA Baseball Championship Tournament.

The Wolfpack’s regional will be paired against the Athens Regional which features No. 7 Georgia, UNC Wilmington, Georgia Tech, and Army.

The Gamecocks (36-23, 13-17 SEC) head to Raleigh after hosting the Wolfpack in the 2023 Columbia Regional. South Carolina finished 2024 in fifth place in the Southeastern Conference’s East division behind Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Vanderbilt. Despite picking up three wins in Hoover, Ala., the Cocks fell out of conference title contention after a pair of losses to eventual runner-up LSU.

The Dukes (34-23, 17-13 Sun Belt) finished the regular season fourth in the Sun Belt standings. However, JMU would get eliminated by Georgia Southern in the conference tournament in the semifinal round. This marks the first time since 2020 that the Dukes will play in Raleigh.

The Bulldogs (36-19, 17-7, American East) venture to Doak Field as champions of the American East conference. After concluding the regular season three games ahead of second-place UMBC, Bryant bested UMass Lowell in the conference tournament opener before a pair of wins against the Retrievers, the second of which by a margin of 15-10, to clinch the American East’s automatic bid.

The 2024 NCAA Tournament begins on Friday, May 31. First pitch between the Gamecocks and the Dukes is slated for 2 p.m. with the Wolfpack’s game versus the Bulldogs scheduled for 7 p.m.

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Raleigh Regional Unveiled (Highfill GM 1 starter)

26,801 Views | 126 Replies | Last: 6 mo ago by SportManagementEngineer
MoCoWolf
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In reply to matracey • 11:16a, 5/29/24
matracey said:
Talking with the FQ ACC guys last night they were convinced that Dom should start Friday and Sam on Saturday.

Reason being South Carolina either walks a ton (4th in the NCAA in walk rate) or strikes out a ton (292nd in NCAA in K rate) and Sam has both better walk numbers and strike out numbers than Dom.
What is FQ ACC?
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matracey
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In reply to StateFan2001 • 12:50p, 5/29/24
StateFan2001 said:
matracey said:
Talking with the FQ ACC guys last night they were convinced that Dom should start Friday and Sam on Saturday.

Reason being South Carolina either walks a ton (4th in the NCAA in walk rate) or strikes out a ton (292nd in NCAA in K rate) and Sam has both better walk numbers and strike out numbers than Dom.
Zero chance of throwing Dom against the 4 seed. Sam and Dom both need to be set to go against USC.


I don't think he goes either but they made a compelling argument and it's definitely greater than zero chance. It's not guaranteed you're getting two games against South Carolina so the first time you face them go with the guy who's got better numbers against what they like to do. I still think Friday night is most likely Sam then Whitaker or Marohn then Dom.
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matracey
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In reply to MoCoWolf • 1:00p, 5/29/24
Fifth Quarter ACC. They cover all ACC sports but do the best job on baseball IMO
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pantherpack
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1:47p, 5/29/24
Friday night - Sam
Hopefully we can give him enough run support that he can throw 100+ pitches. If we have a comfortable enough lead, you can throw a couple lesser used arms for the final innings.

Saturday - Dom
Depending on how Dom does will depend on if Consiglio enters the game. If Dom can give us 5/6 strong innings you can use Dudan hopefully to finish. If you have to replace Dom in the 3rd or 4th, you bring in Cooper.

Best case scenario, you're able to save Cooper for Sunday to go along with Whit and Smith.

And you save Marohn for a possible 4th game.
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StateFan2001
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In reply to pantherpack • 1:51p, 5/29/24
pantherpack said:
Friday night - Sam
Hopefully we can give him enough run support that he can throw 100+ pitches. If we have a comfortable enough lead, you can throw a couple lesser used arms for the final innings.

Saturday - Dom
Depending on how Dom does will depend on if Consiglio enters the game. If Dom can give us 5/6 strong innings you can use Dudan hopefully to finish. If you have to replace Dom in the 3rd or 4th, you bring in Cooper.

Best case scenario, you're able to save Cooper for Sunday to go along with Whit and Smith.

And you save Marohn for a possible 4th game.
The only way I can get behind Sam on Friday night is if the staff thinks Sam is their number 3 guy with Dom and Consiglio as the 1 and 2. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I can see the logic there. There is zero way I am using Whitaker as a starter in Game 2 or Game 3 assuming we stay in the winners bracket.
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matracey
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In reply to StateFan2001 • 2:05p, 5/29/24
StateFan2001 said:
pantherpack said:
Friday night - Sam
Hopefully we can give him enough run support that he can throw 100+ pitches. If we have a comfortable enough lead, you can throw a couple lesser used arms for the final innings.

