Monday 06/21/1999
April 7, 1998
Clemson Versus Georgia Tech Games Added To TV The Clemson at Georgia Tech games on May 4 and May 5 have been added by Fox Sports South to its television lineup. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.
The Tigers will also be on Fox Sports South on April 26 against Florida State. The game will begin at 1:00 PM, but the game will be tape delayed on TV beginning at 4:00 PM on the same day. Also, the Clemson at North Carolina game on May 10 will be televised by Fox Sports South at 4:00 PM.
Clemson Downs Upstate Rival Furman 18-0 Clemson scored nine runs in the third inning to open a 11-0 lead and cruise to an 18-0 victory over Furman Tuesday night, Apr. 7 at Tiger Field. It was Clemson’s third shutout of the season.
Starter Matt White (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings to record the victory. He also struck out nine and walked only while allowing four hits. Mike Proto and Darren Adams pitched the final three innings to finish the game.
The key third inning was capped by Clemson’s four consecutive extra base hits. Doug Roper tripled, and Casey Stone, Patrick Boyd, and Kurt Bultmann all doubled to give Clemson an 11-0 lead after three innings. The Tigers finished the game with eight extra base hits, all by different players. Stone and Bultmann had three hits apiece, while Peter Nystrom and Justin Hyde each hit homers.
Tigers Go 2-1 Against Virginia In Charlottesville After taking games against SEC foes Georgia and South Carolina, Clemson traveled to Virginia and won two of three games. Clemson’s offense scored 30 runs and Tiger pitchers struck out 28 batters against only three walks in the series.
In game one, Clemson won once again in late innings when first baseman Hunter Wyant’s errant throw on an attempted sacrifice bunt allowed Casey Stone and Justin Singleton to score and give Clemson a 9-7 victory at Virginia on Apr. 3. Both runs in the ninth were unearned. Tiger closer Scott Clackum (5-0) pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five Cavalier batters. Clemson had a 7-2 lead when Virginia scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, capped by E.J. Anderson’s three-run homer on a Mike Paradis 3-0 pitch, to tie the game at 7-7. Patrick Boyd led the Tiger hitting attack with four hits in six at bats. Peter Nystrom and Derek Borgert also added home runs. Starter Paradis went 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs, and a walk, while striking out three batters.
Game two, Virginia rallied once again, this time from a 6-2 deficit to defeat Clemson 7-6 on Saturday, Apr. 4. Tim LaVigne’s two-run homer off starter Ryan Mottl (7-1) tied the game in the eighth inning, and Jon Kemmerer’s RBI single put the Wahoos ahead for good later in the same frame. Mottl went 7.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and seven runs, but struck out 12 batters while walking none. Brian Holstad and Paul Stryhas had two hits apiece to pace the Tigers at the plate. Clemson rallied in the ninth, but with two walks and a hit, but left runners at first and second as Patrick Boyd struck out to end the game. All told, Clemson left 13 runners on base.
In game three, Clemson jumped out to a 7-0 lead and added eight more runs in the eighth inning to take the rubber game 15-6 against Virginia on Sunday, Apr. 5. Donovan Harrison (4-1) relieved starter Skip Browning and pitched five innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out six against no walks to earn the victory. Seven different Tigers had multi-hit games. Jason Harris and Doug Roper had three hits apiece in the game. Harris had a double, triple, three runs, and two RBIs. Also, four other Tigers had two RBIs. Clemson also had six doubles and a triple on the day. Clemson improved its overall record to 31-5 and 7-2 in the ACC.
Roper’s Homer Lifts Tigers Over USC in Columbia Doug Roper hit a game-winning two-run homer down the right field line in the top of the ninth to propel Clemson to a 6-4 victory over eighth-ranked South Carolina at Sarge Frye Field on Apr. 1. The homer was only Roper’s second of his career and came off USC closer Jason Pomar, who entered the game allowing only one earned run in more than 24 innings pitched. The home run also came when he was 7 for his last 40 (.175) at the plate. Kurt Bultmann and Peter Nystrom also added homers for Clemson.
Starter Matt White had a strong outing, going 7.1 innings and allowing four runs. Closer Scott Clackum (4-0) picked up the win in relief by pitching the final 1.2 innings and getting Ryan Bordenick to groundout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. With the win, Clemson improves its record against SEC teams in 1998 to 3-0 (Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina).
