Lee Enjoys Trip To Lowcountry

Monte Lee’s first trip back to Charleston as Clemson’s head coach served him well. After two midweek wins over The Citadel in its first trip to face the Bulldogs in the Lowcountry since 1990, the Tigers (13-3) are off to their best start since 2010.

“It’s always our goal to play well in the middle of the week,” stated the former head coach at College of Charleston. “The middle of the week can be the difference at the end of the year as to whether you get into the tournament or not, and I think this shows how our guys understand that they have to focus, play good baseball and show up every day. We knew that coming in here to Charleston, playing on the road, playing in a big ballpark, playing against a good program like The Citadel that we were going to be tested.”

Lee credits the Clemson fans in the Charleston area for coming to support their Tigers, as the majority of the 10,213 total fans who attended the two games were decked out in orange and purple.

“I think more than anything we got Clemson back in Charleston, which is a good thing,” expressed Lee. “The people here were very excited about having Clemson back in Charleston. It’s been a lot of fun to see a lot of orange and purple in the stands down here and getting the Lowcountry to come and support us.”

The experience also gave the Tigers another chance to play in a minor league ballpark, and Lee is confident that it will not take almost 30 years to get the team back down to the Lowcountry again.

“This is a great place to play,” said Lee. “It’s one of the best ballparks in the Southeast, and what’s better than playing in Charleston? We’re very happy to be here, and I think we will figure out how we can get back down here in the future.”

While the trip to Charleston was an enjoyable time for the team and fans alike, Lee was quick to not discredit the challenge the Tigers face at home this weekend in No. 22 Boston College.

“Boston College has got the best team they’ve had in a while,” noted Lee. “You look at last week…what they did at NC State, a team that a lot of scouts told me is the best in the Carolinas. NC State was only able to put up three runs in three games.

“Obviously, Boston College has good pitching, so we’re going to have our hands full and we’re going to have to be very disciplined at the plate. When we get a pitch to hit, we have to hit it. But we’re at home. We’re very excited about going back home, and though we have a tough test coming up, we’re excited about the opportunity.”

Lee is very proud of the way his players have found ways to win close games, and he thinks that the two wins on the road in Charleston gives his team more confidence heading into an ACC weekend.

“I think they’re very confident. The big thing is that we have to show up every day and be consistent, be loose, have fun, understand how to play the game and what we have to do to be successful. I think our guys have bought in and are doing that.”