Saturday - Dom
Depending on how Dom does will depend on if Consiglio enters the game. If Dom can give us 5/6 strong innings you can use Dudan hopefully to finish. If you have to replace Dom in the 3rd or 4th, you bring in Cooper.

Best case scenario, you're able to save Cooper for Sunday to go along with Whit and Smith.

And you save Marohn for a possible 4th game.
The only way I can get behind Sam on Friday night is if the staff thinks Sam is their number 3 guy with Dom and Consiglio as the 1 and 2. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I can see the logic there. There is zero way I am using Whitaker as a starter in Game 2 or Game 3 assuming we stay in the winners bracket.


Whitaker won't start Game 2 but he'll definitely start Game 3 if Fritton and Highfill pitch Friday and Saturday. Marohn or Consiglio will start Game 4 if it gets there.

I think there's a chance Whitaker could start Game 1
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Glasswolf
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In reply to StateFan2001 • 2:06p, 5/29/24
StateFan2001 said:
pantherpack said:
Friday night - Sam
Hopefully we can give him enough run support that he can throw 100+ pitches. If we have a comfortable enough lead, you can throw a couple lesser used arms for the final innings.

Saturday - Dom
Depending on how Dom does will depend on if Consiglio enters the game. If Dom can give us 5/6 strong innings you can use Dudan hopefully to finish. If you have to replace Dom in the 3rd or 4th, you bring in Cooper.

Best case scenario, you're able to save Cooper for Sunday to go along with Whit and Smith.

And you save Marohn for a possible 4th game.
The only way I can get behind Sam on Friday night is if the staff thinks Sam is their number 3 guy with Dom and Consiglio as the 1 and 2. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I can see the logic there. There is zero way I am using Whitaker as a starter in Game 2 or Game 3 assuming we stay in the winners bracket.
No way Sam goes Friday night.
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WilsonWolf
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2:22p, 5/29/24
To me, I'd go Whitaker Friday, Fritton Saturday and Highfill Sunday. Keep in mind Whitaker and Fritton didn't throw last weekend so they are fresh and it wouldn't hurt to get Sam a couple extra days of rest. Marohn could throw if you drop to the losers bracket or on Monday if necessary.
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matracey
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3:17p, 5/29/24
Needless to say it's nice to have this many options
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StateFan2001
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In reply to Glasswolf • 3:45p, 5/29/24
Glasswolf said:
StateFan2001 said:
pantherpack said:
Friday night - Sam
Hopefully we can give him enough run support that he can throw 100+ pitches. If we have a comfortable enough lead, you can throw a couple lesser used arms for the final innings.

Saturday - Dom
Depending on how Dom does will depend on if Consiglio enters the game. If Dom can give us 5/6 strong innings you can use Dudan hopefully to finish. If you have to replace Dom in the 3rd or 4th, you bring in Cooper.

Best case scenario, you're able to save Cooper for Sunday to go along with Whit and Smith.

And you save Marohn for a possible 4th game.
The only way I can get behind Sam on Friday night is if the staff thinks Sam is their number 3 guy with Dom and Consiglio as the 1 and 2. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I can see the logic there. There is zero way I am using Whitaker as a starter in Game 2 or Game 3 assuming we stay in the winners bracket.
No way Sam goes Friday night.
That is where I am, seems like a no brainer.
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StateFan2001
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In reply to WilsonWolf • 3:46p, 5/29/24
WilsonWolf said:
To me, I'd go Whitaker Friday, Fritton Saturday and Highfill Sunday. Keep in mind Whitaker and Fritton didn't throw last weekend so they are fresh and it wouldn't hurt to get Sam a couple extra days of rest. Marohn could throw if you drop to the losers bracket or on Monday if necessary.
agree
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wilmwolf
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3:58p, 5/29/24
For whatever it's worth, out of curiosity I checked and Logan pitched game 1 last year vs Campbell, which was his normal spot. I don't know who should start, my only opinion is it should be one of our three regular weekend starters, I'm not in favor of starting Marohn. Ideally whomever starts either goes deep, or we're ahead enough to pull them early and save them letting the secondary bullpen arms to finish it out.
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NCSUWolfPack92
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5:17p, 5/29/24
Don't overthink it and get cute - pitch Sam on Friday on his normal day and hope he gives you length and can save the bullpen. Is there really much of a difference anyways?