Tigers Rally To Down Dawgs In 10 Innings Clemson rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat Georgia 5-4 in 10 innings at Tiger Field on Mar. 31. Georgia took a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning on back-to-back homers by Andy Osbolt and Aaron Anthony, and a run-scoring triple by Kevin Hall, but would not manage another baserunner over the next four-plus innings. Matt Additon (1-0) relieved starter Brian Adams after Hall’s triple and retired all 13 batters he faced. The Tigers tied the game in the eighth inning on Matt Padgett’s two-run double just inside the left field line. Padgett continued his torrid hitting with his 17th hit in his last 28 at bats over the last seven games. Then Clemson won the game in the 10th inning. Jason Harris reached on a single. After two walks by Georgia reliever Josh Jerkins (1-1), one of which was intentional, sophomore Henri Stanley singled up the middle with no outs to bring in the winning run. Clemson won its sixth one-run game in seven tries.
Leggett Reaches 600-Win Mark Head Coach Jack Leggett is only in his 19th season as a head coach and has already reached the 600-win mark in his coaching career when Clemson defeated his alma mater Maine in the second game of a doubleheader on Mar. 14. He has a career record of 612-364 (.627) in five seasons at Vermont, nine at Western Carolina, and more than four seasons at Clemson.
Leggett has also amassed a 235-77 (.753) record while at Clemson, including each of the first three seasons that saw him win 50 or more games.
Odds And Ends * Freshman Justin Singleton has 19 RBIs, 16 runs scored, three homers, and two triples in only 53 at bats this season. * In ACC games, Clemson is 26-28 on stolen bases while its opponents are just 2-5. * Tiger pitchers struck out 41 batters and walked only eight in five games last week against Georgia, #8 South Carolina, and Virginia. * 13 different Tigers have homered this season. * Of Justin Hyde’s 14 hits, he has six doubles, a triple, and two home runs. * First baseman Jason Harris has not committed error in 344 chances. * Only four times this season has a Tiger had four or more hits in a game, despite the team .350 batting average. * Scott Clackum has given up one or more runs only once in his 15 appearances this season. Also, the senior has only allowed one baserunner in 5.1 innings pitched in ACC games. * Clemson has outscored its opponents 72-11 in third innings, 54-13 in fifth innings, and 64-16 in sixth innings of games this season. * Clemson has already stolen more bases (68) through 37 games in 1998 than it did in all of 1997 (51) in 64 games. * Brian Ellis has thrown out seven of 13 potential base stealers this season. * The Tigers are 8-0 in night games this season. * The Tiger defense has only committed six errors in the last 11 games.
Clemson Running More in ’98 Clemson has stolen 68 bases and been thrown out only 15 times this season. Four Tigers have already reached double figures in stolen bases. Doug Roper (14-16), Brian Holstad (13-17) Jason Harris (12-13), and Patrick Boyd (11-13) have all stolen 11-plus bases and have combined to steal 50 bases in 59 attempts. In ACC play, Clemson is 26-28 on the basepaths as well, while its opponents have only stolen two bases in five attempts through nine ACC games. The Tigers stole only 51 bases in all of 1997. The Tiger and ACC record for steals in a season is 188 set by the 1988 Clemson team.
Newcomers Provide Strong Offensive Effort The one question mark entering the 1998 season for Clemson was its ability to put runs on the board. That question has been answered emphatically thanks to many Tiger newcomers who have replaced the five graduating position starters from 1997. Clemson’s 10 newcomers in the field have combined to hit .370 (215-for-581). Those players have also stolen 28 bases in 31 attempts, and scored 181 of the 373 runs (48.5 %).
Consistency A Key To Tigers’ Success Clemson is averaging 10.1 runs per game in 1998 and doing so without great individual game performances, but rather a group effort. As evidence, 13 of the 15 Tigers with at least 25 at bats are batting .315 or better. Also, only four times this season has a player had four or more hits in a game.
On the mound, all 12 pitchers have under a 7.00 ERA and have at least four appearances.
Big Innings Clemson has scored at least 11 runs in an inning an amazing five times in 1998. The Tigers scored 12 runs in the third inning against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 28 in the 19-6 win. Clemson scored 11 runs in the fifth inning against Stetson on Mar. 6 in the 22-4 victory. Clemson then had double-digit scoring innings twice in the same day. In game one of a doubleheader against Maine on Mar. 14, Clemson scored 12 in the fifth inning en route to the 18-2 win. Then in game two, Clemson scored 14 runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 11-4 deficit to win 19-11. Clemson topped the 14-run inning with a Clemson record 19-run third inning against Maryland on Mar. 21. The run total was also the most runs in a third inning in NCAA history.
In the third, fifth, and sixth innings, Clemson has outscored its opponents 190-40 (72-11 in third, 54-13 in fifth, and 64-16 in sixth).
