Rain, snow or sun, in whatever combination - the baseball Tigers needed the victory they earned over South Carolina's seventh-ranked Gamecocks on Saturday.
It had been too long, too painful a drought, since Clemson had beaten their state rivals on neutral ground or in a playoff setting.
There's no shame in losing to a team that has played for three straight national titles, and won two; but for Clemson, the perception of never being quite good enough was threatening to overtake the reality of an evenly-matched and intensely competitive series.
On Saturday, the Tigers made a statement that, more than anyone, they, themselves, needed to hear. And they did it, in large part, with a group of young players that are just getting their feet wet in college baseball.
The Tigers have something special in this year's freshman class.
Tyler Krieger is handling the shortstop position like an old pro, which, in turn, allows Jack Leggett to keep Steve Wilkerson at first base.
Steven Duggar and Maleeke Gibson easily cover the ground on either side of speedy Thomas Brittle in centerfield, and Duggar has already demonstrated what he can do with his bat in the clutch, as well as having a cannon of an arm.
On the mound, Clate Schmidt gave a performance against USC that has the potential to transform the Tigers' pitching staff into one of the ACC's best; and while Matthew Crownover is still on a strict pitch-count, he gives the Tigers a lefthanded starting option they haven't had in a while.
Behind the plate, sophomore Garrett Boulware has emerged with an edge over freshman Matt Reed, and is showing the signs of in-game leadership that every good team needs behind the plate.
Leggett, meanwhile, is encouraging his team to take chances on the bases, pushing the tempo with an aggressive, confident playing style.
The best news is that this baseball team is far from being a finished product. Don't be surprised if they save their best for last.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 5
33dtb writes:
Legget has a history of avoiding "pitchers" while recruiting 90+ mph, leaving Tigers with no "pitchers" to practice against before an actual game. ..Not to mention that your "heat" pitchers rarely pass up a chance to be drafted early.
Last year USC's ace had a fastball of 85 mph and we NEVER beat him.
So, with streaky hitting and pitching clearly not as good as USC's, I dread a long year.
Bigboots writes:
How much longer do we have to tolerate Leggett and substandard baseball? I have seen enough for me to conclude I would prefer to see change. I believe Clemson can do much better on the diamond.
pmelvin writes:
Our young guys showed flashes of some good things that we hope to come. But we can't survive on talent alone. We are not an improving program, we are excuses program now. They recruit well thanks to LeCroy. But you have to develop and manage well after that. Right now, we are a deer in the headlights if the opponent produces a LHP. We don't have a power team right now, but we have good pitching, we have pretty good defense and speed. We are young. That's a team that needs good management which I just don't see. I like Leggett, but his comments after today's loss and not caring about the score. You gotta be kidding me, that's what he is paid to care about!
brookesdad729 writes:
I'm not saying this because of this series loss against SC , but I have felt for a while now that Leggett is losing his touch. I'm not a big baseball follower but I just have never been sold on Leggett to begin with. I just think that he's not "Southern" enough for me. That and a $1.50 will buy me a cup of coffee however!
TRUETIGER1 writes:
I totally agree, how much longer? Is he coach for life or does he actually have to produce at some point?
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.