Say you save him for Sunday and you win the regional…a lot of you would want him to pitch game 1 of supers. Now it's less rest for game 1 that is likely on Friday.
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Glasswolf
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In reply to NCSUWolfPack92 • 6:38p, 5/29/24
NCSUWolfPack92 said:
Don't overthink it and get cute - pitch Sam on Friday on his normal day and hope he gives you length and can save the bullpen. Is there really much of a difference anyways?

Say you save him for Sunday and you win the regional…a lot of you would want him to pitch game 1 of supers. Now it's less rest for game 1 that is likely on Friday.
Saving Sam for SC is not being cute. It's playing the %. You have to beat SC most likely twice.

Fritton or Whit on Friday, Sam on Saturday.
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Pack31
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In reply to NCSUWolfPack92 • 7:43p, 5/29/24
NCSUWolfPack92 said:
Don't overthink it and get cute - pitch Sam on Friday on his normal day and hope he gives you length and can save the bullpen. Is there really much of a difference anyways?

Say you save him for Sunday and you win the regional…a lot of you would want him to pitch game 1 of supers. Now it's less rest for game 1 that is likely on Friday.


Yes, there a difference. Sam is your 1. Throw him Saturday, win or lose Friday. I'd go Dom or Whitaker on Friday. Days of the week don't mean **** now bc Sam pitched last Thursday. It's just a day at this point. We "should" out hit and score Bryant with our O. Hopefully use some end of the BP arms alla VT last week
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tau06
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9:07p, 5/29/24
Whit Friday
Sam game 1
Dom game 3

That's my vote if I had one. Think it gets your best arms against best competition and a guy who has been in an exact situation (who is a grizzled vet) starting game 1. Also allows you to go righty/Lefty or Righty/righty Lefty/Lefty with starter and top longer stretched out bullpen guy in Consigllio or Duden paired with those two. Need the O to do their thing all weekend though and I'll feel a lot better. Being at home should help
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BigLefty24
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9:52p, 5/29/24
start whoever you think gives you the best chance to win the game you're playing.

It's postseason baseball..the goal is to win the game you're playing that day. Folks are acting like we're saving Chase Burns for USC. Highfill brings an ERA of almost 6, and has a WHIP of almost 1.4. He's a good pitcher in a a stable of good pitchers. The downfall of this team IMO will be the lack if a true "ace" that you can run out there and know that you can win a game by scoring 2-3 runs.

Win the game Friday, move on to Saturday. Start whoever the hell can make that happen.
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Nairo
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9:54p, 5/29/24
Reason I think you go Marone, Highfill, Fritton, Whitaker (if game 4) is you want to assure game 1, then go Highfill plus kitchen sink bullpen to win game 2 (unless you're getting completely smoked after 3 innings in which case you burn duff arms). But so long as you win game 1 and 2, you only have to take 1 of remaining 2, which becomes a war of attrition anyways. But you have to start 2-0 to be positioned
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Alex Gee
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In reply to Nairo • 8:38a, 5/30/24
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Nairo said:
Reason I think you go Marone, Highfill, Fritton, Whitaker (if game 4) is you want to assure game 1, then go Highfill plus kitchen sink bullpen to win game 2 (unless you're getting completely smoked after 3 innings in which case you burn duff arms). But so long as you win game 1 and 2, you only have to take 1 of remaining 2, which becomes a war of attrition anyways. But you have to start 2-0 to be positioned


Whoever starts Friday is going to, in all likelihood, be burned for the rest of the weekend. Marohn is too valuable as a middle relief guy to waste him there. Gotta throw someone who will grind out 110 pitches and push you through most of or all of the game.
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Slobbering_Wolf
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9:27a, 5/30/24
I think you start Whitaker and if he gets touched up, have a short leash on him, put in Morhan, and bring Logan back later in the weekend.....Bryant can hit, so need to be careful with them
Don't give up, don't ever give up-Jimmy V
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Glasswolf
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In reply to Slobbering_Wolf • 11:31a, 5/30/24
Slobbering_Wolf said:
I think you start Whitaker and if he gets touched up, have a short leash on him, put in Morhan, and bring Logan back later in the weekend.....Bryant can hit, so need to be careful with them


Short leash regardless of who's pitching
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Glasswolf
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12:26p, 5/30/24
Highfill confirmed as Friday starter
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Slobbering_Wolf
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12:41p, 5/30/24
Whoa, I do not like starting Highfill the first game
Don't give up, don't ever give up-Jimmy V
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castlewood107
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12:44p, 5/30/24
Sam it is. I like it -- have him take it deep and hand off to Labriola and Andrews in a 12-3 game.