The offense has also been scoring runs at a record pace. The Tigers have scored 373 runs in 37 games, or 10.1 runs per game. The team record for runs in a season is 698 by the 1991 team. That team averaged 9.97 runs per game.
Defense Strong In ’98 Despite losing five of the eight position starters from a year ago, Clemson’s team fielding percentage has been outstanding this season. The Tigers’ .968 team fielding percentage leads the ACC and is ahead of the Clemson single-season best of .9671 figure that the 1976 team had. The defense has only committed 47 errors through 37 games, including five of which that were credited to Clemson catchers because of catcher’s interference. When the defense has not committed an error in a game, the Tigers are 9-0 this season. First baseman Jason Harris has also not committed an error in 344 chances in ’98. The Tigers have also had many error free games recently, committing only six errors in the last 11 games.
Tigers Finding A Way To Get On Base Clemson has an amazing team on base percentage of .458 this season. The key to this stat is that Clemson has walked 254 times and hit by pitch 24 times. That means that 7.5 times per game a batter reaches base via a walk and hit-by-pitch in addition to Clemson’s 12.3 hits per game. Matt Pagdett, Peter Nystrom, Brian Ellis, Justin Singleton, and Paul Stryhas all have on base percentages of .500 or better.
Clemson Shining Under The Lights Clemson is a perfect 8-0 in night games in 1998. This is a vast improvement from the ’97 team that finished the season 13-14 under the lights.
Tigers 3-0 Against SEC In ’98 Clemson is 3-0 versus the Southeastern Conference this season. The three wins came against #10 Auburn (9-4 score) in the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee, FL on Feb. 8, Georgia (5-4 score in 10 innings) at Tiger Field on Mar. 31, and at #8 South Carolina (6-4 score) on Apr. 1.
Under Head Coach Jack Leggett, Clemson has also been successful against the SEC. Leggett’s record against the SEC as the Tigers’ skipper is 32-13, including 14 of which are against ranked teams. Leggett also has at least a .500 record against all six SEC schools he has faced while at Clemson. Below is a list of Leggett’s record at Clemson against each of the six SEC member schools he has faced:
SEC Leggett's Record WinningOpponent at Clemson PercentageAlabama 2-0 1.000Auburn 1-1 .500Georgia 6-3 .667Kentucky 3-0 1.000South Carolina 11-6 .647Tennessee 9-3 .750Totals 32-13 .711
Padgett Providing Powerful Punch Junior Matt Padgett has steadily raised his batting average from his freshman season as he is hitting a team and ACC best .419 in 1998. He entered the ’98 season hitting a career .278 in 109 games. The Lexington, SC native has 57 hits in 136 at bats, and has eight homers and 36 RBIs in 36 games. Padgett has also hit safely in 19 of the last 21 games. During the 21 game stretch, he is hitting .457 (37-for-81), including 30 runs scored and 29 RBIs.
He also had a streak against Maryland (3/22) and The Citadel (3/25) where he had a hit in seven consecutive at bats, just two short of the Clemson record. In the Maryland game on Mar. 22, he had a five hits in six at bats. The five hits was a team-high for the season. And in the last 12 games Padgett is 24-for-48 (.500) with 17 runs scored and 16 RBIs. Padgett has also been strong against lefthanders, batting .390 against southpaws.
Padgett Named ACC Player-Of-The-Week On April 6 Right-fielder Matt Padgett was named the ACC Player-of-the-Week for his efforts on Mar. 31 through Apr. 5. In single games against Georgia and South Carolina and three games at Virginia, Padgett hit .450 with nine hits, six RBIs, and four runs scored, including a home run against Georgia. He also had four doubles in five games, including one against #8-South Carolina in Columbia. As of April 6, Padgett led the ACC in batting average at .424.
Clackum Saving And Winning As The Tiger Closer Senior submariner Scott Clackum has been closing games for Clemson since the 1997 season. This season, he has topped his ’97 ERA of 1.93 with an 0.87 ERA in 15 relief appearances. He has six saves and a 5-0 record in 20.2 innings pitched. Clackum entered the South Carolina game on Apr. 1 and Virginia game on Apr. 3 and picked up wins. He also has 21 strikeouts against only four walks, and has only allowed two runs, both coming on a Tony Gsell (Old Dominion, Feb. 21) home run. That homer is also the only extra base hit he has allowed in 20.2 innings. Opposing batters are also only hitting .157, including righthanded hitters batting only .118 against the righthander. Clackum also has a streak of 17.1 innings without allowing a run.
Clackum has 10 career saves, which puts him in fifth place in the Clemson record chart. He needs five more saves to move into third place in the record book.
Brian Adams Providing Strong Outings As Starter Entering the 1998 season, lefthanded sophomore pitcher Brian Adams had not started a game on the mound as a Tiger. But if his last four starts are any indication, Adams will see a lot more time opening games for Clemson. In his last four starts, Adams has pitched 27.2 innings, allowing only 20 hits, six runs, and seven walks while picking up three wins. He has lowered his ERA to a team best 2.31 figure given a minimum of 30 innings pitched. Opponents are only hitting .215 against him, including lefthanded batters only hitting only .121. Adams has a twin brother on the Tiger pitching staff. Unlike Brian, Darren throws from the right side and red-shirted the 1997 season. Darren has pitched 5.0 innings in ’98 in five relief appearances.
Mottl Repeating All-ACC Campaign Of 1997 Sophomore pitcher Ryan Mottl earned Clemson’s first ACC Player-of-the-Week award in 1998 when he pitched seven innings and picked up his third win against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 27. In the game against the Seahawks, he allowed just six hits and one walk, while striking out six.
For the season, Mottl is 7-1 with a 4.12 ERA in nine starts. He won his last four decisions of ’97 and won his first seven decisions of ’98, therefore he won 11 decisions in a row. Mottl also has 67 strikeouts against only 13 walks for a 5.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Also, in the last four starts, Mottl has struck out 40 while walking only five batters. Mottl was a First-Team All-ACC starting pitcher as a freshman, and was the first freshman Tiger pitcher to ever accomplish that feat.
Boyd Garners ACC Honor March 9 Freshman Patrick Boyd was tabbed as the ACC Player-of-the-Week on March 9. He led Clemson to a 4-1 record for the week and hit .474 (9-for-19). The Palm Harbor native also was responsible for 14 runs in the five games, scoring nine runs and batting in five.
Boyd Stellar As True Freshman After starting the season 3-for-25 (.120), freshman Patrick Boyd has risen his batting average to .372. He is also hitting 52-for-123 (.423) over the last 30 games. As the everyday centerfielder, Boyd has started all 37 games, while scoring 48 runs. He has hit seven home runs, a triple, and eight doubles as well. Boyd has also hit safely in 19 of the last 20 games and now has a team best 42 RBIs this season.
Baseball America tabbed Boyd in the preseason as the ACC’s Newcomer-of-the-Year and as one of the top-10 prospects overall in the ACC regardless of class.
Freshman Nystrom An Instant Hit Peter Nystrom has made an instant impact on the Tiger offense as the starting left-fielder. The freshman from Dunedin, FL is hitting .374 with nine doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 37 RBIs in only 107 at bats. He has also walked 25 times and has an on base percentage of .504, which means he is reaching more than half the time he makes a trip to the plate. Nystrom has played in 36 of the Tigers’ 37 games, starting 32 in left-field.
Calitri Homers In First Career At Bat Red-shirt freshman Mike Calitri waited a whole year to do what few have ever done. The Canton, MA native hit an opposite field two-run homer in his first career at bat in the Tigers 16-4 win over East Carolina on Feb. 14. Calitri is 9-for-28 (.321) on the season, including two doubles, a triple, and nine RBIs at first and third base. Calitri had an outstanding game in the second game of a doubleheader against Maine on Mar. 14 when he had a double, triple, and four RBIs.
Roper Comes Back Strong After missing all but one game of the 1997 season, redshirt sophomore shortstop Doug Roper has had a fine 1998. The Vidalia, GA native has 40 hits in 115 at bats for a .348 batting average. Ironically, the slick-fielding shortstop bats in the ninth-spot in the lineup. Roper has been hot of late, hitting .421 (8-for19) during his current five game hitting streak. He also has a team best 14 stolen bases. Roper was a career 5-for-47 (.106) entering the ’98 season.
Roper had one of his best moments as a Tiger when he homered down the right field line in the top of the ninth inning to defeat South Carolina 6-4 in Columbia on Apr. 1, 1998. He also hit the homer off star closer Jason Pomar, who had only given up one earned run in over 20 innings pitched up to that point. The homer was only the second of his career.
Harris Impressive As Tigers’ First Baseman Junior Jason Harris is hitting .394 as the Tigers’ everyday first baseman. He has seven homers in his first season wearing the orange and white. He also has 40 RBIs and has a team best 50 runs scored. The Brevard College transfer also has 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts. And he has not committed an error in 344 chances.