We need JMU to come out raking and have SC burn Ty Good (Charleston transfer who I believe we tried to get??), Veach and Gainey (LHP). Think those are their top arms by far.

We hit Eli Jones last year in Columbia (5 hits, 2 IP and only 1 K). I think that is who will start Game 2 for them just guessing.
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BigLefty24
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In reply to Slobbering_Wolf • 12:44p, 5/30/24
Slobbering_Wolf said:
Whoa, I do not like starting Highfill the first game


you'd probably not like losing your first game to a 4 seed either.

Win the game you're playing.
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Alex Gee
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12:44p, 5/30/24
Staff
Makes a lot of sense and is pretty much what I expected. Mentioned on the podcast coming out today that this was the route we took last time we hosted with Reid.

Go throw a lot of innings and dominate Bryant. Sets you up really well the rest of the weekend
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Alex Gee
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In reply to castlewood107 • 12:45p, 5/30/24
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castlewood107 said:
Sam it is. I like it -- have him take it deep and hand off to Labriola and Andrews in a 12-3 game.

We need JMU to come out raking and have SC burn Ty Good (Charleston transfer who I believe we tried to get??), Veach and Gainey (LHP). Think those are their top arms by far.

We hit Eli Jones last year in Columbia (5 hits, 2 IP and only 1 K). I think that is who will start Game 2 for them just guessing.
Would love to see USC have to burn Good. I'm pretty confident that Gainey will start against us.
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JCooke93
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1:22p, 5/30/24
It's the right call
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Jtilley
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1:40p, 5/30/24
I don't really trust Sam or Logan a third time the lineup vs a decent team in the post season.

I don't hate him throwing the first game to save the arms to piggy back off of Dom and Logan the rest of the weekend though.
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matracey
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In reply to Alex Gee • 1:58p, 5/30/24
Alex Gee said:
Makes a lot of sense and is pretty much what I expected. Mentioned on the podcast coming out today that this was the route we took last time we hosted with Reid.

Go throw a lot of innings and dominate Bryant. Sets you up really well the rest of the weekend


Well that's not exactly the best comparison haha.

Reid didn't pitch bad but we still lost the first game to Army and then lost the regional
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gabeezzell04
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2:00p, 5/30/24
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Alex Gee
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In reply to matracey • 2:02p, 5/30/24
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matracey said:
Alex Gee said:
Makes a lot of sense and is pretty much what I expected. Mentioned on the podcast coming out today that this was the route we took last time we hosted with Reid.

Go throw a lot of innings and dominate Bryant. Sets you up really well the rest of the weekend


Well that's not exactly the best comparison haha.

Reid didn't pitch bad but we still lost the first game to Army and then lost the regional


Yeah but who pitches doesn't affect how well the team hits. Don't score 1 run against Army/Bryant.
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WolfQuacker
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In reply to gabeezzell04 • 2:09p, 5/30/24
gabeezzell04 said:
That's a pretty big loss for USC. Hate to see anyone get hurt, especially to miss the postseason.
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DrummerboyWolf
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2:25p, 5/30/24
I believe Sam pitching tomorrow is the right call. Hopefully he pitches great, but if he doesn't, we should still have a good chance to win. Now you never know with baseball and if Bryant has a pitcher who has great stuff and they play good defense, then it could be a close game.

You have to win the first game or there is very little chance you survive. It can happen, but it puts you in a bind from the start. Hopefully Sam can go 6-7 innings or more if his pitch count is low and then we will worry about Saturday's game.
Being an N. C. State fan builds great character!
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DrummerboyWolf
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In reply to Alex Gee • 2:30p, 5/30/24
Alex Gee said:
matracey said:
Alex Gee said:
Makes a lot of sense and is pretty much what I expected. Mentioned on the podcast coming out today that this was the route we took last time we hosted with Reid.

Go throw a lot of innings and dominate Bryant. Sets you up really well the rest of the weekend


Well that's not exactly the best comparison haha.

Reid didn't pitch bad but we still lost the first game to Army and then lost the regional


Yeah but who pitches doesn't affect how well the team hits. Don't score 1 run against Army/Bryant.
The other team's pitcher does affect how well your team hits. Remember that most hitters make outs at least 7 out of 10 at bats. Even your best guys will make outs at a similar rate. If you pitch well and play good defense, then you can shut teams down. It's not a given you are going to score a bunch of runs even if the competition may not be ACC caliber. Pitching and defense is the great equalizer.
Being an N. C. State fan builds great character!
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