Harris’ production is magnified by the fact that the left-handed hitter is hitting .371 against lefties. He also has 18 multi-hit games, and has a team-best 13 multi-RBI games. Harris’ 19 two-out RBIs is also best on the team.
Bultmann Picks Up Where He Left Off Kurt Bultmann is coming of the 1997 season that saw him set the Clemson single-season record for doubles with 31. The junior from Seminole, FL hit two doubles in the three-game Olive Garden Classic. He also had six hits in 14 at bats and was named the tournament MVP. The second baseman has moved over from the shortstop position now that Doug Roper is back from a season-ending injury in 1997.
Bultmann is currently hitting .340 with 13 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, and 41 RBIs in starting 36 of the 37 games at second base. His fielding percentage has also been a bright spot this season. He has committed only five errors in 143 chances for a .965 fielding percentage. Bultmann had one of his best games in his career against Stetson on Mar. 6, where he was 2-for-2 with two home runs, a two-run shot and a grand slam.
Bultmann now has 54 career doubles, which puts puts him in ninth place all time in the Clemson record books. Below is a look at the Clemson career doubles leaders:
Bultmann also is nearing the Clemson record for home runs in a career held by Matthew LeCroy. He currently stands in 10th place. Below is a look at where Bultmann stands in the long ball category:
Leggett Has 41-7 Record in Februarys Under Head Coach Jack Leggett, Clemson has gotten off to some fast starts, mainly in the month of February. In his five February’s at Clemson, Leggett has amassed a 41-7 (.854) record in the month of February. Leggett was 8-2 in 1994, 6-1 in 1995, 7-2 in 1996, 9-1 in 1997, and 11-1 in 1998.
ACC Coaches Pick Clemson To Finish Second1. Florida State (3) 732. Clemson (2) 70 Georgia Tech (3) 704. N.C. State 455. Wake Forest (1) 446. Duke 387. North Carolina 318. Virginia 239. Maryland 11
1998 Preseason Honors Clemson * #3 recruiting class by Baseball America
#24 Patrick Boyd, OF * Top newcomer in the ACC by Baseball America * #5 overall prospect in the ACC
#18 Kurt Bultmann, 2B * Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball
#27 Ryan Mottl, RHP * #10 prospect in the ACC by Baseball America * Second-Team All-American by The Sporting News * Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball
Mottl, Boyd Among Nine USA Baseball Team Training Camp Invitees Clemson sophomore pitcher Ryan Mottl (Florissant, MO) and freshman outfielder Patrick Boyd (Palm Harbor, FL) were among the first nine players invited to the USA Baseball National Team summer camp.
Boyd, rated as the top newcomer in the ACC by Baseball America, is the only freshman amongst the nine invitees. Mottl, a First-Team All-ACC pitcher in 1997 as a freshman, was a member of the 1997 USA Baseball National Team. Both players attended the 1998 USA Baseball National Team Trials at Hi Corbett Field in November, 1997.
Camp is tentatively scheduled to open June 1 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ, home of USA Baseball and Cactus League spring training home of the Colorado Rockies. The USA Baseball National Team will begin its competition in mid-June and play approximately 30 games in preparation for the International Baseball Association’s XXXIII World Championship in Italy on July 21 – August 2.
Seven Current Tigers Picked In Major League Draft The following is a list of current Clemson players selected in the Major League draft:
Player Year Team RoundPatrick Boyd 1997 Seattle Mariners 2ndMike Paradis 1996 Oakland Athletics 7thJustin Singleton1997 Arizona Diamondbacks 9thSkip Browning 1996 Florida Marlins 11thPeter Nystrom 1997 Arizona Diamondbacks 13thPaul Stryhas 1997 San Francisco Giants 21stRyan Mottl 1996 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 39th
Clemson’s 203 Wins Since ’94 Second In The Nation The barometer of a great season in college baseball is getting to Omaha and winning 50 games. Since Jack Leggett took over as Clemson’s head coach in 1994, the Tigers have won 203 games (excluding 1998) for an average of almost 51 per season. Included in that total is 53 wins against top 25 teams. Included among the 53 wins is 24 victories over top 10 teams.
Tiger Field Rated Among Best In The Country Beautiful Tiger Field has helped Clemson gain one of the best home-field advantages in the country. The Tigers have won over 84 percent of its home ACC games and 82 percent of its overall home games, dating back to 1970.
Baseball America recently published its rankings of the top baseball stadiums in the country based on aesthetics, playing conditions, and amenities. Tiger Field was ranked #8 in the country in Baseball America’s preseason issue, which is also tops in the ACC.
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